busy_mom
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Topics: 4
Posts: 100
| | 01/17/06 - 07:02 PM
1 of 1 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
Well - that did not go well at all !!! 
Honestly, I am almost too numb to write and so worn-out from all those hours. But Iīll post a quick review of my exam for everyone thatīs going to take it in the next couple of days/weeks:
The first block started out fairly well with mainly path/pathophysiology questions similar to the ones from QBank. Sure there were also some harder ones in there, but overall, the first block was pretty straight forward. But towards the middle of the second block all of this changed...all of a sudden I was getting mainly Biochemstry, Immunology and Molecular Biology Questions (these are my worst subjects and biggest nightmare !). At first I thought that this was only going to be for the rest of the block, but it stayed that way for the rest of the exam !!!
Now I know that you tend to pay more attention to the subjects that you donīt know very well - but believe me: for some reason the majority of my questions had to do with enzymes, cytokines, complement, lymphocytes and Genetherapy...
What I took home from the exam was this:
1.) It is not enough anymore to know "basics" about the cytokines (like: IL-1: produced by macrophages, it induces fever). They want to know specifics and want you/us to be able to use our knowlede in clinical vignettes.
2.) Things like cloning, gene therapy etc. is important to know. And also the different mechanisms of free radicals and how to get rid of them. (I had studied them, but obviously not well enough !)
3.) Donīt forget your Biochem. basics: tRNA, protein biosynthesis (I actually had a picture similar to the one in First Aid on p.139-2005 ed.), capping, splicing, all those things that people (at least I!) like to leave out, or just look at briefly. But donīt think that they will ask simple questions like "At which end does capping occur ?" - somehow they manage to make everything sound a lot more complicated than it is. Oh, and know your ketogenic and glucogenic amino acids !
4.) Study your anti-(retro-)virals !!! And donīt forget to learn their side-effects !!!
5.) Embryology is not tested like it is in the QBank - I canīt even really describe it, except that it was much more clinically tested ! There were about 4 Embryology questions per block.
6.) Know your hormones - they test them up and down !!! Especially LH, FSH, Testosterone, Estrogens, TSH and PTH.
7.) Know the GI-Hormones straight ! You have to know when which hormone is secreted or blocked. Again, they will find "nice" ways to test your knowledge on them. FA is almost enough, but not quite (read up on that in another book !).
Pathology, Pathophysiology, Anatomy were pretty straight forward similar to QBank. Anatomy was mostly Neuro - mainly pictures (along with long vignettes) and maybe 5 questions on UE/LE. Beh-science wasnīt tested that much - about 5 questions on behavioral changes (anti-social etc.), 3 on Dr.-Pat.-Relationship, 3 or 4 calculations and probably 8 on tests (p-value, different types of tests, etc.). Microbiology (maybe 15 questions) was mainly tested by giving you a vignette and then asking for the way that the drug of choice works. That way they can test if you know the bug, know the D.O.C. and know the mechanism of action - and that with just 1 question !
OK, I think that was enough for now. Iīm sorry - I donīt want to discourage anyone, but these are the things/topics that I really noticed during my exam.
One more thing: Do NBME questions !!! And my advice would be to take one of the forms early on, meaning about 2 months before the exam. The questions are VERY similar to the actual exam (I had 2 questions exactly from the form) . And you will get a feeling for what is important. Use their evaluations of your weaknesses to study up on those. Mine were Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immuno, but since I took the NBME questions 1 and 2 weeks before my exam, I didnīt have time to work on them (I worked on the other subjects first, thinking Biochem. etc. were lower yield).
The more I think about my exam, the surer I am that I probably didnīt pass it ! If youīre unlucky like me, you will get that Biochem.-heavy exam and will maybe have to sit for it a second time because you (again: like me !) thought that just because they donīt have that many questions in Kaplanīs QBank on it, theyīre not going to test it heavily ! So - donīt make the same mistake I did - look at one of the NBME-tests early on to find out what they like to ask.
So much for my exam-experience. If the subjects hadnīt been combined so unevenly, it would have been do-able. But since I just had SOOOO many enzyme, DNA, cytokine etc questions, which I just was not good in to start with, it just didnīt go too well for me.
Now I am REALLY frustrated and sad !!! Please include me in your prayers (eventhough the exam is already over), because I REALLY have to pass this step & I honestly donīt know what to do if I donīt !!! (This is the only "real" chance I had for now, since I just canīt afford not to work - somehow I have to feed my kids and pay the rent, etc.)
Good luck for your studying, and I wish you All questions that you can answer easily !!!
