TooN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 5
| | 04/11/07 - 05:08 AM
0 of 2 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
Hey guys... I've been visited this website for a year and haven't replied much on any topic. However, I feel very thankful for you all, not only for your support but also your experience.
And today, I'd like to share myself...
I'm a different guy with the previous topic who also got 236 and 99!!! For SURE >>>>> I'm also surprised with the score since I've been told all the time that the average score of three digits for 99 is 244.... How's this possible to be.... BUT I'M GUARANTEED for my score...
By the way, I must say that my way of preparation may differ a lot from most of people and I've got a very little time to prepare..
First of all, I'm in the last year medical school in Thailand. I've taken step 1 in 6th march and got my result back on 11th APRIL !!! What a long time!!!! But I'm so happy with the result which I've never thought of before (believe me)
In my country, not everyone would expect the USMLE as a part of their study . So it's quite extraordinary for most of us..
I've started thinking of USMLE on March 2006 and start preparation from the following sequence...
1. Mar 2006 - Jan 2007: KAPLAN VDO: It took me a long long long and long time to watch it. I've tried to finish it in 3 mo periods but believe me, it's almost impossible to do. ( at least for me) finally it ended
2. I've decided not to take step 1 or delay my exam for a while at first place. However I had my decision to go for it in the very short time to prepare left. 2 Mo!!!! How on earth would it be possible.
3. I started from my strongest part first to the weakest last (Mostly in KAPLAN lecture note)
Biochemistry: I've read it for 1 1/2 wk
Anatomy: I've read it for only 4 days
physiology: for 1 1/2 wk
Pathology: I read along with my KAPLAN VDO period --> the only one I used other books than KAPLAN: BRS PATHOLOGY, revised the second time for 5 days
Microbio: 1 wk
Behav: 3 days (I skipped the epidemiology part)
pharm: 1 1/2 wk
4. The rest 2 wk was:
Q books : 1 1/2 wk
First aids: 3 days (not finished, just about 20%)
5. last 2 days: still working with Q book: I've got 80%-85% on average. not done NMBE nor Q bank (actually I want to do it, but don't have time)
6. the day before: relaxing, read first aids for a bit, try to sleep the same time of everyday in that week, prepare the food for the test day, pray before got to bed. However, I didn't sleep until 2.00 am and I found out that it was very important to get enough rest.
7. test day:::: get to the testing centre 10 min before, get prepared and ready to work.... no more books.
8. exam:.... First block, very excited, my hands were shaking and sweating. My heart beat fast.... And the end of block ... huh.. 6 blocks more to go. I had a break for every block for at least 5 min, I skipped the intro part which exactly the same with the USMLE CD sent before.
The last block was very tired and I wanted to quit right away.. I've got wrong at least 10 points from the last block... AND IT"S DONE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT issue about USMLE is the TIME management!
From the start of your preparation to the last minute of your exam, all are time concerned. Manage your time of study well will reduce your stress of catching your schedule and pressure. And also, the exam, I wish I could have more time to examine all of the info provided for each Q but I couldn't. I have to skim and scan for the key word of exam and find the answer right away. Don't spend too much time for a single Q.
This was my timeline of study.... I would like to say that I havent' spent a lot of time on other materials just mainly KAPLAN lecture note and BRS pathology. I found that anatomy, biochem, physio are very useful in KAPLAN but microbio, pharm are so so. One of the best is behav, of course. I've tried to memorize all the material in Lecture note and I realized that no way you can do it, just 50% of those you will be fine.
Q book's very useful for me, I can evaluate myself on the weak point of each subject and also in the exam at the end of each chapter of KAPLAN notebook (I've surprised with some of the Q in the ... oops can't say) And also, if you have time, FIRST aids is the bible of step 1, I was miserable after the test since I hadn't finished it. If you can remember all the content there, you can get 90 up easily.
My way of study may seem quite unbelievable and like a magic especially for me  I've just shared this experience for those who don't have much time for preparation will get some support that they will be not that bad. Some tricks are you have to be familiar with your material preparation since you are studying in medical school. I mean you should use the any prep books like KAPLAN, FA or BRS along with your general study at your med school. If you do so, when the time comes, you won't have to prepare too much like me
Well, I hope that my experience will help someone more of less. If you find this essay very useful, i would be totally happy. If not, I would like to apologize you for any ....
