kukaus
Forum Junior
Topics: 14
Posts: 34
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Hi everybody, i just received my score and i'm very glad. exam date july, 2.
i'm a 2004 graduate, IMG. I studied for 6-8 months i know it took me long. i was using kaplan notes for all subjects except pathology for which i substituted with Goljan rapid review ( highly recommended) I did kaplan videos as well. I tried to use Lippincot pharmacology but felt overwhelmed. i wish i read some more books on behavioral science, cause my performance on that one was not good. i started using first aid with my first reading, i think it's a very good source. overall i gave 3 readings, the 4th one was just a glance 10 days before the exam. I used first aid 2 days before the day.
kaplan q bank 70% (100% completed) finished 1.5 month before the exam. did NBME 1 after and got 500 (219)
UW q bank 71% (100% complete) finished 20 days before. did NBME 2 after and got 620 (242 i believe) my step 1 score as you see is closer to the first assessment test. NBME estimated my weak areas pretty correct (beh. science and respi). on real exam performance both were borderline high and nutrition is the lowest ( don't remember a single nutrition question!)
now about the exam. i had about 7 hours of sleep and i was happy i didn't spend the night worrying cause that was one of my major concerns. i guess it's because i got myself very tired the day before ( i did not study the last day, i went to a hair salon, mall, restaurant, so did my best not to think about tomorrow. i came to the center 30 min before ( had a drive thru fast food right before so i stayed full almost thruout the exam) overall i expected it to be a little bit more difficult except for the last block which was very tough ( or i was very tired). i felt that i needed couple more minutes at the end of each block cause i was having 1 or 1.5 min left and it wasn't enough to check my marked questions ( i marked about 8-10). i was very tense during the first 2 blocks ( i wish i took a break after the first). i DID NOT have tons of histo as i expected, but i had more pharmacology questions especially those with before and after drug graphs. i had 1 audio question. about 5-6 really weird questions so i'd say i guessed about 15-20 questions per block with more or less confidence. i had enough of break time even had extra 12 min that i used for the survey. i left the center feeling exhausted, i knew i probably passed but couldn't guess if it was just a pass or something else. that's pretty much it. I thank Allah for helping me to go through this period of my life, Alhamdulillah! i also thank my husband that supported me a lot. and finally thanks a lot to prep4usmle.com and people posting here, it gave me confidence and information of course i wish a very good luck to everyone studying for step 1. it's definitely doable! 
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Bene diagnoscitur, bene curatur...
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| usmlekiller
Forum Guru
Topics: 12
Posts: 656
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congrats well done
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FUTURE 99ER
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| vasorum
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 30
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Congrats, very nice experience, thanx for sharing it.
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| troy_worldruler
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 12
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hey, congrats.... good luck for steps ahead.
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| ultradocmansu
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 58
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congrats.. nice experience
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| dr_puma
Forum Senior
Topics: 6
Posts: 219
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WELL DONE GREAT SCORE
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do whatever u want,but do it wholeheartedly...never hold back.
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| dowjunk
Forum Elite
Topics: 14
Posts: 336
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Thanks and congrats big time! U deserved the treat
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Grad of 2007. Work in progress.......
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| crimsonboy
Forum Junior
Topics: 16
Posts: 30
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Hey, how many hours did you study a day? Did you take any long breaks during the time you were preparing? what kind of student were you in med school?
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| kukaus
Forum Junior
Topics: 14
Posts: 34
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thanks everybody
to crimsonboy: i studied 8 hours a day most of the time except for last month when i did 10 hours. i took a long break, 3 month which i did not include in previously mentioned 6-8 months. my mistake was that i spent too much time trying to memorize all small details and none of them were asked of course. my UW (overall 71%) score and NBME (620) predicted something more than i actually received on the exam. i was hoping for 99... so i think i did something wrong during my study and/or exam and this did not let it to happen. but i'm still glad. I was above the average student.
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Bene diagnoscitur, bene curatur...
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| vaibhavbora
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 138
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congrats
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VB
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| defcon8
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 3
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congrats on a good score! how did you do UW and qbank? random, timed, unused?
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| nochoice
Forum Senior
Topics: 6
Posts: 125
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Congrats!!!
did you do Kaplan for Microbiology or MMRS?
Can we do MMRS alone? I need a quick answer. Thanks!
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| abummeis
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 24
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CONGRATS...........
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| kukaus
Forum Junior
Topics: 14
Posts: 34
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thank you...
ok i did in a random, timed, unused mode both q banks. i also did micro made rediculously simple before i did kaplan micro. i personally read mmrs from cover to cover and i did not feel i gained much. they also have, in my opinion, too many unnecessary details. however i still can recall some pictures ( like erythromycin- an atypical cross i.e. for atypicals and gram +; with wreath for legionnaires so definitely go thru the pictures in mmrs if you have the book. good luck!
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Bene diagnoscitur, bene curatur...
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| drkokhaing
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 8
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hi kukaus,
congratulations!!! u get wat u deserve
u mentioned tat u read about 8 hours a day during ur prep time and about 10hr a day in final month...tats one hell of determination!!!
so u hv not been working all these while???
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| pipi99
Forum Elite
Topics: 5
Posts: 307
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Hmmm..I would say she didn't...but who knows..maybe she is super woman?
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The greatest part of courage is endurance!
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| spinal shock
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 153
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well done that was inspiring
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