abefroman
Forum Newbie
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Posts: 6
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I've been reading a lot of the same stuff over the past months and I just wanted to pass on some strategies that I used. First of all, from the beginning (about 5 weeks prior to test day) I began doing random blocks of 50 questions on QBank. I never geared subject tests to what I was studying at the time, as I know lots of other people did (and probably got false self-assessments). I heard the argument that people wanted to study everything before tackling all kinds of questions. My thought was that we've done two years of med school and been exposed to everything...on the real exam they're going to through strange stuff at you, so why not get used to that mindset. By the time test day came, I had no problem zipping through 50 qs in about 40-45 minutes (even less on Kaplan). Overall, I wound up with about 74% on Qbank. I was getting 50s-60s early and ended up with mostly high 70s-high 80s at the end (with some random low 60s even till the end so don't get discouraged).
I took a live Kaplan course and worked through their books. I used those qs as my subject-oriented qs. I also sometimes used Qbook, but nowhere near all of it. I did the free NBME test the last couple days before the exam and got in the low-mid 40s correct (out of 50).
I don't want to get into actual qs because I think it's a waste of time (and I forgot most or confused them with Qbank anyway).
One tip that I've never heard and didn't think of until game day...use the dry erase boards to your advantage. You don't have to erase anything. I wrote a bunch of lab values early and kept them there for the duration of the exam so it would be faster to refer to. Also, whenever there was a question where USMLE was nice enough to draw out a biochem pathway or the key steps, I would take a minute to copy it down just in case it came up later (it didn't for me, but you never know). There are definitely times when two related qs appear within the same block of qs so you can use that to your advantage if you're clever. Basically, don't overthink things. When something seemed straightforward or too easy, I went with what I knew was right. And I didn't get too hung up on any one question (except for maybe one or two). I took 10 minute breaks between each block to clear my head, get a drink and go to the bathroom and then took about a 40 minute lunch after 4 blocks. Overall, I remained calm and confident and felt good afterwards. I was hoping for a 250 and was surprised that I even surpassed that....Feel free to ask any questions.
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| krampus
Forum Senior
Topics: 25
Posts: 107
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conratulations abefroman
i'll come later with questions as I'll advance with my studies :icon_ranger:
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| nuprin
Forum Elite
Topics: 16
Posts: 338
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congrats!!! what a great score!
when did you take your exam? i'm still waiting. also, did you take the paid nbme?
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| tuffman
Forum Newbie
Topics: 7
Posts: 29
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what lab values are worth memorizing?
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| kalsam
Forum Elite
Topics: 31
Posts: 361
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Congratts...abefroman
Thanks for the nice tip..I remember nuprin also mentioned the same.
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"Read Repeat Recall Remember Recognise & Reproduce"
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| lvspro
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 91
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Hey man.
That is a stellar score. Congrats!!!
Did you do the NBME 200 q forms? Would you mind telling us how they went?
thanks
lo
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| aish
Forum Junior
Topics: 3
Posts: 74
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Awesome, congratulations!!
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| tasneembanu
Forum Guru
Topics: 96
Posts: 545
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thats a great score,all the best for ur step 2.
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| abefroman
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 6
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Thanks for all the kind words. I didn't do the extra NBME questions (only the free ones). I had enough trouble just finishing QBank one time...I wouldn't worrying about memorizing lab values. They give you all the important ones.
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| bm
Forum Elite
Topics: 37
Posts: 421
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congratulations! :icon_bounce:
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| abefroman
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 6
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BTW, I took the exam on June 18 and got the score on July 16.
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| Quinn
Forum Elite
Topics: 63
Posts: 308
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abefroman....how do you and others really score good marks on step 1 like this? I am studying for long time now and not getting this good score.
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The universe will yield to the will of the determined person.
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| noelle
Forum Elite
Topics: 59
Posts: 226
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congrats man on yre score . yre message is really motivating . after readin yre post was when i studied aggressively . took s1 on 24 aug . it was simpler than what i expected. res t prayin hard for result
felt good after the exam
drraj 
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only strong survive......
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| bluedusk
Forum Elite
Topics: 35
Posts: 217
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what more could be said about those #'s : )
i was curious - did you get many arrhythmia questions? do they get into differentiating svts from vts - cause and therapy?
thanks, and great job!
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| abefroman
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 6
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It's been a while and I'm immersed in clinical stuff, but I do not recall any detailed or difficult questions about arrhythmias. I know that wasn't one of my strongest areas. I knew the basic stuff about heart block and some basics about treating the different types of arrhythmias. Whatever is in Kaplan or First Aid is more than enough...Good luck!
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| bluedusk
Forum Elite
Topics: 35
Posts: 217
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very helpful. good luck with the remaining road....
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| trishue
Forum Elite
Topics: 24
Posts: 156
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ABEFROMAN! CONGRATS... I'm planning to take the USMLE in 3-4 months time from now and will be studying from mid Sept then maybe take it on Jan is that too fast?... just took my country's board exams last Aug and i do not want to delay... DID the exam require any TESTMANSHIP? thanks
trishue
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| abefroman
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 6
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I'm not sure what you mean by "Testmanship." Being a good test taker definitely will help, but I don't think there are any ways to logically deduce the correct answers from the answer choices as you sometimes might be able to do on other tests.
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| doctor_tanya23
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 54
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i too had similiar feeling when i came from exam hall. i m waiting for the result.
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doctor_tanya23@yahoo.com make me ur study partner online for step1
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| jimmyhe
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 24
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Congratulation! By the way, how did you get free NBME test ?
Thanks
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