retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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Ambitious, but if you are a practicing physician, I think it should be doable. Part I will be your achilles heel, just because it has been so long since you studied those subjects. Part II should go easily for you. I don't know what level you are (SHO, Registrar, etc) but you might be pressed for time to study. Best of luck!
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| astha
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 6
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I am a registrar and as you rightly pointed out step 1 is my achilles heel.
I have started reading the Kaplan notes and solving questions from the pretest series while awaitng the kaplan Q bks.
So far I have solved genetics section and scored a miserable 70%, however this was before reading any theory, which i am now revising. I plan to retake the questions again in next 2 wks and guage my performance.
Also I have started doing embryology, which is appearing reasonable.
On a good day I am doing 100 qs and otherwise 50 qs per day. However I do feel pressed for time to read.
As you rightly pointed out I feel comfortable with the internal medicine, which forms majority of step 2. The rest hopefully will be doable too.
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| almina
Forum Senior
Topics: 34
Posts: 99
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I think that 70% is rather good. A lot people scoring in high 70s got 99 on the actual exam.
I am planning to give my step 1 exam by the end of this year. Reading my weakest subjects right now. I remember I did around 75-80 after reading Genetics, so I think you have a big chance to do very well on exam
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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yes, 70% on a Kaplan Q bank is a good score. I was getting 69-85 depending on the subject and got 95+. I would advise focusing on the more esoteric subjects like pharm, micro, biochem, as they will be the one's you are (probably) least familiar with. Anat and embryo are poorly emphasized on the test. Patho is everywhere, but I found it was mostly basic stuff which you would recall from clinical practice. Thankfully they don't ask too many microscopic structure questions, except for obvious things ... leukemias, lymphomas, etc. If you can manage 70% in Kaplan over all, you will do quite well!
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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Hey actually, I misread your post. I am not too sure of the score correlation from Pretest, but I know their questions are extrememly picky and quite different from the real exam (but then so are Kaplan's: different, but less picky). So a 70% may be extrremely good. But I can't give you a first hand account. Remember, you can miss many questions and still score really well on the USMLE. If you believe that the three digit score correlates to your raw score, then 70% correct is ~250 which is a 99.
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| astha
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 6
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Thanks retroviridae and almina.
I was actually quite depressed when i was scoring around 70% only. But I have read Kaplan review notes(genetics) and have managed to clear a few concepts.
But retroviridae, i checked on the first aid book and pretest is not highly rated. I am actually waiting for Kaplan's Q book to arrive!!! So I guess I should not get lax.
However I have the NMS review and Appleton and Lange's review and practice tests too.
Do you suggest, doing questions on NBME website? (apart from these).
..Although I know I am pressed for time here.
Hence I want to work only on high yield areas and books to make the most. ANd I hope to get advice from you experienced lot, who have been there and done that.
Like you suggested I will concentrate more on path+physio+pharm, if they are high yield subjects.
Can you please explain to me how are the scores calculated? both 2 as well as 3 digits. Thanks.
Daily Diary:
Read Genetics from Kaplan notes yesterday evening after work.
And today (sat) went out during the daytime, saw a friend......
.....and have just about started with the general principles of Kaplan Review book.
I aim to finish these 154 pages before going to sleep.
Tomorrow will do more qs.
Thank you for just being there!!!
It helps.
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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Pretest is poorly rated because the questions are too picky. They really don't reflect the actual USMLE type questions, however nothing really does. NBME is an EXCELLENT assesment tool. Use it close to your exam to see how you score. From that value, good correlations exist on what your actual score will be. It really does correlate pretty well. NMS questions are more difficult than the real test, and I haven't used A&L. Only the NBME comes close to approximating the real questions, and even they are too straight forward. As someone else wrote, the USMLE will ask material you know in a way you would have never thought of. It can get very theoretical, and little will have actual clinical relevance. Just a note on pharm, memorize FA's section. It is great for big adverse reactions. You will need to supplement mechanisms of action from elsewhere.
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