caduceus
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finally...got a satisfactory score....97/234
was afraid to write ck experience...coz didnt knw how i did in exam..cant misguide people..
after getting step1 score of 93 was keen to get good one this time...kept telling myself wil get a good score throughout the preparation and also during gruellng 9 hours of examination..
one thing to say is this exam is nt all about your preparation it also includes your determination,your mcq skills and presence of mind on the exam day...and lots of prayers..
*have seen many people getting usmleworld mcqs percentage above 70% right from the first time..this shows their mcq skills and knowldge both..
*take your own time.....give exam only when you think you are ready and your mock tests at home suggests that you wl get your desired score.. time doesnt matter scores does
*i think 4-6 months are enough...bt it varies...dnt listen to people...take your own time
*take your 3 month slot only after you are done with your first reading of kaplan with dvds..
*most imp.dont compare.....know your capabilities and also your limitations...good score or bad score doesnt judge you as a good or bad doctor...this whole exam is just a means for selection for residency...that doesnt mean low score people cant be good doctors...
* make a schedule and stick to it...
anyways this is how my preparation goes:-
preparation time:- total 5 months + one week with many breaks in between...serious study-4 months
materials used:- kaplan books,first aid,medicine dvds
for mcqs- usmleworld, kaplan q book,kaplan q bank[did 30%]
for evaluation- nbme all forms offline version, kaplan simulated,
usmle cd both 2007 and 2008 version
schedule :- kaplan 1st reading + medicine dvds-1 month
kaplan 2nd reading + usmleworld subjectwise-1.5 month
kaplan 3rd reading + kaplan q book + first aid -1 month
usmleworld mcqs 2nd time + first aid = 21 days
kaplan 4th reading + uw notes +nbme +kap simulated = 21 days.
in short uw 3 times including one of reading notes only
kaplan 4 times
fa 2 times
score correlation:-
this formula works...it may be +/- 5
usmle world % + 30 = 2 digit score
kaplan simulated + 20 = 2 digit score
nbme offline/usmle cd % * 2.8 = 3 digit score
my scores :-
usmle world = 64 %
kaplan simulated = 74%
kaplan q book = 75 - 80%
usmle cd = 115/138...83.33%--->correlated with my actual score...
nbme offline = 224 form 1- 10 days before exam
bt let me tell you that i did nbme form 2 first and got only 200 -3 digit score...that was about 2.5 months before exam date.....couldnt sleep for a week...thought goin to fail this exam..and wnt get residency anywhere as nbme form 2 is considered to be correct predictor...
didnt want to spend money on online nbme...and was afraid to do it...
bt learnt from various forums and from experiences that its better to do usmle world twice -solving each and every question again with reading explanation in detail....made notes too.
reviews :-
*usmle world
dont ever go for exam without solving this...most important and to me i think its a book in itself...lots of information that kaplan lacks...if you are getting above 70% in one go..u may go for exam without doing it twice...
*kaplan
good information...bt lacks in dermatology...
for medicine write down the following in side blank columns that is given in kaplan beside each topic.
-best initial test
-most accurate test
-best initial treatment
-most accurate treatment
*fa
gr8 review book..didnt do crush so dnt knw....
dermatology should be done atleast
*dvds
watchd medicine dvds....really like conrad fischer lectures..
didnt watch gynaec dvds-felt sleepy while watching it ..
bt its said that watch medicine and obg dvds...
is it must?- i dnt thnk so...if you want and have time do watch it....
*evaluation
nbme is best....solve all 3 forms in last month
kaplan simulated...good one..bt questions are weird
kaplan q book......only read the explanation of wrong ones...nt good for evaluation
usmle cd...best one for correlation..especially in my case
exam day
stopped reading 4 days before exam day...watched 3 movies..
had a good sleep a night before...
on exam day took lots of cadbury dairy milk and one can red bull and 2 bottles of orange pulp...
so had lots of glucose to stimulate my brain
also took combiflam coz cant sit for 9 long hours....took 3 tablets in total during exam....had neck and back pain...
breaks--took it after every block for about 6 minutes...
anyways its over now...relieved....
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| hir
Forum Elite
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wow...great score, congratulations!!!!!!!!!!
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| oldkidontheblock
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Congrats......Goodluck for match
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| Ujk
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Congratulations
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| caduceus
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thanks
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| bax
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congratulation caduceus_indya
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| mitthoo
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congrats gr8 score u deserve it..
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| RX 135
tormenta
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| smalley
Forum Elite
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congrats indya.....real cool score....
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| samusa
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Way to go....Congrats!!!!
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| zolpidem
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congrats dude....nice post
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| sfk
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congrats. nice post..
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Forum Elite, But Step 2 Newbie....
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| caduceus
Forum Guru
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thank you all...
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| dara_bc2002
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Congratulations !!! Great Job ! Very impressive !
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| nany
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congratulations
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| caduceus
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| damian33
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Nice Job .Caduces way to go Thanks for your experience
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| caduceus
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thanks
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| inkspot
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congrats!
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Aagae Aagae Dekho hota hai kiya !!!
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| caduceus
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| anuba
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Congratulations!!
How did you do UW? Did you make notes?Thanks for your anticipated reply.
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| caduceus
Forum Guru
Topics: 86
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usmle world i did first time in untimed tutor mode subjectwise...
2nd time i had the same pattern...bt i did it after a gap of month...so was taking more time...
uw notes i made myself...wrote imp.points its really painful task and sometimes you get tired of writing everythng..coz every point in uw is worth remembering...
had a glimpse of floridaguy notes which are here in prep4 forums....they are really good...
bt its always better to make your own notes...
kaplan q bank did 30%-- rest i read the notes which i have posted in forums...
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| caduceus
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here you go for kaplan notes
http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/thread/63810/
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| DR.ELSADIG
Forum Newbie
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goood job and congratulations.
i wonna ask you , i only have kaplan live lectures in mP3 format (audio) ..... does it worse it to buy videos .... or audio is ok too
thank you
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| Ivonne
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Excelent score. Congratulations!!!!
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