THanks for all
TooN
PS: support me for taking step 2 on this Nov
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| Hotobhaga
Forum Elite
Topics: 41
Posts: 180
|
Congrats Toon on the fantastic score. I too appeared on the 5th of March but am yet to recieve my score. Oasis says I have passed though. Any body from India here who apppeared during this time and has got their score?
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USMLE preparation is all about discovery. Discovery of your own capabilities....Julia Perch MD (iprep)
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| oldsparkie
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 10
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Congrats for your good score.
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| MRMAVERICK
Forum Guru
Topics: 42
Posts: 749
|
congrats
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| Luckyall
Forum Guru
Topics: 11
Posts: 593
|
Congrats ! GL for your st 2
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| pocas
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 169
|
wow,congratulations
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| ShweHope99.9998
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 12
Posts: 2,675
|
Congratulation, Good Luck for your next steps.
Your kaplan books, VDO , First Aid, Q book , what yrs are those ?
How many time for kap books, VDO, Q books, BRS path, First Aids, Q bank, NBME you have go through , read ? DVO only 1st time with kap books or every time or how many times VDO with or with out along with kap books ?
Are you using them all only after med school , or when & totally how long , how many hr a day for the prep like seriously + non seriously ?
The exam is solely, mainly doable to get 99 based on the kap , BRs , Q , FA study only as you said or because of also due to your recent med school knowledge with , all your med school learning , studying books ,material, training, clinical as med student too or not ?
Thank you .
GL to your st 2
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 436
|
Congrajulations 4 ur great score!
ur experince was so useful, thank you.
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Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
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| TooN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 5
|
Well, .... To ShweHope99.9998 and other fellows
By the way, thanks for reading my experience I'm so happy that it's an advantage for someone
About your questions:
1. I used 2004 KAPLAN book, First Aids 2006, VDO 2003 (I guest)..
2. I watched VDO for 1 time, I swear. ONLY ONCE but with highly concentrated on them. I've tried to understand all of the contents right away coz I believe that it's the best way to remember and understand them for long long time. If I felt asleep, I will go to bed right away, no more tolerance for the sleepiness.
3. I read step1 seriously 8 wks for KAPLAN and 3 wks for BRS. I read them all once thoroughly and I've tried to figure out all those contents after each chapter. My technique is to recite them after each chapter out loud. Oh, the review Q after each chapter are also very crucial. They will help you determine the weak point in u.
4. And after each block of Q book, I will read those subjects again for a glance, just for some particular points. Something that missed during I'm bathing. something like that.
This mean I read about twice and watched it for once actually. Trust me, Q book is one of the best for reviewing. Try to know all the choices provided in each Qs.
5. First Aids is do have very very essential contents and worth memorizing and I'm sure that if you can recite all those in FA, U can beat USMLE easily. However, you will need a lot of basic understanding of clinical science and FA will help u more in some point that u need to remember and recall in the exam.
6. I didn't get through Qbank nor NMBE due to some financial problem and time limited so I don't really quite sure whether they are worked or not. Sorry for that.
7. Yes, solely KAPLAN (50% of them that u have to remember but 100% that U have tu understand well), Q book, FA and BRS patho. I review BRS twice but FA only a bit. Most of the Question in step1 will ask you to interpret and imply the in-depth understanding of medicine. So, understand is a bit outweighed than remember. However, you will have to remember some info more to succeed better score.
8. I spent 6 hrs per day on weekdays (since I'm still med student) and about 10 hrs during weekends. My style was to get the best of rest before the best of read. Your brain needs time for synapsing some new information. Enough food is also essential. And I'd been like that in the whole 10 wks.
9. Well, I'm not overstated that only this preparation will achieve the goals. You've got to have some basics. You can advise the 1st yr med student to do this prep. And lots of my folks here do only these. However, if you have more time, the more u read the more u get.
10. If you do have some more available time, recall those patho pics both gross and micro. I found out that some of these will help you in answering some questions (at least 10 for easily looking at the pic without reading any Qs) And also interpret the figure provided.