Edited by busy_mom on 01/28/06 - 10:29 AM. Reason: *took some of the specifics out*
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| jonathon
Forum Senior
Topics: 25
Posts: 62
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Hey, try not to feel so down. Great scores do not equal great doctor anyway. Besides a lot of people come out thinking they failed only to do pretty well on the exam. I'll say a prayer for you..
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| cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
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You will be in my prayers!
From all the exam experiences I have gone through...its not uncommon to have this unsettling feeling.....it hit me about two or three days after my exam!I have a strong feeling that you are going to do just fine.You have done your bit...leave the rest to the Almighty!
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| malinda
Forum Guru
Topics: 162
Posts: 654
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hey friend
Dont feel sad or awkward.I will tell you something only if it makes you feel better.I attempted step one last year being 8 months pregnant.Everyone told me that after a kid ,it is going to be extremly difficult.So although I knew I was scoring real bad on q bank,may be in 40s,on nbme form 1 I scored 280 and form 2 a 300.I also scored really average not passing on usmle CD.But I thought I had to go bcz all money will go waste and also I had the hope that I might get lucky.My exam was exactly like yours.Lots of stats,biochem,and weird stuff.I hardly remembered any straight forward questions.I came out of the prometric centre and didnot know how it went.My husband asked and I just told him"lets see".I was sure I wont pass.the exam results came and I didnot pass.The same score EXACTLY as nbme "a 310",the same weak areas as nbme,even I compare the nbme bars and real exam bars and they are pretty much the same.....SO I KNEW I AM GOING FOR A DISASTER AND IT HAPPENED"
The lesson I have learnt is that this test is not about how many qs u got right that day,but how well u know your basics and somehow they figure it out from each test.The test I had I was expecting may be a 30 but I got a 69%.so What I knew,i scored.So if u have good scores on q bank,nbme and usmle cd and kaplan simulated,U will score good no matter how difficult the test may be or how less u got correct on exam.
Just pray.One thing I miss is that I became so hopeless that I even didnot pray a single time.Infact I prayed,"God,If I am destined to pass with a 76,then let me fail"
so crazy things happen.Believe in God and pray a lot.God can do miracles.Its only for those who ask for it.I am sure U will do good.
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I CAN DO IT.
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| drbee29
Forum Elite
Topics: 17
Posts: 111
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Hey busy_mom, I am shocked at your exam! It sounds like we had the exact same exam!!!!!!!!!! Your description and lamentations are the same as mine. exact to the point and exact to the subjects emphasized. I am still nodding my head 10 mins after having read your exam experience. Oh gee i hope something good happens to us. Mind sharing your NBME scores? I'll be praying for you, and pray for me too! Thanks!
Take care,
drbee29
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| KEROCHI
Forum Guru
Topics: 60
Posts: 971
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My exam in Oct sounds exactly like yours too. Right after my exam i felt awful bec those were my bad subjects too but hey after prayers, a miracle happened. it may not be 99 but i passed! So pray & move on... w/ the next step.. GL I'll pray for you busymom(like me)...
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| Hagar
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 24
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hi busy mom, thanks to your description i am definetely going to focus on these areas more for my exam which i plan to take in the summer. biochem, molecular biology and immuno are my weakest areas and i'm very afraid i will get an exam like yours. i also have a 13 month old daughter and am throwing it all into this one chance to pass. i also stopped working and my mom takes care of my daughter all day so i can study. i wish you the best.
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| busy_mom
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 100
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Hey Jonathon, Cyra, Malinda, DrBee, Kerochi and Hagar,
thank you so much for your encouraging words - you guys actually made me smile for the first time since I got back from the test center !!!
And itīs really amazing to find someone (even 2 !) that probably had the exact same exam - I always thought you get random questions from the 8000+ USMLE question-pool - I guess not. And concerning my NBME scores: I have to say, Iīm a bit ashamed to admit that theyīre not in the 500s, like most everybody elseīs. (So I can really relate to you, Malinda - thanks for sharing your experience !) I scored 410 (195) on Form 3, worked on my "high yield" weaknesses (respiratory etc) and scored 450 (206) on Form 4 1.5 weeks later.
Thatīs why I was stressing the fact that you should really do the NBME tests early on. Because question-wise, I had just done QBank up until then and had averaged 68% (I started out with 60% and ended up in the 70s). And from reading other peopleīs experiences, I thought that was o.k. So I was really shocked when I saw that I wasnīt getting higher scores on that NBME form. I wish I had done that earlier (although I also wish I wonīt have to do that again !!!)
So you see, for me itīs not about worrying whether Iīll get a 99 or maybe "only" an 89, no itīs about wether Iīll pass or fail ! Iīm just going to still hope for the best and pray !!!
