njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
| | 08/14/07 - 09:01 AM
2 of 2 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
Took my step 1 exam on July 27, 2007. Went to bed at 10pm and fell to sleep around 11pm the night before. Woke up at 3am and managed to sleep again for 2 or 3 more hours. In the morning of July 27, I felt refreshed with six hours sleeping. Had a nutritious breakfast, two boiled eggs, one big bowl of soymilk and a sesame biscuit. Started off at 7:05am while my kids bombed me with tons of questions, like when to take them to friends' house, when to go to beach et al. (man, they got up even earlier than I did, 6:20am or something even though I had purposely kept them awake till 10pm the night before and wanted them to get up late).
Reached the center at 7:30am. While parking my car, I saw someone flapping through his flashcards in his car parked next to mine (found out later he was taking step 2 that day). I was a little bit nervous and wanted to do the same thing. Then I told myself it would be useless to me. So I just took my lunch and my permission document, my ID with me, didn’t bother to take any review material.
The proctors were nice. I was let in at about 8am. While sitting in front of my computer, I prayed to God that He would help to give me just the questions I know how to answer, I don’t care whether it would be hard or easy, since I knew I had worked hard and understood a lot of stuff now. Then I began my test, skipped the orientation part (actually directly move from screen 1 to the last screen of that part). The first question of my first block, was about a behavior science question. Had no idea. Dwell on it for over 1 min, then realize time issue, quickly clicked one answer and move on. The rest of questions seemed easy for me to answer since they look familiar to me, either from Kaplan Qbank, USMLE world, or from FA. I took a short break after that. Prayed again and thanked God for His help. It was amazing, the rest blocks were just the same as the first block. Most of them were concepts from the above resources I used (the only resources I used during my preparation), some of the questions, especially behavior science questions were unfamiliar to me. (maybe for behavior science, I should have used something else to deepen my knowledge). I was surprised that the similar questions were asked two or even three times in different block, of course in different aspect.
Overall, the exam seemed doable to me. I am thankful to God for that. The whole process, I kept praising God because I really did feel His love and help to me. Maybe that is a big reason I felt it easy. I know I will definitely pass. But prayed that I could get a decent score.
These waiting days were dreadful. At first, I kept calm because I look up to God. Took a week’s break, not thinking of that. But after the break, I could not help myself surfing this forum and read all the exam experiences. Then I really freaked out and thought maybe it was just my delusion that my exam was OK for me. So many people feel good about themselves after the exam, but the score disappointed them (maybe this will be my case). Strangely, so many people feel terrible of their performances, but they had amazingly high score. I just don’t understand why. But while you read the terrible feeling test takers' experiences, you know actually they studies really hard and smart for that.
Now after 10 more days of torturing myself with others experiences, I finally can keep it cool. I am telling myself whatever my result will be, I have no control of that now. Whether it will be a low score or a high score, I just have to accept it and move on. If I failed the test, I will take it next time with more confidence and more skills I learned. So I won’t even do Oasis trick because I know I will be in a terrible state for two or three days in that process. I now leave everything in God’s hands and wait patiently for the mail to come (It looked to me that this month, the result still comes by mail. Correct me if I am stupidly wrong).
Best of luck to everyone in the same boat with me. And best wishes to the future test takers.
Edited by njcjzy on 08/16/07 - 12:58 PM
|
| njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
| | 08/14/07 - 09:52 AM
3 of 3 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #2 |
After reading so many exam experiences, it looks to me that the difficulty degree is different in our tests. In another word, someone may get easier ones, someone will get difficulty ones. But if you worked hard and smart on your study, grasped the concepts they want you to grasp, you will do just the same on different tests. Maybe with different feeling after the test. (I know some people would scold me for claiming this cause I still didn't get my score. But I think I did a meta-analysis via a experiences search.  . Just kidding. )
|
| njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
|
Mainly used FA, Kaplan Qbank, UW Qbank. Put all the notes from Qbanks to my FA. The Qbanks(both Kaplan and UW) I scored 59% when I was still in a confused status. But manage to get almost every marked or wrong questions right at last. Went through FA with notes on for three times thoroughfully. Strengthened my weak areas such as biochem and pharm. Memorized all the pathways in biochem, all the enzymes et al. The last three days quick review FA the last time (because of a lot of notes there, it would become twice that thick). Scored simulated Kaplan 73% one month before the test. USMLE CD 79% two months before in the test center. Did not take NBME cause when I knew there are such tests it was too late for me, and didn't want to scare myself.
Just want to post those information now so you can get a clue whether my way of study is another good or bad way of preparation. Of course, every situation varies in different people.
Will inform my score after I receive it. (you should admire me with great courage here cause I may embarrass myself. But only if I can help here with the future test-takers, maybe including myself, I will do this).
|
| anuba
Forum Elite
Topics: 6
Posts: 449
|
Good luck with your result! You will pass !!
|
| njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
|
Thanks for your kind wish, Anuba.
|
| kudo
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 37
|
Is you oasis updated?
|
| bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 59
Posts: 909
|
good luck, wish you a great score!
just for your benefit, make sure the questions you posted above are not violating the USMLE agreement. i am not sure, if they are, but i am just suggesting you to be cautious. take care.
|
| P4a99
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 38
Posts: 2,388
|
I hope you do well ... let us know when you get your score ...
___________________
2008 Step 1 Study Plan Discussion ..... I am a moderator not a source for download links. Please do not ask me for any.
|
| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 438
|
Thanks a lot njcjzy, you explained everything very well. You prepared well ( as your Qbank percentage showes) and you were calm when on your exam, so there is nothing to worry about. With this Qbank result it is evident that you'll get a decent score.
