viergewinnt
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 15
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Hey folks,
reading the experiences posted here helped me so much and this is why I want to share my experience with future test takers.
My background:
5th year med student from Germany. Had been abroad as an exchange student for the last 6 months and was doing electives during my entire time of studying.
Preparation time:
Exam was on Wed, Feb 27th. As I already mentioned, I had been at the hospital all the time and rarely had more than 3 hours /day to study, except of the weekends, when I studied one day, and relaxed the other day. So I started already in mid October. The last 4 weeks I had some chillout electives, and studied around 6 hours/d.
What I used:
First Aid: I read it cover to cover and was done with it beginning of December. I made a lot of notes. But I used Google a lot, when I had problems understanding parts of FA, or something seemed very important to me. I usually hate outlines, but FA is a must.
10 days prior to the exam I read it again cover to cover, just to revise all that I learned the last months. I did this 2nd read in about 5 days.
Usmleworld: I signed up for 3 months. And it was really worth it. For 3 months I have been doing nothing else than simulating exams (50q, all subjects, unused, timed).
Don't be frustrated if you start with 42%. I improved after about 10 exams. But: UW is NOT a self assessment tool! Do the exams, but more importantly read the explanations carefully! I spent about 1.5 h for the review of 50qs. Again, I used google a lot as a source...
Microbiology Made ridiculously simple: Great book!!!!!
BRS path (Schneider): I read it cover to cover in 3 days, about 2 weeks before the exam, before I reviewed FA. This is a great book and I'm glad that I read it.
BRS physio: I read the "biggies": Cardio, Renal, Respiratory.
During my 2nd read of FA I made a list of stuff I knew I could just remember for 1 or 2 days and went through this list the last 2 days (Antiarrythmic drugs eg...)
The exam:
I slept pretty good the night before. Before going to bed I went through the "list"
again. The one with the things I can barely remember.
I took the first two blocks in a row, with a one minute break between the two. I took a big break between 4 and 5 (20 min). and 10 min between the remaining blocks.
I felt like all blocks were equal in terms in difficulty. I marked about 10 questions per block, and had 8 to 10 min at the end of every block to review those. There were about 3 to 5 wtf (what the f...) q's in each block, but I think those might have been experimental.
Every topic was part of the exam, path was the biggest topic. Pharm and Microbiology was a LOT easier than UW! Other topics were also easier than UW.
Sometimes I had a strange feeling when I answered "knee-jerk" questions on the real exam. Because UW thought me always to think three times about a question.
After the exam I was pretty convinced that i passed, but I really had no idea whether it will be 190 or 230. I could barely remember 10 qs.
My score:
Just got it today at 8:38 AM eastern time. I was so suprised, glad and relieved when it read my score: 240/99!!! I couldn't believe my eyes! That was a lot more than I was expecting!
This is how I scored before:
UW: average 59%
NBME: Form 3 - 430 three weeks prior to the exam. But I was pretty distracted during this form... Form 4: 530 - 2 weeks prior to the exam. So both NBME forms underestimated my score, yet I studied a lot in those last 2 weeks.
Well, now it's over, believe in your self and that you can reach more than you believe!!!
Oh I forgot the other very important sources that gave me some extra motivation:
Rocky I II III and VI and "The pursuit of happiness"...
Go for it!
viergewinnt
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| hottie99
Forum Elite
Topics: 30
Posts: 548
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great job!! im taking it on 4/1, took pass program so reading thru those notes and doing goljan.. had done step 1 before, but didn't make it, so now just reviewing, and want to 'knock it out' hehee.. glad to read u post, and props for u great score!! i got my ck score today as well so im on a high but now back to reality of studying this step 1 stuff (ugh!!) anyways, wanted to say great job and congrats! any last minute things u wish u did?? 
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| step99
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 195
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congrats..its really motivating.since i have my exam next week.
Thanks and wish you good luck for step 2.
___________________
Shoot for the Moon.Even if you Miss..You will..land among the stars
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| vasorum
Forum Junior
Topics: 3
Posts: 24
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Congrats. for that great score, and thanx for sharing
ur experience with us.
i began uw two days ago, with a 46% score, i'd
like to take the the exam on may, do u think i can
improve my score? im aiming for >95.
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| viergewinnt
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 15
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@vasorum: Your scores will improve, I think the score I got most frequently was 68%, I had occacionally mid 70s. But as I said, UW is a terrible predictor, don't rely on it at all!!!!
@hottie99: Hmm, I felt it was a good idea to make a calendar for the the last three weeks, where I noted what I wanted to learn on each day. So I made sure that I didn't miss anything.
Oh something else, as soon as I took a seat in the test center I wrote down some physio formulas and the diagrams of the antiarrythmic drugs. BEFORE I started the exam! I think it's very convenient when you just have to look up the formula when you get the question...
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| hiprized
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 19
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thats a great score....im taking my exam in about a 3 weeks..i just took my NBME form 2 today...got 228..not what i was expecting..but ehh....but after reading your post gave me kind of confidence that maybe my score might get a little boost. from my expected NBME score. again congrats...have fun watching balboa.
