marley1005
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 3
|
I have been a silent observer of this forum for the past six months, and never opted to post suggestions or questions because I had never passed step 1…until now. So, I made a promise to myself to post what I used and how I studied if I passed. Here it is.
First, a little background. I read tons of exam experiences and rarely did I see background information on that person. Meaning, you read a post that says “I am so scared that I did not pass…the questions were nothing like I have ever seen…and so on”. What you don’t know is that the person that is “so scared” is in the top 10 in their class, has twelve degrees, and won a Nobel Prize when they were six years old. I realize that this is an exaggeration, but when you see the scores of these super brains you really wonder what you should should do as far as prep goes. So, I am a normal everyday person that has to work hard to make the grade and I had a difficult time with this test. I am ranked 95/145 in my class, my MCAT score was 29 and SAT was 1150. I suppose you are wondering what my score on STEP 1 was? First time=170, Second=202.
Now, down to what changes I made in studying. I will separate the two attempts:
First Time
I used FA and Qbank for about 5 weeks. What I learned was that no matter how many questions you do, and no matter how many times you read through FA you will not pass this exam If you do not have down the basics. This is a great book for memorizing key players in biochemical reactions and side effects of drugs, but not in understanding and applying pathology and physiology. I’m sure that there are others that will dispute this claim, but this is just my opinion.
Second Time
I studied for about 10 weeks the second time around. When you are missing the pass mark by about 12 points you need to reevaluate what you know and how you are applying the information. Basically, you need to get down to basics. For example, what are the key players for acute inflammation and chronic inflammation, what are the key enzymes in glycolysis, what is Km….. Get down the basics. The topics that I will list are what I studied, and to tell the truth I think I blocked out most of my exam, but they obviously worked.
Biochemistry:
Primarily used FA and supplemented with Biochemistry BRS. Topics I studied besides the basics (i.e. glycolysis, TCA, ETC, FA Synthesis…basically First Aid Topics): starvation (after hours? Days? Primary fuel source? ) GLUT transporters and how they work. All G proteins and their stimulators…Gs=epi…Gq=ANP, Tyrosine-Kinase system and stimulators. Lac Operon. Trp Operon. In my opinion, molecular can be deduced from the information given if you know the basics in first aid…and if you can’t figure it out then probably about 75% of the people out there are having a tough time too.
There is a great chart in biochem section of FA that shows the receptor, G protein type, and effect…this chart needs to be committed to memory…it helped me tremendously throughout my studies in better understanding physiological and pathological processes.
Physiology
Know the normal and the abnormal is so much easier. Very true, I had to go back and relearn my physiology…every cardiac graph and every pulmonary function graph. THE BOOK for ANYONE having problems with physiology is REVIEW OF MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY by WILLIAM F. GANONG and Physiology Qbank. This book answers so many questions like what does the cardiac output curve look like during strenuous exercise? After A-V shunts? After a heart attack? CHF?. First Aid covers the topics, but not the detail that is need for this exam. Topics I studied: In depth cardiac cycle…draw and label all the pressures and important points in atria, ventricle, aorta, pressure volume loops…difference between skeletal and smooth muscle contraction, body fluid compartments, fluid movements, and pulmonary function. Goljan does an excellent job explaining physiology and pathology together, but you need a little background before you start listening.
Pharmacology
FA is plenty as far as drugs go, and I used BRS flash cards for this part of my studies as well. Nice to have and just flip through every other day…pharm is like learning a new language if you don’t continuously use it you will forget it. I also read the first 3 chapters in Goodman and Gillman textbook (you can find this book in any medical library). These chapters give a great background to pharmacodynamics and will help you to better understand all those weird graphs. There will be drugs that you have never heard of on the exam, don’t worry, most likely all the others taking the exam have not heard of them either. Know mechanism of action, side effects and second line drug.
Micro
FA does have good info, but Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple is the best. This book has charts at the end of each chapter that give everything from tests to virulence factors to treatment. What I did for this part was to create my own pictures of the bug and diseases, for example for S. Aureus I had a “Staff” coming out of a jar of mayo sitting by a cat ….and so on. Meaning the Staff reminded me of Staph, the mayo reminded me of being associated with picnics/ food poisoning, and the “cat” reminded me of it being catalase +. Sounds childish, but it works especially when you are stressed out during the exam and start to get confused. FA for the viruses. Get a hold of the “Baltimore Chart” for the viruses and fill in the specific viruses. A friend gave me the chart, so I don’t know how easy it is to find, I will post it if possible.
Pathology
Do the first 9 sections in the Robbins Pathology question book by Kumar and Klatt. Understand why you got them right or wrong. Listen to Goljan…don’t take notes…don’t do anything…JUST LISTEN. This is gold.
