tdmed
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 11
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Before my exam, I felt I can pass according the experience posted in this forum. This made me confident toward the last month of my prep. Thank you guys. I took the exam on Dec 3rd, ECFMG updated 1-5-06, receive score this afternoon, 229/93, very happy.  Here is my experience. Since I graduated from medical school in China 12 yrs ago and never worked with patients after that, I spend almost 1 year to prepare for it. Couple years ago when I am doing PhD here I considered preparing for it, but did not start. Now I am doing full time research, spend about 3 hours each night and 4-6 hours each day during weekends.
The books I used are:
Anatomy: high-yield.
Biochem: Lippincot.
Behavioral Science: high-yield.
Immunology: high-yield.
Microbiology: ridiculouly simple.
Pathology: BRS, Webpath.
Physiology: BRS, also Clicnical cases by same author.
Pharmacology: Lippincot.
Cell biology and histology: high-yield.
I did not worry about molecular biology too much. I read every subject 4 times, and read Kaplan organ system book one time 2 months before exam.
Kaplan Q book 2 mo before exam: 71%.
Kapan simulated CD 1 mo before exam: 71.6%.
Robbin's review of pathology: about 2 mo before exam: 65%-80% for different chapters.
Also did "Q block" from a CD I bought from ebay, don't know the source, many pathology q, two 7-block exam about 3 and 2 weeks before exam, 75% and 80%.
Q bank, maybe 65% to low 70's.
Did not do NBME. My exam has a lot of pathology, which is my strong point according to performance on Kaplan simulated CD. I did not get a lot anatomy, which I am afraid of.
Most of the questions (including pathology) are basic concept, straigtforward. Many are clinical cases.
Some are tricky, and I marked 2-3 for each block, but usually can not feel confident after recheck them. All calculation questions are easier than those in q book or other sources.
On average, I have 5-10 minutes left for each block, since those easy questions did not cost me much time. I took a 10 minutes break after 2 blooks, then 5 minutes after 3rd, and took 30 minutes break including lunch after 4th block. I took 5 minutes break after 5th and 6th block. I drink water or coffee and had some choclate at each break, it helped me maintain energy.
Goodluck to all.
Edited by tdmed on 01/07/06 - 08:44 AM
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| msyamp
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 60
Posts: 1,462
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HI TDMED GREAT SCORE. GREAT GOING. GOOD SUGGESTIONS.WAY TO GO
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If you think you can You can! If you think you cant you are right again!!
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
Topics: 471
Posts: 5,125
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great score, congratulations, good luck with your next steps
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The Key to Succeed is Patience.
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| Doc2378
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 688
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Congratulations!!
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Courage does not always ROAR. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow" - Mary Anne Radmacher
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| amygdalaa
Forum Guru
Topics: 24
Posts: 399
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Congratulations!
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"If at any point you feel you cant..... then you MUST"
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| zzpearl
Forum Senior
Topics: 52
Posts: 142
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tdmed,
congratulations!! I also graduated from a medical school in China long time ago. Took my step1 at the end of Dec. Waiting for my score.
Feel uncertain now. My NBME and Kaplan stimulated EXAM scores are good, above 90. But I could not sleep the night before my exam. Felt tried the morning of exam. Do not know how I did .  I usually finish 50 Qs in 50 minutes, but I barely have any time left in the real exam.
The same topic keep appearing in my exam, 3-4 Qs testing the same knowledge. Is that normal? And the 350 Qs are not randomized or spread well.
Praying for my score!
Good luck for your following steps.
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| cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
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Congratulations!
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| icycool
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 24
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thanks.u r an inspiration to older grads like me.congrats.
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