When is the timing right?

[751866]

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What's the general consensus for taking STEP1?

1) If UWSA and NBME scores are above target, but you haven't completely covered at least one part of the UFAP elements, is it safe to test?

2) If you have covered UFAP but your scores are below target, do you test?

It's obvious what to do when your scores are in line and you've covered UFAP, but what about any of these other scenarios?

Thought it might get more traffic than in the STEP1 group, but feel free to move it if necessary.

 

[ChrisMack390]

Is UFAP Uworld, First Aid, Pathoma?

 

[751866]

Yeah. I've never used the term before, but figured it wouldn't far from usual vocab of SDN users since I assumed it originated from here. Sorry about that!

 

[mw18]

What's the general consensus for taking STEP1?

1) If UWSA and NBME scores are above target, but you haven't completely covered at least one part of the UFAP elements, is it safe to test?

2) If you have covered UFAP but your scores are below target, do you test?

It's obvious what to do when your scores are in line and you've covered UFAP, but what about any of these other scenarios?

Thought it might get more traffic than in the STEP1 group, but feel free to move it if necessary.

1. I'm in this situation now and I wouldn't test early. Not until I fill in the gaps. Because if the actual test happens to hit all my knowledge gaps it changes everything. Just because I've survived a few NBMEs doesn't mean I have what's needed to do well on the test yet.

2. I don't think so. Obviously there's a gap between what you've read and what you can turn into answers with vignettes so you would need to learn more and practice more.

I would test with scenario 1 > scenario 2, but wouldn't actually test with either.

 

[evilbooyaa]

What's the general consensus for taking STEP1?

1) If UWSA and NBME scores are above target, but you haven't completely covered at least one part of the UFAP elements, is it safe to test?

2) If you have covered UFAP but your scores are below target, do you test?

It's obvious what to do when your scores are in line and you've covered UFAP, but what about any of these other scenarios?

Thought it might get more traffic than in the STEP1 group, but feel free to move it if necessary.

UFAP. Lol.

That is all.

 

[OrangeOrange]

What's the general consensus for taking STEP1?

1) If UWSA and NBME scores are above target, but you haven't completely covered at least one part of the UFAP elements, is it safe to test?

2) If you have covered UFAP but your scores are below target, do you test?

It's obvious what to do when your scores are in line and you've covered UFAP, but what about any of these other scenarios?

Thought it might get more traffic than in the STEP1 group, but feel free to move it if necessary.

In most cases I think it's best to stick with your original test date rather than constantly moving it around mentally based on your most recent NBME. A more consistent target it important (for me, anyway). Just schedule a test date that gives you enough of a break before 3rd year starts, and then keep plugging away until it rolls around!

(Also, "Step" is not an acronym!)

 

[751866]

In most cases I think it's best to stick with your original test date rather than constantly moving it around mentally based on your most recent NBME. A more consistent target it important (for me, anyway). Just schedule a test date that gives you enough of a break before 3rd year starts, and then keep plugging away until it rolls around!

(Also, "Step" is not an acronym!)

How can I hope for >=250 if I don't even know that Step isn't an acronym?

Seriously though I didn't know that! I have a test date, but it is tempting to pull it closer.

Like you all are saying, I'll probably just stay the course.

Thanks everyone!

 

[GonefromTX]

UFAP. Lol.

That is all.

Ok Mr. Uptight. You must be popular.

 

[evilbooyaa]

Ok Mr. Uptight. You must be popular.

Following me around on multiple threads calling me uptight like you do to other people who don't laugh at dick jokes. Cool move, bro.

It's much easier to just accept you're not as funny as you think you are.

I make people lol on command: Scrubs + Urinal

See posts #10 and 12. That's how you do a dick joke with substance.

 

[GonefromTX]

Following me around on multiple threads calling me uptight like you do to other people who don't laugh at dick jokes. Cool move, bro.

It's much easier to just accept you're not as funny as you think you are.

I make people lol on command: Scrubs + Urinal

See posts #10 and 12. That's how you do a dick joke with substance.

yay u are very very funny. clap clap clap

 

[GonefromTX]

And med student heres proof of my funny : Scurbs + urinal

 

[751866]

Following me around on multiple threads calling me uptight like you do to other people who don't laugh at dick jokes. Cool move, bro.

It's much easier to just accept you're not as funny as you think you are.

I make people lol on command: Scrubs + Urinal

See posts #10 and 12. That's how you do a dick joke with substance.

yay u are very very funny. clap clap clap

I can appreciate dick jokes. Either share one in this thread, give relevant advice to my post, or don't clog this thread with your pissing contest.

