ms_naidu
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 8
| | 11/23/07 - 10:10 AM
2 of 2 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
Hi everyone,
I have been a regular visitor of this website from 2005, but honestly I have never posted a single message here. But now after I got my step 3 results , I realized I have to contribute a piece of my mind to this forum and to all those who are preparing for step 3.
Just like all the others, I did USMLE World for a month thoroughly, got 55 overall. Then read First Aid once, Crush once ( very casually), Steps 123 for ccs and world ccs. Then I took the nbme exam 2 weeks before my actual exam, I got 320. Honestly I did not even know that 320 is very bad, then I looked up the forum and I was shocked, it meant that my 2 digit score was 71. I got really nervous, but wanted to finish the exam on the date I decided. But fear is something that once it gets into your system no matter how hard you try you cannot perform well.
Then, I realized that I cannot walk into the exam with 71 in my mind. I decided to postpone the exam. The next available date was 3 weeks after my actual exam date, which means I have 5 weeks to prepare. During those 5 weeks I never wasted any time. I did First Aid really well and I loved the book. Every single line in the book could be a possible question on the exam. Then I did steps 123 MCQs. they are a lot. some Qs could drive you crazy or even confuse you, but it is really helpful. If you feel you need to do more Qs do it for a week. Crush looks like a very simple book but it is helpful. World CCS are extremely High yield, not only for CCS but it also covers a lot of theory which is helpful for MCQs. I also did Step 3 Q book. Pschiatry tests are good. The Qs look very basic but do as much as you can if you have time. The tables, ethics and statistics in the beginning of the Q book are useful. Do read it. FA CCS 100 cases is concise and high yield.
The main thing you have to keep in mind while preparing for this exam is that your the Primary Care Doctor managing patients in an Office, ER or on the Floor. Don't forget that AMGs take this exam after doing atleast 1 year of residency. So this exam tests you on your decision making capabilities. Do you treat the patient right away or do you refer the patient to a consultant. Such kind of things are tested. The more you read and know what to do in each case, the more it helps you in doing well on the exam. Planning is very important. Divide your time for MCQs and CCS. Spend more time for MCQs. Although it is very important to know your CCS cases thoroughly try and do it in less time. Practice, practice, practice on the comp with your cd.
Finally on the exam day try and relax, dont ever think about what your score will be like, just take each Q one at a time and make the best choice. You will face a lot of Qs where you feel you have no clue what to mark or you may be confused with 2 options, mark what you think is best and go ahead. Don't ponder over a Q for a long time, its not going to do any good. Time management is key, if your cautious from the beginning you will be lucky to get 2-3 mins extra at the end.
I got my results 2 days back and I got 200/82. I am very happy. My message to all of you is that if you get a bad score on NBME don't freak out, if you need to postpone the exam, do it, the extra weeks of studying really helps. Good Luck!
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| sprint123
Forum Guru
Topics: 129
Posts: 870
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Congratulations ms naidu...Your post was really helpful and good luck on your match
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| egomez2001
Forum Guru
Topics: 51
Posts: 930
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Congratulations ms!, you´re done!
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| ms_naidu
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 8
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Thank you. Good luck to you guys!
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| deja_vu
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 219
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congrats ms_naidu.. 
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| smal
Forum Guru
Topics: 140
Posts: 727
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congratulations,
can u please tell what day & time did u receive ur result?does FSMB get updated along with ur result in mail or rather which gets updated and when,just want to know ur experience.
thanks
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remedy for weakness is not brooding over it ,but thinking of strength.
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| egomez2001
Forum Guru
Topics: 51
Posts: 930
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FSMB gets updated before you recieve your result by email...
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 33
Posts: 2,350
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Congrats, thanks for sharing.
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When men make the rules, God decides the exceptions.
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| kity
Certified.............
Topics: 31
Posts: 1,066
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CONGRATULATIONS & Thanks for sharing.
GL for match
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NO PAIN .. NO GAIN ..
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| anastamosis
Forum Senior
Topics: 34
Posts: 167
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Congratulations ms_naidu. Is the steps123 CCS sotware good enouh for actual exam CCS practise?
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THE HIGHER YOU AIM, THE HIGHER YOU REACH !! My contacts are as follows ==> yahoo id --> anastamosis_e2e;gmail id --> anastamosis;Skype id --> anastamosis
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| drfax
Forum Elite
Topics: 21
Posts: 233
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hi
please can any tell me if I can get a residency with a step 1 score of 80% , I'm still a med student and I can do much better on step 2 (because I was in a tough situation during studying for step 1)
thank u in advance
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My best friends are these Gentlemen :Why & How.
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| ms_naidu
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 8
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Thanks,
smal- Step 3 score is reported on the third Wednesday after your exam at 12 midnight. you will get the email few hours later. check your results on the candidate website.
anastomosis- The steps123 CCS software is very useful. you get into the practice of typing a bunch of orders at one time. you can also assess your mistakes and know where you gain and lose points. But it is different from the actual exam software. so I suggest after you finish your steps123 do cases on the usmle cd so you get the hang of how its going to be on the real exam.
drfax- scores do matter during the residency match. but nobody can predict anything about who might match and who might not. good luck for your step 2!
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| drfax
Forum Elite
Topics: 21
Posts: 233
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thank u
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My best friends are these Gentlemen :Why & How.
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