Anatomy
I used FA initially, but I did not feel like I was getting enough information, so I borrowed Kaplan Anatomy from a friend. Great book, I moved through the book in about two days (15 hours). This cleared up a lot. Don’t forget to review the histology too, like what occurs in each organelle. Could you identify that organelle on LM? EM? Drawing? Remember to cross correlate… for example, which organelle does pyruvate enter before forming glucose? This is a very short question…something you will most likely not see on the boards, but it just shows that this is how they ask anatomy…usually with one of the other subjects integrated. Don’t forget your neuroanatomy. Like I said get a hold of Kaplan’s anatomy review.
Behavioral Sciences
All I used was FA. Tried to use my common sense as much as possible. I have no suggestions for this at all.
After studying for about six weeks, and when I say six weeks I mean I treated this like a job. I would work 8-6 Monday through Friday and 9-2 on Saturday. Take half day Saturday and all day Sunday off. Like I said before, I’m just a normal person…not a machine like some of the others. Anyway, after the six weeks it was time to start integrating questions into my studies. The first few days I did 2 sets of 25 trying to learn the speed at which I was doing question. Do I need to speed up? Or slow down? I would look at my scores read the explanations and try to learn from my mistakes. After about the third day I was doing 4 blocks of 50 questions a day. Reviewing what I missed and reading explanations. Here is the key, DURING your question sets mark the questions that you know for a fact that you are going to get right…if you get that question wrong don’t rely on the explanation to give you the reason…look it up yourself in TWO separate places. This may take a little while, but you will not miss that question again. Basically, I would alternate doing questions in the morning and afternoon because the test spans that period. The other half of the afternoon I would review the questions I missed and choose a topic that could use more work…like viruses. Average your previous four blocks. If you are hitting 62% consistently I think you should pass. Qbank is for seeing which areas you need help...don't just look at it and say I will pass the test because my Qbank score was X. The number of questions in each subject are skewed if I remember correctly...ther are only about 50 questions for physiology...and that is a heavily tested subject.
What I learned was that the first time I took the test I did not have a good background I just memorized, and in a stressful and timed situation your memory will sometimes let you down. The second time, I had to go back to the basics and look at how I was doing questions. I slowed down my question reading…I even laminated sheets and used them like you do at the testing center. I would write the question they are asking me down on the sheet and the facts that they gave me in the question stem. This alone made me slow down and I was getting 2-3 more questions right per block…that 14-21 right per test…that is the difference between passing and failing.
So, I just want to say that this is the most difficult test I have ever taken. I felt like I had failed after I finished the exam…I was even making plans to change careers (before I even started a career) while waiting for my scores. If you have failed the exam more than twice, go to a professional prep course and get their help, I have heard that …for all you know you could have test anxiety or a reading difficulty and not even know it. Oh, and one more thing before anybody asks, I had a 62% on Qbank, 62% on NMS, I did not take the NBME (ran out of time, but I would highly suggest taking it after your first read through to see where you stand...I've heard it's a eye opener) and I averaged 68% on the 150 question CD.
Please ask questions, I know that I was scared to death and wanted all the info I could, but please do not ask me what was on my exam…I don’t want to jeopardize what I have worked so hard for.
|
| docmama
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 83
|
WOW!!! THAT WAS WONDERFUL! I have failed step 1 the first time around also...thanku so much. I am taking it again on Aug 24th. tHis is so good that i am about to print it and put check marks each time i finish something. Thank u for ur time and effort. Let me read it once more b/f any questions. I am also like u...sat scores(1180 and 1230), and first attempt score. But i am an American IMG. THanks a ton.
|
| KEROCHI
Forum Guru
Topics: 60
Posts: 971
|
Congratulations! Job well done.
|
| ms_dr_ns
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 19
|
Hi marley1005,
know what urs is an inspiring post. I too have lots to add and also ask u abt the biggest milestone called "STEP1"!!!
I took my step 1 Yesterday, after a 6 month prep. My background:-
Got married a year ago and came to the US, took 4 months to settle in marriage. I had already taken kaplan coaching back in india in jan04. then got to study. Initially i was slow and took time picking up pace, then from jan on i picked up speed, did 3 readings of kaplan along with Qbank intermittantly. Then booked my date for the July 21 ie yesterday. I had been scoring around 35-38 on my kaplan qbank cd persistantly. Got 35,36,36 on my usmle cd, and 57% on Kaplan simulation cd a day b4 the exam and got v.depressed. Had no time for NBME.
But yesterdays exam was a disaster.I am sure abt 15 correct questions in eack block. About 20 others in eack block were "not sure" sort and the rest were all guesses. Apart from all of this, im not recollecting little silly mistakes i have done. So overall my understanding of the test is that im gonna FAIL.
I got a lot of immunology, but even the pharma and patho blood were complicated.I had a few stats all of which i feel i probably screwed up becos of my fear & frame of mind....
so this is what i feel..