11. Someone,SAM27, ask me, how to remember those stuffs for long. I must say, I cannot either. I just can do like only understanding of material and know how to find out when it's come to mind. Some technique is that try to link some bridges between each subject. For example, link the histopathogenesis of TB with the microbial type, DOC, mech of action, Immunity, and pathophysiology that would be the sequele of them. Do like this and u will find out that all of them will be sticked together like in the real exam and real life. And you will be familiar with all stuffs easily. believe me
12. during the exam day, DON'T start the first block, right away. Try to relax and get back your concentration. The clock will count you on since you log in immediately and you will be panicked and frustrated
Well, Please feel free to ask me any Qs
GL you all
And thanks again for your supports
TooN
|
| TooN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 5
|
Well, .... To ShweHope99.9998 and other fellows
By the way, thanks for reading my experience I'm so happy that it's an advantage for someone
About your questions:
1. I used 2004 KAPLAN book, First Aids 2006, VDO 2003 (I guest)..
2. I watched VDO for 1 time, I swear. ONLY ONCE but with highly concentrated on them. I've tried to understand all of the contents right away coz I believe that it's the best way to remember and understand them for long long time. If I felt asleep, I will go to bed right away, no more tolerance for the sleepiness.
3. I read step1 seriously 8 wks for KAPLAN and 3 wks for BRS. I read them all once thoroughly and I've tried to figure out all those contents after each chapter. My technique is to recite them after each chapter out loud. Oh, the review Q after each chapter are also very crucial. They will help you determine the weak point in u.
4. And after each block of Q book, I will read those subjects again for a glance, just for some particular points. Something that missed during I'm bathing. something like that.
This mean I read about twice and watched it for once actually. Trust me, Q book is one of the best for reviewing. Try to know all the choices provided in each Qs.
5. First Aids is do have very very essential contents and worth memorizing and I'm sure that if you can recite all those in FA, U can beat USMLE easily. However, you will need a lot of basic understanding of clinical science and FA will help u more in some point that u need to remember and recall in the exam.
6. I didn't get through Qbank nor NMBE due to some financial problem and time limited so I don't really quite sure whether they are worked or not. Sorry for that.
7. Yes, solely KAPLAN (50% of them that u have to remember but 100% that U have tu understand well), Q book, FA and BRS patho. I review BRS twice but FA only a bit. Most of the Question in step1 will ask you to interpret and imply the in-depth understanding of medicine. So, understand is a bit outweighed than remember. However, you will have to remember some info more to succeed better score.
8. I spent 6 hrs per day on weekdays (since I'm still med student) and about 10 hrs during weekends. My style was to get the best of rest before the best of read. Your brain needs time for synapsing some new information. Enough food is also essential. And I'd been like that in the whole 10 wks.
9. Well, I'm not overstated that only this preparation will achieve the goals. You've got to have some basics. You can advise the 1st yr med student to do this prep. And lots of my folks here do only these. However, if you have more time, the more u read the more u get.
10. If you do have some more available time, recall those patho pics both gross and micro. I found out that some of these will help you in answering some questions (at least 10 for easily looking at the pic without reading any Qs) And also interpret the figure provided.
11. Someone,SAM27, ask me, how to remember those stuffs for long. I must say, I cannot either. I just can do like only understanding of material and know how to find out when it's come to mind. Some technique is that try to link some bridges between each subject. For example, link the histopathogenesis of TB with the microbial type, DOC, mech of action, Immunity, and pathophysiology that would be the sequele of them. Do like this and u will find out that all of them will be sticked together like in the real exam and real life. And you will be familiar with all stuffs easily. believe me
12. during the exam day, DON'T start the first block, right away. Try to relax and get back your concentration. The clock will count you on since you log in immediately and you will be panicked and frustrated
Well, Please feel free to ask me any Qs
GL you all
And thanks again for your supports
TooN
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| mytimenow
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 209
|
congrats
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| angel^Doctor
Forum Guru
Topics: 35
Posts: 477
|
Wow,
ur inspiring
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The more I know, the more I don't know!
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| kity
Certified.............
Topics: 32
Posts: 1,059
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congratulations & Thanks for your experience.. It was usefull
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NO PAIN .. NO GAIN ..
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