Thank you again for your support - it makes a huge difference to know somebody cares !!! Good Luck to you too, Iīll include you in my prayers as well !
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| FA fan
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 3
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wish u best of luck
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| jaide
say wat!~
Topics: 18
Posts: 539
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hiya busy-mom.....i'll b praying....u never know.. ur test.just might come thru....
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God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference
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| coolmavs
Forum Elite
Topics: 21
Posts: 328
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Hey busy mom, thanks a lot for sharing your exam experience. Actually it is very informative and will help future test takers. it would be really great if you could throw some more light on the sort of embryology questions that were asked ( what were they aiming at? especially since they were different from the stuff that is on QBank). Wishing you lots of luck! Praying for you.......
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| drk1980
Forum Guru
Topics: 147
Posts: 1,038
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many thanks for your valuable guidance.......here's a prayer for your wishes to come true.
U mentioned you found biochem, immuno and molec bio exceptionally tuff(these are my very weak areas too)....
Do u find that Kaplan books prepare you well for the above 3 in terms of the exam? Do u suggest some particular way of studying for molec bio??
Thanks once again!
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| icycool
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 24
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busymom, reading about ur test just left me worried..coz those r my weak subjects too...thanks for the heads up.
thanks for sharing ur experience...wish u luck...u r in my prayers
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| amygdalaa
Forum Guru
Topics: 24
Posts: 399
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Hi
I am sure you will do well. I too felt ambiguous after my test, but I did ok. So dont worry.
good luck
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"If at any point you feel you cant..... then you MUST"
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| goljan_fan
Forum Senior
Topics: 30
Posts: 95
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Besides Kaplan, what is best book for prepng Mol Biology,Genetics?I think HY Mol Bio is NOT sufficient for USMLE.
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GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP OTHERS.
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| sturge_weber
Forum Guru
Topics: 77
Posts: 1,042
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hey busy mmom u will get a good score, i am sure, its just that u felt, like that, u will surely do well, just believe in god, he is there for u...
just pray ... and keep calm
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| Fey
Forum Newbie
Topics: 10
Posts: 16
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I include you in my thoughts. Good Luck, Fey.
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| busy_mom
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 100
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Hi Everyone !
FA Fan, Jaide, Coolmavs, drk, Icycool, Amygdalaa, sturge_weber and Fey: Thank you so much for your support - I can really use it ! I had gone to visit my parents after posting my experience, and got back last night - thatīs why I havenīt answered answered any of your questions - sorry about that !
First of all: I am sorry if I have caused a panic among some of you - that was never my intention ! Overall, the questions definitely seemed do-able. It was just that Biochem, Immuno and Molec Bio were subjects I had really neglected during my studies. So of course, I was shocked to get an exam that was mainly composed of these questions. And Iīm still pretty sure, that do to this fact I have failed my Step 1 ! And since I had not really anticipated this, I just wanted to give everyone that may be in a similar spot a heads up !
Coolmavs: Without wanting to get into trouble with the USMLE guys (I have probably said too much already !) Iīll give you one example of what I mean. You know how they give you the pictures of the cleft lip/palate in Kaplan, and ask you what failed to fuse ? Well in the exam they wouldnīt just ask you what failed to fuse, but what cells or where they are from that had caused this. It would be interesting, if someone else could write about their Embryology questions !
drk and Goljan_Fan: I donīt have the Kaplan books, so I couldnīt tell you. I would think so, though. Like I had mentioned earlier, my big mistake was to think that these subjects werenīt as important, because everyone I knew that had taken the exam had told me that they werenīt heavily tested. I had studied Immuno, but as it turned out just not deep enough. I had used FA, and had read the Immuno section in a Pathology book and in a Microbiology book. Not enough ! I would definitely use an extra book for that subject. Molecular Biology-wise I have found Robbins Pathology book to have lots of very valuable, very high yield information concernig gene therapy, cloning, etc. Should you use that book, definitely also read up on the carcinogens etc. - I wouldnīt be surprised if the questions are derived from that book ! Unfortunately the book had been too expensive for me. A friend of mine lent it to me 3 days before the exam and I read up on some subjects: AIDS, p53, etc. Most of what I read up on wasnīt tested (HIV, for example), but the few other things that were asked, I was able to answer.
I hope I was able to shed some light on your questions. I would like to again thank all of you for your support - I am really desperate !!! A big thank you also to everyone that has shared their Exam-Experience: this is really important for preparations ! Good Luck to all of you !
