ngt
Forum Guru
Topics: 34
Posts: 304
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just came from the exam.
my thoughts: reasonable exam.
slightly more difficult than sample qs and Kaplan, but same phrasing, type of qs, etc.
time management is key --> since there are many alternative response, you have to know the answer and loof for it (they are ordered alphabetically).
tiring exam. be ready.have a good sleep day before.
things that I would study more if I had taken my exam:
1. PATOPHYSIOLOGY of ALL DISEASES.
2. NEUROLOGY DISEASE AND NT
3. TRAUMA CASES (Kaplan is great).
Good luck to all.
n
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| medicinamx
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 62
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hi, congratulations!!!
would you recommend usmleworld or kaplan questions more compared to the questions you saw in the real exam?
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| kal_9980
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 40
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hi ngt
u have done with another big thing,just relax
cud u hightlight abt wat subjects are tested more ,was surgery heavily tested or only about the trauma .I wud really like to know abt the difficulty level ,in comparision to usmleworld.
thanks and GL
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kal
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| ngt
Forum Guru
Topics: 34
Posts: 304
| | 11/30/05 - 03:24 PM
1 of 1 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #4 |
Hi:
I felt a lot of surgery was trauma.
regarding difficulty it is little bit more difficult than Kaplan, not as much as UW (although I use mostly Kaplan and cannot therefore not comment much about UW).
questions are worded the same but are little bit longer and in the middle there is something (either PMH, symptoms, signs) that will lead you to the right questions. However, this will be mentioned as if it is not important. For example a patient with complaining of fatigue that is find to have mild anemia and is described vitiligo in the PE (among many other things in the exams) will lead you to pernicious anemia (if it is dx), Ab against intrinsic factor (if it is pathogenesis), likely at risk of diabetes or Graves.
Those were the type of questions. read qs carefully and think along reading. Believe me, in the clinical scenario there will be something that will lead/point you INDIRECTLY to answer it correctly. WHen you find it, you almost know you will get the qs right.
pay much attention to what is being asked. many times the dx is clear but they ask about something else (pathogenesis a lot).
ALSO forget to recommend to study PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.
FInally; I read many thing about experience of exams being terrible and as far as I am concerned, I want to emphasize that for ME it was REASONABLE. so study hard and give your best effort. hopefully you and I will be rewarded with a godd score.
good luck, gladly to help though please remember we are not allowed to share specific information about exam.
NT
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| kal_9980
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 40
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thanks ngt!!
GOOD LUCK FOR BESST SCORES on this step
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kal
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| amariah
Forum Junior
Topics: 0
Posts: 10
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Thanks ngt for ur experience desriptions...I personally found it helpful at what to expect from the actual exam questions.
I havent started my revision for step2 and I'm looking for the right revision sources for this exam...
What would you recommend for notes or references? and how did you prepare for your exam? (Just in brief...it would be greatly appreciated)
Thanks again...
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| ngt
Forum Guru
Topics: 34
Posts: 304
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I am an IMG and finishesd IM residency 3 years ago in my home country, currently doing research in US.
therefore, I focused preparation on obgyn/ surgery and pediatrics.
used kaplan notes, reading only once (but not all of them) + kaplan highlights (some thing a little bit outdated such as HIV) listened once + secrets for step 2 + qbook + qbank (done 40% using all unanswered questions) --> then focused on my weakness. review and study my weakness. doing simultaneously qbank on subspecialty (e.g. endocrine, pediatric GI or skin).
along the whole process I wrote notes (one or two sentences) of things/concepts I did not know (w/o mattering whether I got the question wrong or right) + things I considered high yield.
this I review the last day or two.
hope this helps.
ngt
PS: Kaplan notes contain more than enough so you can study from them and use as reference, but too long and many things you know already.
i find particularly useful to read/incorporate things that I realize I do not know that much as I go. (e.g when i was doing a qbank question about precocious puberty, I realize how little I knew about that, so I dedicate an hour or two to really know and understand the subject (internet, kaplan, etc.) and the details of how differentiate true vs. pseudo clinically, etc. idem with amenorrhea. I found this way of study particularly useful, w/o paying attention on % right qs, how many qs. I did that day, etc.
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| amariah
Forum Junior
Topics: 0
Posts: 10
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Great! ur preparation sounds quite focus.
I'm glad for the tips and brief guide from u. Shall get Kaplan notes and secret step2 for my step2 preptn asap... . I love to read the "secret" books while I was in medical school, glad to know they have it for usmle as well.
Thank you so much again and wish you all the best for the coming results.
amariah
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| ngt
Forum Guru
Topics: 34
Posts: 304
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yes, focused preparation has always worked out for me. (in my opinion) is very time effective and allows you to review things that you don't know (which makes studying more interesting)
thanks to you all for best wishes. best wishes to you too.
will keep you posted on my resut.
ngt.
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| ngt
Forum Guru
Topics: 34
Posts: 304
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passed the exam with great score > 90. very happy. thanks to all. good luck.
ngt.
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| digitaldoc
Topics: 35
Posts: 369
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Hey man - love the way your have described everythin - u have helped many !
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USMLEtoMD : MY FUN TIPS-N-TRICKS !
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| amariah
Forum Junior
Topics: 0
Posts: 10
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Big Congratulation !!!...
Must be a great feeling getting >90 , yeah! 
Thanks for ur tips and enjoy ur day!!
amariah
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