wanderer
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 30
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Took step 3 in Feb. 07. Prep time: 2.5 weeks, after preparing and attending interviews. Used FA USMLE step 3 for prep, but read only chapters where I was really low-performing. Did all UW questions, got very depressing average score 53% (range 44% - 66% for blocks), all timed and unused. The UW questions seemed nit-picking for me. I could not find answers in FA for many Qs. Maybe they would be easy for some one who finished 3 yr IM residency. But I had no USCE. I thought that my general understanding of diseases was good, but I did not improve my UW scores even at the end of the prep, which made me very nervous. I used 2 days to do CCS cases, first USMLE-CD, then read 10 CCS cases from UW, then read quickly 40 cases from FA. As many have already reported, the first was tough, especially the in-patient and emergency care Qs, I run short of time in each block (2-3 Qs were answered 1 min.) I started to read the last sentence first by Qs longer than 8 rows and tried to find the relevant information in the text. This strategy seemed to work for me. The second day mc part was easier. But I was nervous with CCS and did mistakes like forgetting to type a final diagnosis. I don't know why a patient keeps coming back to my office every day even I did not make an apointment and was waiting for results. I know I did suboptimal managing in 5 cases but I think my diagnosis was always correct. I felt bad after the exam, but my score was a positive surprise - 88/215. Now I think what important is not to know lots of details that were asked in UW, but general understanding of diagnostic and treatment of frequent diseases. Details are for people who want 95+. It was the first time I used UW to prepare a USMLE step. I think the Qs make people trying hard to memorized details, which you will automatically learn in every day clinical life. That is why AMGs usually don't need to prepare more than a week because of their clinical experiences. Anyway, I am happy that these exams are over and I can concentrate on preparing for residency
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| intern_doc
Forum Guru
Topics: 98
Posts: 433
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congratulation,
Can I ask what books did you use for your study ? like kaplan/crush/First Aid or anything else ?
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Please call me by my first name on March 17 - Dr.
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| wanderer
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 30
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Thanx, intern_doc. I used only First Aid (FA) USMLE step 3. I read only obgyn, ped, infectious disease and emergeny med, because I performed badly in these areas in UW. But after the reading, my scores did not improve much. As I said, you can't find answers for tricky Qs in FA. Of course I read the explanation in UW. The CCS cases in FA were useful. I don't have kaplan notes or other books. My weakness in the real exam was mostly the same as in UW.
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| fair
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 4
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hai wandrere,
did ur cases ended before 20 mts.five cases of mine are not ended before 20 mts.mcqs part was horrible.i am really tensed.i think no one has done as badly as me.i have done it very badly.waiting for the result.can you please say me.
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| wanderer
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 30
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3 or 4 cases did not end early. I felt that I messed up with the test. But believe me, it's hard to get a high score, but it's also hard to fail. You must have studied for it, so cheer up, don't think the worst.
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| JH
Forum Senior
Topics: 19
Posts: 76
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Dear wanderer, congratulations!
I am impressed by your such a high score within such a short review time(2.5 weeks only)! I am wondering, you must be very konwledgable.
If you don't mind, would you tell me when did you take your step 2? and if possible, what is your step 2 score?
Thanks a lot!!!
Best wishes.
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| wanderer
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 30
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Thanks HD, congrats to you too! my step 2 (June 06) score is 95.
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