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| AnneGermany
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 98
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What a great score! Herzlichen Glückwunsch!
I´m waiting for mine, took Step 1 3/13. Nervous....
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| sidiyaa
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 39
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congrats.. plz which is best to study anatomy from kaplan or HY?
I started with HY but I find it filled with a lot of unncessary clinical informations and need atlas. for this reason I shifted to kaplan. is it enough for the exam?
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| Ali 200736
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 47
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Hey ur experience was really helpful i have my exam on 17th of june..just wanted to know that wud it be wise to revise my annotated FIRST AID goljan audios n my USMLE WORLD questions in the last 3 weeks n take nbmes every 4th day or so what do u say?
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| viergewinnt
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 15
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@sidiyaa: Hmmm, I only did very little for Anatomy. Reading a whole book for anatomy is overkill in my eyes, as it's really low yield. I think what you should know very well are:
-cross sectional images of brain and abdomen
-Nerves supplying extremities.
I think those are the biggies.
@ali: Hard to say. I didn't use any Goljan stuff at all, I didn't have the time to listen to all the lectures. So I cannot say a lot about that. Concerning UW: When I was taking the 50q exams, I always made notes of all the questions I answered wrong or just got them right with luck (don't cheat yourself..). about 4 weeks prior to the exam I typed them separately subject by subject, so I had another chance to memorize what I did wrong...
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| sidiyaa
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 39
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THINK YOU viergewinnt for these helpful advices, at this time I know all the stuff about nerve supplyUL&LL, cranial nerve and I finished 2weeks ago a course of 4 weeks of radiology in my faculty ,so I can do well on CT ,MRI........ do you think that is enough?
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| viergewinnt
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 15
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oh, right I forgot to mention cranial nerves, ok if you call the head an extremity i didn't ;-)
hmm, ich think you covered all the important stuff and i'd really focus on the "biggies", pathology -> esp renal, cardiovascular and pulmology..
GOOD LUCK
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| sidiyaa
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 39
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thank you
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| trishamckane
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 13
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congratulations viergewinnt for a great score! Im taking step 1 in less than 6 weeks, was very disappointed with my Kaplan Qbank score of 48%.
But my score has no where to go but up, eh?
Good luck to everyone!
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| matthew2008
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 9
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Hi altogether,
Viergewinnt and AnneGermany is English your mother tongue?
I'm from Germany as well, I'm in my third year now and I wonder when to take the exam.
My English reading speed is not as fast as my German. My English is not much better than at the end of school time. So I wonder if it's neccessary to stay abroad for a longer time to be fast enough in English.
Thanks
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| AnneGermany
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 98
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Hi,
@matthew2008: english is not my mother tongue, in fact, it´s my 3rd language. Been with my husband for 3 years now and have been living in the States for 7.5 months.
If I was you, I would give it a try and pick up a book. Maybe First Aid and just try to read a couple of chapters. No pressure. Then try to read some questions and see how you manage.
Even though my english was pretty good, I had my difficulties at the beginning of my prep. I had a Thieme german-english medical dictionary and in the exam there was maybe 1-2 words that I totally didn´t
understand. So not a big deal.
I really think the USMLE is totally manageable concerning the language. And since the test style is similar to the german test style you should go for it!
By the way: doing a part of the german practical year in the States or even a "Famulatur" is always a big plus not only for the language but also on your curriculum vitae!
Good luck! Ask me any questions here or PM me.
Viel Glück!
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| viergewinnt
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 15
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Hey Matt,
I totally agree with with Anne and coincidentally English has been my third language too. I think understanding the questions really shouldn't be a big deal.
I just have two advices:
1.I think 3rd year is too early for Step 1. I know many people say it's the best time, because you still remember your "Vorklinik" stuff und just recently had Micro and Path, BUT: In my exam I was really glad that I already had my Internal Medicine Lecture, because the main focus in that exam lies on pathology and in most of the cases were describing a patient with a certain disease...
2. As Anne already said: I highly recommend going abroad for an elective or even PJ Tertial. It really helps, because you get to learn Medical English and it helps with your application!!!
Just let us know if you have any further questions!
viergewinnt!
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| matthew2008
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 9
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Thank you very much Anne and Viergewinnt,
that's my impression, too. Internal Medicine, neurology, gyn, derma seem to be good to have had before the exam, when I skim through some questions.
I have learned as much as possible out of English books for 6 months.
I applied for an elective in England in one or two dozens of hospitals but was not yet successful. "We don't take any overseas student" was always the same answer.
But I will continue to apply.
Do you think that end of 4th year would be a good point of time to take the exam?
Did you learn with the Kaplan DVDs?
Thanks a lot!
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| AnneGermany
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 98
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Hi,
had First Aid textbook, FA cases and FA Q&A! They worked perfectly for me.
Did USMLEWorld qbank and Kaplan qbank. Did NBME forms 1-3.
Also read my thread and score in this forum (AnneGermany´s thread and score).
Would highly recommend to take the exam after your 4th year.
I even thought that, since I´m a 2007 graduate, my whole PJ-experience and the 2. Stex experience helped me a lot.
Anyway, good luck to you and if you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Anne
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