shibasun
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 13
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just got back from test center and had dinner to get some strengh to write.
i have studied for about 6 months for both CK and CS. i took the CS a week earlier. materials i used : kaplan notes, UW q-bank, and crush step 2. i also used some reference books when i read kaplan notes: dematology atlas from B&W, EKG from "only EKG book ever needed", HY behavioral science, CDMT. the first two month is for the 1st reading of kaplan notes. the rest of time, i did UW twice in timed mode subject-wise and read notes and crush right afterwards. UW is great to teach you to study notes in a greater detail. the final week, i went through my UW notes and kaplan books, and a quick review with crush.
now for the test, it is long and exhausting, prepare yourself mentally and physically. try to relax and have a good sleep the day before. i had some problem with my sleep before both CS and CK, but thanks to the redbull, i pull through.
for the time issue, if you practise UW in timed mode, you are fine, and actually you can get 5-10 min left to check the marked questions, i had 5 minutes left even in my last block. so don't worry about that.
for the questions, they are formatted similar to Qs in UW. short ones are only 2-3 lines usually easy, longer one is about one page.in the test, i got at least 20% of Ped, 20% of Psy, 20% ob&gyn, 10% sur, rest is IM. for the IM, if you can think of every disease sharing the same symptom, say headache, list and compile them, you are going to answer a lot Qs correctly. this is also helpful for the CS part.
for the tough block, from my exam and others' post, there seems at least two tough blocks in each exam. you can tell by doing the first 5 Qs, they are different. how to deal with it? just ask yourself what you will do in a trauma center with 200 patients: triage ,do what you can, and don't ever panic
for the final rounds, try to leave 20 minutes for the last two breaks, you need that to cool you brain, it is red hot and running as slow as like a 486 computer.
done? time to celebrate or try to catch up lab work like me. GL, fellas!
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| babli
Forum Guru
Topics: 40
Posts: 425
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Congratulations & good luck!!!
thanks for sharing.
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| infliximab
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 320
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shibasun,
thanks for ur posting, wishing u the best.
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| doctor81
Forum Elite
Topics: 34
Posts: 240
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good luck
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| seri
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 190
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thanks for the post.
g/l with the results.
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| achilles
Forum Guru
Topics: 87
Posts: 1,208
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thanks for sharing your experience shibasun. you have written it really well and i was thinking myself of taking red bull with me to the exam which i will take just before my last block.
and good to know that there are only 2 difficult blocks...
good luck for your scores and the match.
___________________
" it's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up"
" i have miles to go before i sleep "
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| busy_mom
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 100
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Hey Shibasun,
I think you´ve hit the nail on the head with your preparation tips !!! Especially with the DD - it does help in the CS and the CK. The only other thing I find worth mentioning (and it only came to me after reading your experience) is treatment and diagnosis: every disease you encounter, ask yourself how do I treat it, and how do I actually diagnose it. These three things should really help to get many qs right !
Shibasun, I wish you a great score ! I think you really helped quite a few people here with your advice ! Thanks and GL !
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| drk1980
Forum Guru
Topics: 147
Posts: 1,038
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Best of luck for your score. you hv obviously done great. thanks for the good tips. you too busy_mom.
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