fringerator
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Here is what I did and the results that I got.
My situation is that I decided to wait until the end of a 5yr surgical specialty residency to take Step 3...a bad idea since I hadn't given peds, neuro, internal med or psych much thought at all for 5yrs. If you are in a similar situation perhaps this will help you.
For reference, my Step 2 score was 208.
I got the Kaplan Q book for Step 3. I started studying about 1 month prior to the exam.
At first I did 10 questions at a time, and reviewed the answers / explanations carefully after each set of 10. If I didn't understand the explanation then I just googled some key terms to figure it out. About halfway through the month I switched to doing 15-25q's at a time to build up my "endurance." At the end I also did the USMLE practice test online, including the clinical simulation stuff. I did the entire q book and the USMLE software practice tests, that's it.
Here are the results I got on the Qbook practice (in the order that I did them):
IM1 68%
Neuro1 64%
Ob/Gyn1 70%
Peds1 38%
Psych1 74%
Peds2 48%
IM2 54%
Neuro2 62%
Ob/Gyn2 58%
Peds3 62%
Peds4 54%
IM3 54%
Surg1 74%
IM4 66%
Ob/Gyn3 54%
Surg2 68%
Psych2 66%
On the USMLE practice set online I got in the low 70% range on the practice. The clinical sims I ran a couple of times each mostly to see how it worked.
I did not use any other books or references.
You must practive using the clinical case software prior to entering the exam (online through USMLE). I will not state what my cases were (illegal) but I will say that this forum has a few posts with good explanations of clinical cases and I reviewed them (including the 100 things to remember one) on the night of test day one and they really helped.
The test is about endurance so sleep is paramount. Stay in a quiet hotel if you have kids!
One other note --- I was to take the test in my home town and THE DAY BEFORE THE TEST I received an email, then a recorded phone message, stating that my date was cancelled and to choose another that was convenient! Turns out the testing center had an electrical problem and they cancelled all tests. The next available was 3 MONTHS away! Same was true of all the other test sites in the state! I ended up finding one in a neighboring state a week later and drove a few hours to get there. Neither Prometric nor the USMLE folks were helpful in any way to remedy the situation, make additional accomodations, nor compensate me for the hassles / extra travel / hotel / etc. It all worked out in the end but just realize that anything can happen and you have to be proactive and flexible.
Actual Step 3 score was 203 and it took exactly 4 weeks to get the report.
Good luck to all!
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| abusedpostdoc
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Such an honest, straightforward post! Thank you! Good luck in life!
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There is no limit to what you can achieve in science as long as you don't care who takes the credit for it.
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| dr_usa
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congrats great detailed experience. plz can u share some more like how was ur exam in respect to Kaplan Q book and difficulty index. also may be your clinical experience helped in this exam. plz also suggest something like how we shud prepare for people without any significat US clinical experience on in general without clinical experience
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| fringerator
Forum Newbie
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not sure exactly how to answer your questions. I think USMLE QBook was maybe slightly more difficult than reality. The length of the questions was longer in QBook than on the real test, so if you read slower then the real test might be a bit easier.
Since I am not an FMG I don't know how to advise you, except that familiarity with the test style/questions (do the practice tests) will help.
My goal was only to get a 187 (pass) so I could get a license. My clinical experience made the test easier, although I was clueless with a lot of the neuro, primary care and peds stuff having not liked it in med school and not done it for about 5yrs.
Good luck
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| abusedpostdoc
Forum Junior
Topics: 11
Posts: 77
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 I am doing the same Kaplan Q book and I am comparing my test results with yours. I would encourage other forum members to also post results on individual tests and the final Step 3 score - as Fringerator has done. I will do the same as soon as I am done with Kaplan Q book and again after I pass Step 3. That is really helpful, more than just posting an overall UW score or overall Kaplan Q book score. Thank you Fringerator for putting all these details about your test scores. Attention to details - that is what a lot of PD like to see, I've heard.
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There is no limit to what you can achieve in science as long as you don't care who takes the credit for it.
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| abusedpostdoc
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My Kaplan Q book scores for IM tests are: Test1 - 74; 2- 68; 3- 62; 4- 64.
neuro test 1 - 70%, neuro test 2 - 62%.
Edited by abusedpostdoc on 09/29/08 - 03:04 PM. Reason: to add some info
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There is no limit to what you can achieve in science as long as you don't care who takes the credit for it.
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| abusedpostdoc
Forum Junior
Topics: 11
Posts: 77
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My Kaplan Q book scores for Pediatrics:
Test 1 - 58% - need to know the SMR stages and the differential of precocious puberty!
Test 2 - 50% - a lot of genetics in this one, need to review Turner, Down, congenital Rubella etc.
Edited by abusedpostdoc on 11/28/08 - 10:50 PM
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There is no limit to what you can achieve in science as long as you don't care who takes the credit for it.
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