If possible, please write back on what u think is my assessment of my perforance
___________________
ms_dr_ns
|
| marley1005
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 3
|
When it comes to uncertainty, this exam will make you feel like you have studied nothing for the past six months. I have to say that after my exam I would rummage through all the post on this message board trying to find something to make me feel better about the exam. Truth of the matter is, nothing will make you feel completely comfortable until you know that you passed. But, I will attempt to ease your nerves because I understand the crazy mind games you can play on yourself waiting for that four letter word…that would “PASS”  . I will attempt to relate your situation to mine.
First, you definitely passed my criteria for passing the exam with consistent 70% on question blocks. Look at my situation, I was 8% below you consistently and still passed…not with a crazy 260…but I still passed.
Second, knowing that you got 15/section is wonderful…that is greater than 25%, that you have in the bag…let’s say 100 questions you have right. After my exam I too calculated that I had roughly 100 questions that I knew I got right. I was also in the exact situation with my "maybes", except my maybes were about 18 per block…and on top of this my friends and I typically get about 75% of the questions we mark with a “maybe”. The rest I could not get down to just 2 answers. We want our magic number to be 60% to pass (I do realize tat everyone wants to do more than pass, but bare with me).
95 questions correct=27%
105 “maybe” questions (based on the 75% calculation)=30%
This comes to 57%…WOW! Only 3% to make up …that’s about 10-12 questions. You have how many questions left according to the calculations? About 125. So, to pass this exam you need to get 10% of your guesses…so theoretically you could just pick an answer without reading. I realize that this is all speculation, and that a passing score maybe a little higher than 60%, but I have told this to several friends and they worked out the numbers…and sure enough they passed. I would feel OK about your situation.
I want to say it again, “YOU WILL FEEL LIKE YOU FAILED”. When I would start feeling like this I would run the numbers…the numbers would show I’m too damn close to passing based on the number of questions I am pretty sure I got right. BTW, sounds like we had a very similar form…lots of Immunology and hematology. Keep your chin up, it is natural to feel like this.
And for others out there, feel free to ask questions. I would love to help. It sucks to study for this test and it sure sucks to wait for those results.
Edited by marley1005 on 07/22/05 - 06:52 PM
|
| drworm
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 137
|
Hi marley1005! Thanks for ur post. It is inspiring and thorough. I failed step 1 the first time I took it and am planning to take it again. It is a lot of work and scary. I really like the way you sum up everything.
Congratulations again and good luck with the next step!
|
| twinkle
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 44
|
Hello marley1005
congratulations and thank u so much for such an inspiring post. I really appreciate the way u pointed out the importance of focusing on basics. I've just started my prep but every sub is taking much more time than i anticipated they ud...coz I cant feel confident with just FA or kaplan alone...I've read posts of ppl recommending these resources who've scored sky-high but they r geniuses with real good basics and I'm...so like u...a regular person with average ability and I was full of insecurities when I kept/keep on lagging behind. Anyways...thanks a lot for sharing ur experiences...I guess i'm right in sticking to the plan of knowing the basics well.
Good luck with the next step/s
|
| ukar
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 2
|
i am just like you....i never feel confident in whati study.....for some reason it always takes me like a long long time to feel comforatable....i am using kaplan and FA...i feel so down...all my freinds took the exam in like 3 months...and here i am still stying in the 4th month and not even feeling half confident....what should i do.....i am so confused and down some tiems ..so sick of myself.....and if i odnt take it by this montha dn start my clinical s i will miss the 2007 mathc...please can someone adive
twinkle wrote:Hello marley1005 congratulations and thank u so much for such an inspiring post. I really appreciate the way u pointed out the importance of focusing on basics. I've just started my prep but every sub is taking much more time than i anticipated they ud...coz I cant feel confident with just FA or kaplan alone...I've read posts of ppl recommending these resources who've scored sky-high but they r geniuses with real good basics and I'm...so like u...a regular person with average ability and I was full of insecurities when I kept/keep on lagging behind. Anyways...thanks a lot for sharing ur experiences...I guess i'm right in sticking to the plan of knowing the basics well. Good luck with the next step/s
|
| bayatia
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 4
|
Hi marley1005
Thanks so much for your post it was really helpful. I've just started preping to take step 1 and I was really worried about what to study and where to basically start. I'm not a very good student and I can barely remember any of the basic subjects that I've taken. If its not too much trouble can you tell me how long it took you to get through each subject and which subjects did you find to be the toughest to remember later on.
Thanks again
|
| vic2005
Forum Senior
Topics: 32
Posts: 82
|
Congratulations !!!!You did it !!!! I have a question: how many questions do you need to get right in each block to pass this exam???
|
| madiha kanwal
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 8
|
HI,
thanx alot for sharing ur experience.there are BRS as well as Lipp N Cott flash cards are available for PHARMA.which one is better.as far as i know people prefer lip Ncoot for pharma as subjest study.
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
