What to do about biochem?

[78222]

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I've got about 3.5 weeks left and spent about 3-4 days on biochem/molecular/genetics. My molecular/genetics scores are sitting at 60-70% on UW but I don't feel like my biochem has improved much at all. I don't really know what do about it at this point. It was also one of my weakest subjects on NBME II (and one of my weak subjects in medical school). With time running low though, I don't really know if I should waste more time on it or not.

 

[wonderboy00]

from speaking to several people who've taken the test already, biochem is one of those subjects where you could have as little as 5 questions or as many as 20 (that's just what i heard, so take my words with a grain of salt)...anyways, my point is you don't want to risk not knowing biochem well and then being hit with tons of questions on the real exam, so i would put another 3 days aside for it and attempt to learn it well. i read the rapid review biochem book (coauthored by goljan) in about 3 days so i'm sure you could too. i heard the kaplan book was also very good so if you can get ur hands on either of those two books you should definitely do it.

 

[78222]

from speaking to several people who've taken the test already, biochem is one of those subjects where you could have as little as 5 questions or as many as 20 (that's just what i heard, so take my words with a grain of salt)...anyways, my point is you don't want to risk not knowing biochem well and then being hit with tons of questions on the real exam, so i would put another 3 days aside for it and attempt to learn it well. i read the rapid review biochem book (coauthored by goljan) in about 3 days so i'm sure you could too. i heard the kaplan book was also very good so if you can get ur hands on either of those two books you should definitely do it.

hmm, I really don't know if taking another 3 days is worth it.

Anybody else have any ideas?

 

[Terpskins99]

hmm, I really don't know if taking another 3 days is worth it.

Anybody else have any ideas?

Molecular is very low yield on boards.

Biochem/genetics, if you're in a pinch just memorize the rate limiting enzymes along with clinical presentation of patients that are deficient in them.

 

[BabyPsychDoc]

First of all, 60-70% on UW is quite good for biochem.

Secondly, try Clin Biochem Made Ridiculously Simple. IMHO, it is a underrated resource. I could not memorize all these freaking pathways and enzymes until I read this book and got a "big picture" in my head. It is a small book, and you can read it in bed over 1 hour.

I got 238/99 with an asterisk in biochem on Step 1.

Good luck.

 

[registered user]

RR Biochem is good and pretty short. 200 pgs not counting the test at the end. Shorter if you don't look at the molecular/genetics parts (sounds like you have that down with those averages on UW). Book has looks of figures and tables. I liked it. I looked at each section in FA biochem and then read the corresponding bit of RR. Having already gone over everything, you could probably spend one day doing this. Lippincott's is way too long.

 

[lankysudanese]

from speaking to several people who've taken the test already, biochem is one of those subjects where you could have as little as 5 questions or as many as 20 (that's just what i heard, so take my words with a grain of salt)...anyways, my point is you don't want to risk not knowing biochem well and then being hit with tons of questions on the real exam, so i would put another 3 days aside for it and attempt to learn it well. i read the rapid review biochem book (coauthored by goljan) in about 3 days so i'm sure you could too. i heard the kaplan book was also very good so if you can get ur hands on either of those two books you should definitely do it.

totally agree. biochem is not a subject that you want to mess around with. it is well-worth 3 days.