 

[GonefromTX]

I can appreciate dick jokes. Either share one in this thread, give relevant advice to my post, or don't clog this thread with your pissing contest.

Lol ok ill try to answer your question.. I would say 1) is safe to test but 2) isn't. Why does it matter if you've covered all of the resources if you're consistently hitting above target? If you want to be even more sure, maybe take a couple more self assessments from Kaplan or Rx.

 

[evilbooyaa]

I can appreciate dick jokes. Either share one in this thread, give relevant advice to my post, or don't clog this thread with your pissing contest.

Fair enough, OP.

1) I think it depends what your target is. If your target is say, for example, 220, and you're routinely scoring 230+, there is a strong possibility that additional studying of high-yield material will push you into the 240s. However, if your target is 240, and you're scoring 250, I don't think the 'high-yield' stuff in UFAP (I like the acronym FWIW) is going to push you into the 260s.

2) I think a second go around, especially on questions like UWorld (or using an inferior QBank like Kaplan if you've already gone through UWorld twice) can help. After 1 or 2 in-depth passes of FA, I'm not sure how much more would stick. I'm sure there are people that have done all of Pathoma more than once, but same conundrum. Again, similar answer to as above - if your target is a 230 and you're doing worse, additional high-yield material can push you above it. If your target is 250 and you're at 240s, it might be harder for an additional review of UFAP resources to push you above.

Best of luck. Not sure where you are now (assuming pre-clinical years), but focus on learning the material in-depth now. If you're pushing for 240+, I believe there are going to be miniscule details covered in your lectures which aren't going to be stressed in FA (maybe Pathoma, not confident) which you will need to just remember.

I didn't do super well (less than the SDN average for sure) on Step 1, but that was an issue of not studying the high-yield stuff enough, as I didn't finish all of UWorld, wasted time on Kaplan lectures/QBank, Pathoma wasn't nearly as widespread when I was preparing, and, unfortunately D3 had just come out and I had a later exam date than my friends.

 

[751866]

Fair enough, OP.

1) I think it depends what your target is. If your target is say, for example, 220, and you're routinely scoring 230+, there is a strong possibility that additional studying of high-yield material will push you into the 240s. However, if your target is 240, and you're scoring 250, I don't think the 'high-yield' stuff in UFAP (I like the acronym FWIW) is going to push you into the 260s.

2) I think a second go around, especially on questions like UWorld (or using an inferior QBank like Kaplan if you've already gone through UWorld twice) can help. After 1 or 2 in-depth passes of FA, I'm not sure how much more would stick. I'm sure there are people that have done all of Pathoma more than once, but same conundrum. Again, similar answer to as above - if your target is a 230 and you're doing worse, additional high-yield material can push you above it. If your target is 250 and you're at 240s, it might be harder for an additional review of UFAP resources to push you above.

Best of luck. Not sure where you are now (assuming pre-clinical years), but focus on learning the material in-depth now. If you're pushing for 240+, I believe there are going to be miniscule details covered in your lectures which aren't going to be stressed in FA (maybe Pathoma, not confident) which you will need to just remember.

I didn't do super well (less than the SDN average for sure) on Step 1, but that was an issue of not studying the high-yield stuff enough, as I didn't finish all of UWorld, wasted time on Kaplan lectures/QBank, Pathoma wasn't nearly as widespread when I was preparing, and, unfortunately D3 had just come out and I had a later exam date than my friends.

I'm taking it in a couple weeks. Goal is no less than 250. I did pretty well in preclinical coursework including course NBMEs we took. Some Step practice exams have been above the mark, and some have been below, so I think I'm within striking distance, but I don't know how much FA I'll be able to cover by test day which concerns me since everyone has a raging wood for it.

 

[evilbooyaa]

I'm taking it in a couple weeks. Goal is no less than 250. I did pretty well in preclinical coursework including course NBMEs we took. Some Step practice exams have been above the mark, and some have been below, so I think I'm within striking distance, but I don't know how much FA I'll be able to cover by test day which concerns me since everyone has a raging wood for it.

I would recommend trying to get through all of the materials in their entirety once. Even if it's just going relatively quickly through FA and going "I know that, I know that, I know that" just in case you find something that you don't know which then you can slow down for.

FA is (IIRC) going to be less detailed than Pathoma, so if you're already through Pathoma and UWorld, if push comes to shove, I don't think not getting through all of FA is going to make or break your score.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Test when you are happy with your practice test scores and would be okay with scoring that on the real thing, and have made it through FA and UWorld at least 1x.