manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 75
Posts: 241
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Just found out I failed step 1 for the 3rd time! Need solid advice on re-taking step 1. Just registered for Sept-Nov elig period. Please email me guys with any advice on how you did it the 2nd, 3rd or 4th time and made it through a winner. Need advice on what book sources to use, tailoring a schedule and the right question bank to use. Please don't reply to this post with pity laments.. trying not to focus on what happened but rather, how to conquer this exam, need to be proactive!
Studied solidly for almost 2 months, here are my pre-test scores;
1st attempt: 168/68%, 2nd 173/71%
for 3rd attempt: 60% on Q-bank first time through, 69% on q-bank the second time through, averaging 80's in last few blocks.. finished 50% of questions..
Form 1, 4 weeks before exam 380/186/76%, Form 2, 1 week before exam, 410/195/79%
Sources: Path: Kaplan with webprep, BRS (half-way), Phys: BRS, Gross: HY, Neuro: HY, Histo: Kaplan, Embryo: Kaplan and FA, Pharm: FA, Micro: MMRS, FA, Immuno: Kaplan, BS: didn't cover, Epi-Stats: Kaplan, Biochem: FA, Goljan: half-way. Genetics: Kaplan. Molecular: HY, listened to Goljan and did half of his HY 100 notes.
The night before; averaged 2 hours of sleep. Have problems with severe test anxiety. Exam day was a disaster. Answered all questions but just had a hard time concentrating and changed answers. To make matters worse looked up wrong answers in FA and now where the mistakes are
So now here I am, going for it again, any advice from you guys to get right on track would help me immensely. I think I know where I went wrong... but need to make sure I don't make the same mistake again.
Thanks in advance guys..
trying to stay positive!!!
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| leen
Forum Guru
Topics: 79
Posts: 294
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hi manolok
I m not repeater nor i m in the position to give advice but the only thing I can suggest u is to complete the q bank q book fully (fully means u know every q n why other options r wrong n also watever is given in the explanations all those facts r known to u ) another thing i wanna say is not to leave any subject thinking its not imp ..u never know wat qs r going to come in the exam.........
hop this helps
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 75
Posts: 241
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ahhh my one and only reply.. thanks so much leen.. I'm gonna follow your advice and come up with a schedule that covers ALL topics.. being thorough is the name of the game this time around.
thanks again
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| lisa25
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 57
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Hi
Well ur NBME's are a good score, meaning u should have passed, could it be lack of sleep?? test anxiety????
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 75
Posts: 241
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Hey Lisa25 thanks for the response, yeah i think that is what it was..i've always had night before jitters.. in fact, i didnt sleep a wink when i took the CS last year, but managed to pass..
I think this time around I will pay the extra 50 bucks and simulate the exam a week or two before the real thing, just to be comfortable. Plus take a sleep aid the night before.. I rather be drowsy and well rested on exam day for the first hour then be tired and mentally exhausted.
Any tips on a schedule? should i plunge in to questions??? or read?
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| dr_jazzy06
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
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i wish to advice you that ist you go over the notes all over again.kaplan notes r good but whatever notes u find good just go over that atleast twice.along with notes do questions.do 50 q's in timed mode .after doing questions just go over all the explanations including those u did right.Its really normal to feel anxiety before the test.I myself couldn't sleep before my step2 ck.test.So just try to relax before the exam.If u think u can't control anxiety or anxiety is overpowering u,consult a doctor......All the best for the test......really appreciate ur persistence........
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| wey2002
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 123
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You might have to remember your stuff.
Since you have already done it 3X.
I think it will be good that you pick out one book for one subject and memorize it.
Do lots of Qs and find out why you got them wrong.
Passing the exam should be durable.
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 75
Posts: 241
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thanks dr. jazzy and wey, will take your advice to heart. no turning back now gotta do this. thanks for the support
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| lisa25
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 57
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Hey there
Well can give u much advice, i haven't even written the exam, i was kinda hoping on passing the NBME's and from there i would know i was ready, however i see that is no longer a fool proof deal, cause even doing well on NBME u could still fail, which i have seen with a couple of posts. BEst thing to do is, study kaplan again, do questions, webpath, BSS, q-bank, q-book, robbins, golgian. This is my plan of action and of course FA. Once that is done, its NBME to see where i stand, this is all i can advice u on, cause i did nbme and got 290/160/65%, so i know i have to work hard to get to passing, so i will only write if i am above 420 on nbme, hope this helps a little, just never give up, ur way to close.
