flyingpenguin
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 27
| | 09/25/07 - 11:30 AM
2 of 2 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
I took step 1 yesterday, and would like to share my experience with all of you. Generally speaking, it's not difficult knowledgewise, but do have some tricky parts. The questions are more similar to UW, requiring you to know the whole picture with a little bit reasoning, but not too much details. So I think I am overprepared for the knowledge part, but not well prepared psychologically.
Most of the questions are high-yield pathology questions, a lot of respiratory questions combined with physiology, several CTs, a lot of cardiology qs, 2 brainstem sections. Just less than 20 microbiology qs, mostly fungi, one salmonella, one E.coli, one listeria, etc. very few biochemistry qs. Pharmacology qs are simple, FA is more than enough. Behavioral science is mainly physician-patient relationship, very tricky, I can only narrow down to 2 choices.
I am not feeling good about my exam, mainly because of wrong strategy, which made me feel frustrated throughout the exam. I had good scores in UW and NBME, but seems my real exam performance was not even close---just didn't have the ability to deliver. Still have to wait for 4 weeks for the result. It's driving me crazy....
Here are some lessons from my exam:
1, don't mark too much qs, you wouldn't have time to review them, and it can only make you feel nervous
2, don't change your answers unless you are 100% sure----it's easier said than done. Turned out, I changed some qs from right to wrong
3, if there is a q you totally have no idea, just skip it. Just pick one choice and don't even mark it.
4, don't linger on one q for too long, even if you know you can do it right when you have 3 minutes. Just mark it, and do it after you finish.
5, have a good rest the week before your exam. A freshend mind is more important than what you learn within that week. In my case, I went to details of pharmacology and biochemistry and some pathology during my last week, and turned out the work was totally futile. Although I spent the weekend boating and shopping, I still don't feel relaxed enough, because it was too much intense work earlier.
Here is what I can think of now. Not in a happy mood. I will add something more if I can think of anything else.
Wish everyone good luck
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| dr ruman
Forum Elite
Topics: 32
Posts: 369
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hye,,, em pretty convinced and sure that u will get very very good score
dont let post exam decrease sympathetic activity (fight,fight,fight the exam,which is low after fighting exam) let u down ...... hope for best,when u tried for best then let everything at a loose end but trust in God at best end.................so wish u best alllllll,enjoyyyyyyyy its ur time to fun,take a chill bill ,my codeword for relaxation and fun with family
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Living each day as a preparation for the next is an exciting way to live. Looking forward to something is much more fun than looking back at something—so lets do it together
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| flyingpenguin
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 27
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Thank you very much
I will take this week off, just golf, guitar and painting, and of course, some housework. Use my defense mechanism of suppression, don't think about the exam until I get my score.
Wish you good luck too
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| medicus_81
Forum Elite
Topics: 12
Posts: 432
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everybody feels this way after the exam!!! this is just soooo normal - remembering only the stuff you got wrong... I am sure you will do really well! Wish you a great, great score!!!!
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| nyimalay
Forum Elite
Topics: 11
Posts: 295
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Congratulation!! I m sure you will get great score. My exam is only 3days away. Thank you very much for your treasured advice on exam taking strategy. I m feeling not ready for exam though I did pretty good on UW and NBME. What should I do in my last days..
Wishing you for Great score,
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| flyingpenguin
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 27
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Thanks.
Hi, nyimalay, my suggestion is, for the next 3 days you just relax, read something randomly just to make yourself feel good, not in the hope of encountering something you read in the exam. Your knowledge is already determined long ago, so 3 days' reading does no good. Most important thing is keep energized, sleep well (sleep as much as you could), so that even if you could not fall asleep the night before the exam (trust me, it happens), you will still have enough energy to do well in the exam.
Best wishes for you.
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| medocuk
IM-RES
Topics: 26
Posts: 1,466
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I kinda disagree, that one cannot pick up their scores or knowledge base in the last 3 days. NEVER forget the power of last miute work.
If u don't know your calculations well, this might be agood time to go through them. Or to revise all your physio pharmac graphs as you will definitely get those.
I agree that if you have been studying for 3 months and you haven't yet completed your first reading, you are in for trouble. But you have been getting good scores in UW. Now would be the time to consolidate all your knowledge. Make sure you know your FA and also Goljan if u were using that as your study material.
Also do relax. A lot of people ruin their exam because of anxiety. I have done it too.
Good luck. In 3 days you can change the world. So good luck.
nyimalay wrote:
Congratulation!! I m sure you will get great score. My exam is only 3days away. Thank you very much for your treasured advice on exam taking strategy. I m feeling not ready for exam though I did pretty good on UW and NBME. What should I do in my last days..
Wishing you for Great score,
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| medocuk
IM-RES
Topics: 26
Posts: 1,466
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Interesting feed back. Thanks for your EE.
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| nyimalay
Forum Elite
Topics: 11
Posts: 295
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Thank you very much flyingpenguin and medocuk.
Both of your suggestions are great!!
So I will read FA and do calculation( i m weak in it) in a relaxed mood.
Thanks.
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