hey guys i have ck in 6 weeks and just started studying. my greatest challenge right now is studying the extremely detailed USMLE world explanations.it takes sooooooooo long to get thru 1 block and i have to juggle this with reading books and working. it's tough.any ideas?
young_doc Forum Guru
Topics: 55 Posts: 732
07/06/07 - 04:24 PM
#2
Took me about 2-3 hours per block... so don't worry you're not the only one.
But BE GLAD that the explanations are sooooooooo long!!! The explanations help a lot. Other question sources i've done like Blueprints Q&A have answers that are like 2-3 lines, which doesn't help when you need to know not only why the answer is what it is, but also why other answers are wrong.
G'luck!
___________________ First Aid is my Bible...
DeltaF508 Forum Junior
Topics: 15 Posts: 67
07/06/07 - 07:10 PM
#3
Speed reading course? But seriously, there is no alternative to actually settling down and reading the material. You'll be much happier that you read all of it when you write the exam.
dncosta Licensed, finally
Topics: 19 Posts: 604
07/06/07 - 07:23 PM
#4
Agree
It may seem boring, but it will worth the pain.
eida Forum Senior
Topics: 15 Posts: 112
07/06/07 - 08:54 PM
#5
ok.thanks a lot.i'll keep trying.
DrVirgo Forum Hero
Topics: 1043 Posts: 3,345
07/11/07 - 07:41 PM
#6
I'm having the same problem. I plan on doing 2 blocks of UW everyday. It takes 2 hours to do them, and then another 4 hours just to review them, and half my day is over!
___________________ Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
GLO MD Forum Guru
Topics: 9 Posts: 815
07/12/07 - 01:52 AM
#7
Do what I did I.... only read the final summary statement....I never looked at the entire explanation...I just saw it if I had the wrong answer and I did not understood why the correct answer was another one... That way I could do 2 blocks per day (1 hour in each block) and check my answers in one hour (for the 2 blocks)...I used only 3 hours for the bank per day and that way you can use the rest of your time to study. Also I recommend doing notes on the things that you got wrong and you think you will forget afterwards, that way before doing your wrong answers again (when you finish the bank and if you fill like doing your wrong answers again to see if you learned from your mistakes) you can read your notes before and then give it a try and you see how much you improved...if you don't take notes believe me you will forget because it's a lot of info and you will get it wrong again in the bank and in the real exam. Summary: Don't read the whole thing for each question...that is a big waist of time...you will burn out and not study material and will keep getting the same mistakes...just focus on your wrong answers and go directly to the summary statement at the end of the explanation...in case that the summary doesn't clear out why the answer was what it was...THEN AND ONLY THEN you can screen through the whole info...that way you can do the whole thing in one hour. ___________________ Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground....Theodore Roosevelt
DrVirgo Forum Hero
Topics: 1043 Posts: 3,345
07/12/07 - 08:04 PM
#8
GLO MD wrote:
Also I recommend doing notes on the things that you got wrong and you think you will forget afterwards,
Yup, thats the part that takes the MOST time... But thanks for the advice... I'll try to do that and see if I speed up. ___________________ Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
The explanations help a lot. Other question sources i've done like Blueprints Q&A have answers that are like 2-3 lines, which doesn't help when you need to know not only why the answer is what it is, but also why other answers are wrong. 