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| mu
Forum Senior
Topics: 21
Posts: 85
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busy_mom. I just want to thank you for taking out the time to share these exam experiences with us.Obviuosly this exam has changed a great deal and becomes more and more " molecular" as the months go by. It also seems to be changing quite rapidly.
Secondly, looking at the way you went into such detail describing the exam, it seems quite clear that you will perform well. I mean you actually remembered all that. It might seem commonplace to you but you'll be surprised. I have to do a crash program- FA + Qbank, cos my exam is in 2 months. I can't even read the Kaplan books that everyone sings about. No time!! Yeah, I'm sure you think I'm crazy but I have no choice. I must match in 2007 or match in 2007. Those are the only choices I have!! And it's going to happen so help me God!
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| busy_mom
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 100
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Mu: thank you so much for your encouraging words ! I too am on an extremely tight schedule, that really leaves no room for failure - thatīs why I am sooo desperate to pass this & will be in such a bad situation should I have failed !
So - no, I donīt think youīre crazy trying to fit all of your preps into a 2 months period. In fact, two very good friends of mine only studied for 2 months. One of them just using Qbank and FA, the other one Qbank, FA and Robbins. Funny thing is: the one that just used Qbank and FA scored 99, whereas the other one "only" got 97. Needless to say, though, both of them were happy ! I am sure that you can do it as well - especially since youīre so motivated !
But do us a favor: when you pass, please write a post about having done so in such a short time-frame, with limited resources. Itīs stories like these (as well as stories of multiple hardships and failures, that ultimately lead to success after all), that encourage other people -like myself- to not give up, no matter what ! Thanks & best of luck - hope to hear from you !
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| cliffh
Topics: 5
Posts: 24
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Hi, Busy-Mum, I too believe that you did the test very well, since you could clearly remember the test, your weak points and your Qbank score 68% with NBME 450! Come on, if I were you, I would never ever worry about the score, because definitely you have passed it!!! Also when you get your score, please tell me that I am correct.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Really appreciate you sharing your experience. I wish you all the best and pray for you.
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| doc179
Forum Guru
Topics: 67
Posts: 1,217
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Hi busy_mom I will surely pray for you as I really want you to pass as I know all the hardships. Dont worry everything is going to be just fine...its a very transient phase and I remember one of my friends who was also very upset that her exam did not go well and I could not beleive my ears when she called me to tell me abt her score as the way she was feeling soon after the exam ... no one could even imagine that she has done it so well. Think positive ...
Thank you very much for describing the exam so well..good luck.
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| busy_mom
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 100
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Hi Cliffh and Doc179,
thank you for your encouraging words - I really hope you are right !!! Sure I tell myself that people have passed the USMLE eventhough they got a lower score on the qbank and on the NBME. I do realize that ! But my (practice) NBME exams just were not so heavy on things I had absolutely no clue about ! And my first impression is almost always correct. (In this case my impression right after having come out of the exam was that I had probably failed.) So, thatīs where my constant doubt comes from. But I will definitely let you know how it went...
Right after my exam I was "down in the dumps", basically lying in a pit (of despair). But with every encouraging word I got, all of you pulled me out of there and even helped me get back up. And for me that is so important right now, since I have to continue with my tight schedule. And I really would not be able to do that otherwise. Thank you all for that ! Of course Iīll fall again, if it turns out that I failed afterall. But just knowing this forum is so full of great people, I just know that -no matter how often or deep I will fall- I will be able to get back on my feet again ! And for that I want to thank every one of you !!!
(And I want every single reader of this post to know that as well: Most of us are in the same, or at least similar boat. No matter what the situation, you will always find somebody whoīs been there and done that. So when youīre desperate, cry out, and you will see that alot of fantastic people will come give you a hand. This forum is the best !!! )
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| as1974
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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Hey, It seems like I had the same exam when I gave it yesterday. The first 2 blocks were direct questions and then the other blocks had these weird immunology questions. Pharmacology was just like 8 questions all over. Embryology was 1 , behavioral were all doctor- patient questions, Physiology was all mixed with pathology and so many questions on hormones, Patho was mainly female reproductive. I had so many questions which I never read. I think they have changed the exam format because I did the Ecfmg cds and they scored a good 39/50. All the questions in the cd were easier then the exam. The kaplan q-book is not a good assessment of the test.I dont know if I will pass am so scared, I studied everything but many things were out of most of the course...Please everyone pray that I pass.
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| dariush
Forum Elite
Topics: 20
Posts: 356
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i sure do pray for you to get the best you desire.
in the meantime, trust God and keep your hopes up. there were many people who thought they`d failed for sure but their scores turn out to be high. Miracles happen, not everything is in our hands...
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Allah (God) is watching over us...
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