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 75
Posts: 241
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sounds like your on the right track lisa25! yes, if you don't break at least 450, give yourself more of a cushion, then don't sit for the exam! I'm feeling a lot better and believe or not, started studying again today, it's difficult though coz when i read or listen to lectures i'm like, " i know this, i know this also" I think my reason for failing this past time is really my nerves which I have to address somehow. Well, goodluck to all, and thanks for the tips
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| epica
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Hi,Liza
If u will take the same NBMe test for second time it will increase your score but how u will know if u r ready. What is your strategy?
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| asterixis
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 24
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Hi. I think you should do lots and lots of questions. Do Q-bank, but also use other sources. Eventually you will figure out there is a pattern in some types of questions, meaning that in the test you will not have to give that much thought to answering these types of questions. So you will not waste time on those questions and spend more time on the really hard ones. Also try to aim for a 500 in the NBMEs. I failed when I got a 400 on NBME 1 and 2. The second time around my score increased on the NBMEs and then I passed the test. Take all the NBMEs and study the topics you missed on the questions. But do try to prepare yourself for them as if it was the real deal. Hope this helps.
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 75
Posts: 241
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thanks asterixis.. Little overwhelmed right now. Wondering if I should give Kaplan one read before I do questions.. or read and do questions or plunge right into questions with FA in hand. Right now, I'm watching Pass Program videos.. since this was recomended to me by friends. It's comprehensive and the videos could take just a week to finish.. Just wondering if I should read books after this.. or plunge into questions.. any thoughts?
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| new_n_lost
Forum Hero
Topics: 732
Posts: 6,453
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my advice to u would be that go for the subject where u think u lost it in the exam ur NMBE scores tell that u improved a little n then the worst part EXAM Day anxiety well to tell u the truth i have known guys who gave the exams loaded with ampetamines n came out buzzed n the ones who took anxiolytics a day before succeded. now look u have given it 3 times already go so for the weaker n volatile parts first get friendly with them n make a part of ur childhood memory u can easily do it. join a partner who can match ur speed n have long discussions with u so that it sticks to ur mind
i believe most of the questions in the exam provoke concepts so craming sometimes does not help get ur concepts throughly make ur instincts sharp n every question in a timed mode. so that can do a 100 q in a hour. build ur momentum.
i hope i have been of some help to u.
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| mjl1717
Forum Hero
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focus on your weaknesses./do more qs!
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 75
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Actually, interesting point you made new_n_lost, I have been taking something for ADHD to help me concentrate and in my review period it really helped with the amount of study time i put in.. problem is.. which i failed to mention is that I TOOK THAT STUDY aide on EXAM day instead of enderall=propanolol! which I took last time and really helped me improve. I guess the is part of the reason why I bombed! And i do expect my scores to be even lower then the first 2 attempts..I was so stupid not to think about the accompanying nerves alongside my mildly elevated BP and tachycardia. After a couple of days of reviewing im kicking myself because I SHOULD"VE PASSED this time. My only thing now.. is how do I explain my first 3 attempts on interview day???? Considering I even get an interview.. which im still optimistis about.. SIGH
mjl1717, do I start questions now?? or what till the last month after reading a little?
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| mdsej
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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Hey Manolok, I also failed 2 times, I am miserable but I am going to get through. i am aiming for December. Do you want to keep in touch and keep each other going? Let me know.
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 75
Posts: 241
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Hey mdsej! wow! finally someone out there! email me at beatstep1beast@yahoo.com , would sure like to commiserate with someone. Drop me mail and we can take it from there
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| intern_doc
Forum Guru
Topics: 98
Posts: 433
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hey buddy,
First, look at your NBME score sheet, see the weak area, then compare it to the real score sheet. If you see the same trend then, definitely work on your weak area first. Spend like 1 week on the weak subjects and master it. Then do questions after each subject so it still fresh in your mind. Do that for Each of the weak area. Spend less time on the area that you do well. If you not understanding the concept by reading the materials, then I suggest you use the kaplan DVD. It will clear up some point. Hit the books hard for another 2 months and u will be fine
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 75
Posts: 241
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thanks intern doc! thats exactly what im gonna do.. got my score.. and im really close.. so may not give it 2 months.. ..looking at mid september. thanks
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