kotikoti
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 23
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Hey guys, Just got my results, can't believe it and want to post my experiences for others to take inspiration from.
Test Date: 20 Jan 2007
Results: 235/98
Study time: 4months
Kaplan Qbook 60-80%
Kaplan Qbank - did not do
USMLE world - 66%
USMLERx - 77%
NBME 1 532 - 3 weeks prior
I am international medical graduate, finished med school 9 years ago! Was working full time and studying at night and Saturdays. Also a family man.
Resources:
First Aid was the most helpful after reading BRS pathology and physiology. Most of my exam could be found in the FA including charts and graphs.
Most of the images I got on the exam were such that you really needed to know the image to answer the questions unlike previously where reading the questions were enough.
USMLE world was the most helpful in getting the concepts. Most the exam was on concepts rather than minute details. The first 10 chapters of BRS pathology is excellent for these concepts.
Final Note: After the exam I was really scared waiting as I remembered all the questions that I got wrong, you need not worry, just try to believe yourself. You may have to guess many answers, just guess and move on. The exam felt real difficult, but I hope that is what it is supposed to be.
Good luck to you all and may all your efforts be blessed.
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,445
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Thanks for posting your experience and congratulations on a great score.
So did you use only BRS for patho and physio and the rest was from FA ? or you read Kaplan or any other books too ?
How long did it take you to prepare for the test ?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
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| jamdoc
Forum Elite
Topics: 30
Posts: 244
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congrats on great score
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| mona1976
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 119
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congratulations and good luck for step2.
any suggestion regarding biochemistry, immunu , genetics, and micro?is FA is helpful for them too?
thanks
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| Ancylostoma
Forum Guru
Topics: 42
Posts: 637
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Congrats on a great score !!!
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| kotikoti
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 23
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Thanks guys
My main book was the FA. I did not read Kaplan books. It seems sufficient for almost all the topics. It is just impossible but I thinks if one knows everything in FA the exam will be easy. I also did most of the questions in Webpath. I think the general pathology questions on there are very helpful. For biochem, immuno and genetics, FA is enough only you should be prepared to apply the concepts. Again I will say know the general concepts. Also I got some questions almost exactly like the NBME. My exam looked like the NBME or the USMLE sample questions.
I took about 4-5mts to prepare mostly studying 1-4hrs per day and last two weeks 4-9hrs per day.
Good luck
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| abdo
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 136
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waht do u think about usmleworld is it easier or harder thaen the test ?
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| chuj
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 9
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Kotikoti:
Congrats!
Before FA, did you study comprenhesive books as a base for FA cocepts?
I am an Old IMG and really sometimes I found myself lost at FA or Kaplan lectures notes.
Could you give me more details about your preparation.?
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| kotikoti
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 23
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Hi guys,
As I said I read through BRS pathology and BRS physiology. For anatomy I also skimmed through the Roadmap anatomy and did not read but did the most of the questions in Board Review Microbiology and immunology (Levinson), the question in there are really good. Also because the FA for step 1 does not usually go into details on clinical presentations, you may want want to have say the FA step 2 nearby so you could review symptoms and sign as you go along. this is because most of the questions are clinically based but they will usually not give y ou the diagnosis before asking the basic science questions.
USMLE world is definitely harder than the real exam, but is is probably the best questions source for the exam if you have time to study it early.
Good luck guys.
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| solitarius
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 71
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Hi guys,Here is an experience for average student......
exam date:23jan
results:204/84
study material:kaplan notes and videos+ocassionally FA
kaplan Q-book:65-67%in average
UW Q-bank:55-60%(main learning tool-did it almost entire 2 times all questions some are even more than 2 times)
did web-path and saw all the macro slides and microslides
duration-6.5months
kaplan simulated first time:50%(failed)in october starting
second time:72% 3 weeks before the exam
NBME-1:304(failed)in mid november.....and NEVER took again.................................................But my main advantage was-I decided to took my exam in Jan and didnt change it because I thought better to make my study intensive and so have a huge stress on brain so that I can integrate material forcefully.And my only MAIN advice to all who didnt take exam yet is-Please,please...Never give up!!!!!!thousands of students take exam every year and pass too...so why YOU can't be one of them?and believe me or trust me whatever-step-!1 is Definately doable.Do patho and path-physio as better as you can,try to memorize everything you study..and just remember all stuff you studied today before bed-time briefly and even right after waking up in the morning.Believe me you will never forget things..at least until exam.from Biochem-they need to know ONLY basics...do not memorize all the charts and pictures(will help a little)rather memorize main stuff and ratelimiting steps,Molecular bio-basics of transcription,translation,palindrome,lactose operon,transcription factors(zincfingur etc)and I had a question where they asked to identify tissue of origin-Northern blot.Micro-just know main and routine bugs.and main characteristics,do enterobacteriacae group well,Immuno-IGs,CDs,ILs...they like to integrate with path...and know by heart leucocyte chemotactic factors..they directly or inderectly ask about it frequently.Anat/neuro-do neuroant well...I had almost 80%questions from neuro from all anat questions,from ant I had question where they gave location of gastric ulcer on lesser curvature-what vessel will be affected by perforation?and 3-4 questions regarding limbs.Pharmac-lot of cancer drugs and side effects,mechanism of action of A/bacterials,tracings(3) from ANS,but most imp-CARDIAC DRUGS..very heavily tested.Know everything about HIV and Alcoholics.I dont want to say about behavioral anything-bcz I think almost all questions I got wrong and the only subject is very much below the borderline performance in my results(even with asterix).Genetics-5-6questions including pedigree and Hardy weinburgs.All I want to say is-don't give up....you can do it.I thought to get >210...but now a little sad bcz somewhere I ve heard that 85% is cutoff point for IMGs to get residency...but I have PR here...so If someone knows plz tell me-my choice for residency is already narrowed or what?I wish you all the best who didn't take exam yet and many many congrates+good luck for those who had step-1 and preparing for step-2.If anything feel free to ask.
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| jamdoc
Forum Elite
Topics: 30
Posts: 244
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thanks for sharing ur experience with us.i think thats a decent score.i have knowm people with score less than that got in to residency.good luck
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