andre_madias
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 27
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Well I just would like to share my experience because I think it that might be useful or encouraging…
I decided to take the exam 6 months ago, it was a tough decision since i´m already a resident in my country (urology 2nd year in Portugal) and my “boss” didn´t like the idea…
During the first 4 months I studied about 6 hours per day and in the final 2 months about 10 hours.
Books I used: First Aid that I consider a must but not enough, Kaplan books for each subject, Kaplan Qbook and Kaplan Qbank, Goljan notes (those 100 pages) and Tommy notes.
My exam: I considered my exam difficult, I had a lot of immunology questions, weird psychology questions, some hard molecular biology questions. Kaplan Qbook and Qbank question were easier.
What would I have changed in my studying plan? I think we have to memorize a lot of details but I found my exam more integrative.
It´s important to know all biochemistry pathways and be able to identify them fast.
A lot of pharmacology question are presented as a diagram and not as straightforward questions.
I would definitely do USMLE world, after my exam I saw a couple of questions from this bank and they were more similar to real exam questions than Kaplan Qbank.
My scores were Kaplan Qbank: average of 80%, Kaplan Qbook 78 % , USMLE cd 46/50; 42/50; 44/50
I did the oasis trick and it said I passed. Obviously i´m very very happy since it was a tough journey and besides my family and my tutor during my general surgery year (a surgeon that did a similar process about 30 years ago) I had no support at all.
To finish just would like to wish good luck for those that are studying, please remember this is a marathon not a fast race, don´t give up and do integrative questions with tons of diagrams and pathways so you can be better prepared than I was.
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| P4a99
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 44
Posts: 2,431
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Congratulations .. wish you a great score
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2008 Step 1 Study Plan Discussion ..... I am a moderator not a source for download links. Please do not ask me for any.
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| oldkidontheblock
Forum Guru
Topics: 60
Posts: 928
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Thanks for sharing your experience........wish you a great score.
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Malcolm Forbes: Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat
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| ShweHope99.9998
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 12
Posts: 2,714
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Hi,
Thanks for the pharm , bioch, mole , immu, psycho... Behav Sc I guess info.
So lippin pharm will it be good to go with kap LN in that case ?? Any suggestion re; the lippin pharm ??
Your QB v. high , you will get high score, wish you good score .
How to prep 6 mo with that hr of study only to get that high QB score. Do shed detail books, Q, hr, days for each study with how many repeat , how to study in short 6 mo with high QB % .
Thank you,
GL in score & next steps.
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| zolpidem
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 80
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songrats...
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| vanilla
Forum Junior
Topics: 11
Posts: 74
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Congratulations!!!!!
wish u ur dream score.....
thaks for your exam experience.....
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| andre_madias
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 27
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Well I don´t think 6 months is a short period of time, as a matter fact i read some experiences about people taking the exam after 3-4 months of study.
My strongest subject was pathology and physiology. These subjects are heavily tested in portuguese residency examination and as i did this test recently i suppose i was better prepared and that is the reason why kaplan scores are high.
When the questions were more about genetics and immunology my scores were lower but the average of all tests was 78-80%.
I think lippin pharm is a good option though i didn´t use it as a reference book in my study, i only know it from my college time. If you had the chance to add it to some usmleworld questions it will be great.
I read all subjects from Kaplan 3 times and FA many times. I consulted BRS pathology a couple of times but i didn´t read the entire book. I didn´t use any other book.
For imaging i visited webpathology several times, it´s a free website with gross anatomy, CT´s and MRI´s and some histology pictures. I think it was very useful.
I think that in 6 months it´s possible to study a lot of things it depends the way you use your time, probably you will be able to take the exam in a shorter period of time...it will depend on your study!
Wish you luck
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| P4a99
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 44
Posts: 2,431
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I feel like im reading a high 90er's experience
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2008 Step 1 Study Plan Discussion ..... I am a moderator not a source for download links. Please do not ask me for any.
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 435
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Good luck 4 ur score andrias, and thanks for sharing ur experience.
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Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 435
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I must add that you mentioned your experience very thoughtful. Especially I liked the comparing USMLE with a MArathone race rahter than a fast speed one.
I wish the best for you.
___________________
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
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| dncosta
Licensed, finally
Topics: 19
Posts: 603
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Congratulations, I am sure your score is great
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| grkchicmd2b
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 40
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congratulations, i am sure you did wonderfully. I wish you the best. Pray for me, mine is tomorrow!
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| andre_madias
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 27
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good luck for you, i´m sure you will do great!
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| Isther
Forum Guru
Topics: 39
Posts: 743
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Congratulations & Good Luck
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Useful information for USMLE and the residency matching process at http://www.usmlematch.com
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| ShweHope99.9998
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 12
Posts: 2,714
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Thank you for insight re; pharm etc.
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| vwilldoit
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 177
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all the best for your scores...
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just do it .....
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| Feyza
Forum Guru
Topics: 49
Posts: 1,436
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a 90+ is going to Portugal soon I hope
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O my Lord! Open my chest for me ( grant me self-confidence ) and ease my task for me.Ta-Ha 25-26.
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