StudntDoc
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 12
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I just wrote my Step 1 yesterday. I found it very challenging. I am a PGY-4 resident in psychiatry in Canada and have already passed our licensing exams several years ago. I studied using 1st Aid and Appleton & Lange Outline Review for 3 months (though not intensely).
The exam really is geared at basic sciences (which are at this stage of my training not at all relevant). There were about 4 or 5 questions on primary amenorrhea/cong adrenal hyperplasia/etc - wish I had studied that pathway a bit more.
As well, there seemed to be a lot of cell biology and molecular genetics. There were the standard pharmacology diagrams (bar graphs about heart rate and giving a blocking med then a beta-blocker and asking what the drug was).
It was a very frustrating exam, as they would often ask questions which would lead you to a rare genetic or metabolic illness, but then ask some very basic science question which really has little to do with the illness. The micro questions were occassionally like this (ex Lyme disease history given - what's the cell responsible for the polyarthopathy).
I got all the psych questions (there were probably 20 or so), but some weren't easy - ex they described a history of bulemia or eating d/o NOS and then wanted to know what other disorder the patient might have (ie you have to first recognize the eating d/o then know the most common psychiatric comorbidity). There were some fairly straight forward personality d/o's also.
There were a number of questions about rheumatology - SLE and the diagnostic test results one sees (topoisomerase, ANA, etc). I'm glad I reviewed this area.
There were a few questions on hyperlipidemia and the mechanism of action of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
Some calculations also - Odds Ration, Harvey-Weinberg genetics formula, sensitivity.
Overall, I think I passed, but wouldn't be surprised if this were not the case. Particularly for someone who hasn't taken the basic sciences for 6 years, it's difficult. It's also frustrating knowing that very little of the what is tested has much clinical relevance. On a more positive note, I just did the Step 2 practise questions and scored 135/138.
I wish everyone goodluck with their studies!
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| rubensssss
Forum Guru
Topics: 95
Posts: 451
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Thanks StudntDoc to share your experience. You will pass. Today I am really happy to get my orange scheduling permit, I have already on the test for next may 26 2004, By the way, I have read also appleton and lange's and now i am trying to get all i can from FA, wish the best.
I hope you write back to this forum, sharing more about your method of preparation and experience on the test will help a lot of us.
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Ruben sssss
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| krsma
Forum Elite
Topics: 40
Posts: 227
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thanks for sharing your experience, every little bit helps!!!
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| Fernanda
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 62
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Hello studntdoc, I have the same problem as you do. I`ve already attended residency here in my country and step 2 will be easier then 1. Let me know if you succeded, OK? Best wishes, Fernanda
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| shahana
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 9
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hello, stud doc
im residing in canada, nim immigrant,i just want ur views about tht i should work in canada or in us ,im preparing 4 usmle n ihave heard also tht if u have done usmle than no need to get lisence in canada as this 4 some states. plz need ur advice iwill be greatfull to u . u can mail me at jabeen_shan@hotmail.com.
as im new here n dont have much information
thanx
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