The god is so great and I am sure that everyone who studied seriously will be paid. I have best wishes for you, and thanks again for sharing your experience.
___________________
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
|
| njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
|
Thanks, bioguy. I edited a little bit.
Praying4a99 and hedieh, thanks for your wishes. Will update you with my score. I guess it will come in next week.
|
| njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
|
Today checked my email, and saw one from onlineservices@ecfmg.org, which subjected as Your Score Report is Available. Opened https://oasis2.ecfmg.org. Did the following as they suggested: On the OASIS homepage, choose the "Go to OASIS" button and then log into your personal account by entering your USMLE/ECFMG identification number and password. Was so nervous, felt my heart racing so hard, while at the same time prayed. The PDF file finally was there, 238/99. I burst into tears and thanked God. He is the only one that I can always trust and depend on. I love Him so much and He loves me.
Thanks, my friends in this forum. If a very old graduate like me (1993) can do this with God's help, you can do this too! GL with everyone!
|
| angel^Doctor
Forum Guru
Topics: 34
Posts: 468
|
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW congratulations
seriously i was waiting to hear such a great new
amazing .. congratulation .... u wouldn't get it if u don't deserve it.. so ejoy it
___________________
The more I know, the more I don't know!
|
| njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
|
Thanks, angel^doctor. I am really thankful to God, to my family and to my friends for this. Now it is time to concentrate for the next step. GL to you too.
|
| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 438
|
Great!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!! Best wishes for you.
___________________
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
|
| yoga
usmlelogy professor
Topics: 73
Posts: 647
|
njcjzy wrote:
I burst into tears and thanked God. He is the only one that I can always trust and depend on. I love Him so much and He loves me.
Thanks, my friends in this forum. If a very old graduate like me (1993) can do this with God's help, you can do this too! GL with everyone!
u touch my heart
congrat dear & thanx 4 sharing
___________________
we are all in the gutter but some of us looking at the stars
|
| acintya
FOCUS on your Goal!
Topics: 7
Posts: 767
|
WHAT A SCORE!!!! You ACED IT!!! Congrats!
WOWOWWOW....thank you for sharing your experience and so humbly putting up your score!
___________________
Life is a Mind Game! Remember, obstacles aren't meant to prevent your success; they only slow you down and show you where you must work harder.
|
| njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
|
Thanks, hedieh, yoga and acintya! Best wishes to you too.
|
| njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
|
Got * on biochemistry, cardio system, GI system, hemato/lymph system, histo/cell biology,nervous system,pharmacology. So I guess FA, KaplanQ, UW cover these areaes pretty well. Not that good performance on Respiratory, nutrition, musculoskeletal system and behavior science.
Hope this helps with your study resources.
Edited by njcjzy on 08/22/07 - 09:37 AM
|
| P4a99
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 38
Posts: 2,388
|
Amazing!
___________________
2008 Step 1 Study Plan Discussion ..... I am a moderator not a source for download links. Please do not ask me for any.
|
| paheli
It'sAllAboutGoodKarma
Topics: 192
Posts: 2,560
|
good job!!
wishing you great luck for 2ck!!
___________________
Prepare as if you're the worst, Perform as if you're the best! As you dream, so you manifest. So, DREAM BIG!! When you face hardship, remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
|
| njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
|
Thanks, praying4a99 and paheli for your kind words. I know you guys are preparing for this now, hope all the best for you!
I really need to get offline now. Time to work hard for the next one.
|
| GOGETA
I'm Dr. GOGETA
Topics: 323
Posts: 2,720
|
very nice good luck on step2ck
___________________
As a general rule, the better it felt when you said it, the more trouble it's going to get you into.
|
| P4a99
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 38
Posts: 2,388
|
njcjzy & dncosata, almost just FA UW Qbank, and both got a nice 99 ...
we already asked dncosta about his education ( in order to make sure that that contributed in the little material great score sequence ) and he said Yes that he had excellent education in Brazil, so did you too have very good education? Im almost sure that you did but you said that you graduated in 93! so that confused me again.
___________________
2008 Step 1 Study Plan Discussion ..... I am a moderator not a source for download links. Please do not ask me for any.
|
| hopedoc
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 34
|
woooooow, congrats. Big encouragement for old imgs.
Is english your second language ?
Congrats again
|
| njcjzy
Forum Guru
Topics: 20
Posts: 739
|
Thanks Gogeta.
Hi praying4a99 and hopedoc, my education in China was not that bad. I guess the medical educational system in the whole world should be similar in their goals to make us good doctors. But in China, we were taught everything in Chinese. So for preparing step 1, my school experience didn't help me a whole lot. Of course, the basic medical foundations did help.
I used not only FA, UW, but also Kaplan Qbank. I know UW is highly recommended. But for me, Kaplan Qbank helped me a great deal too. It may seem weird that I used only those resources for a full-time study for 7 months. But I would say I really tried to digest all those materials. I repeated everything until I feel comfortable that if I see something similar, I can recognize and pick a right answer.
I had Goljan audio at hand, but never really went through that. I just listened while I exercised which was on and off 30 minutes per day and I let my thoughts flying during exercise time. I had old version of goljan book, but didn't have time to read. Was panic at last when so many people mentioned that. Tried very hard to read, but gave that thought up finally because of limited time. But I would strongly recommend his book and audio if you have time because I can tell he tried to put everything under one roof which will make our study easier.
Anyway, everyone has his or her way to reach their goal. We have to pick up a suitable way for ourselves to study and stick to it. For me, the main thing was to digest limited information and learn them by heart, not to go through too many resources since I am a slow reader and a easy distractor.
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
