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Dec 27th Exam Experience, 252/87

5K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  Ghani Ravi 
#1 ·
Hi every one,
I used to read experiences and score threads and wish that one day I would complete this exam and post my experience, and the day come...

Materials used:

Kaplan LNs (twice) & videos
FA 2011 (3 times and 1 with DIT)
Goljian audios and notes ( twice )
Sometimes I was doin pretest but I found them useless
Neurology lectures of Dr.Njeeb (greatly useful but I've no time for the rest)

Questions:

UW
Qbook
some pretest
Some of kaplan Q bank (one friend gave it to me)
NBME (7 online, 11 & 13 offline)

The Detailes:

First Round:

I started with Kaplan LN along with the Videos, I was just having a look while I listen to the videos, it was on & off, and it took about 2 months. After each book finished, I took the kaplan Q book first test.
After doing pathology from Kaplan I listened to Dr.Goljan audios, it was great, he gives you confidence and teaches you more than pathology.

I did a Kaplan diagnostic test and got 74%

Then I started DIT with first look on FA , it was helpful , this took about 1 month

Second round:

Then I started my second reading of Kaplan LN alone without DVD, now more focused, again it took 2 months. Also after each subject finished I did the related test from Kaplan Q book, there was improvement from first test.

USMLEWORLD:

Then I started with the best tool in the preparation UW, I was doing 2 blocks (RANDOM, MIXED, TIMED) in the morning and not reviewing them, then I do FA, and at night I review the 2 blocks, each block take about 2-3 Hr, I was Writing the wrong answers as well as the guessed ones in a separate papers ( NOT on FA), When I reached 70% I took UWSA 1 and got 260, this gave me a great dose of confidence, then finished UW, it was 80%.

I completed first Aid for one time, then I did NBME 7 on-line and got 252 (Amazingly correlated to My Actual score, actually the same as real score) this was about 1.5 months from the test.

I did FA again and reviewed UW the false and marked ones and some of the correct, now ended up with 90%, and reviewed the study guide of DIT (filled with HY stuff) then I did NBME 11 OFF line ( I felt good with nearly 185-190 Q correct out of 200).

10 days prior to the big day:

I took my UWSA2 and got 265, ( Now I said to myself I will do it and get better than this score) Very important to keep the positive thinking, it will push you up incredibly.

I reviewed FA (forth times) and took the free 150 Q and got 94% 4 days before the test, it helped me to skip the tutorial part on the test and to see the screen of the test (100 % the same).

The 2 days before the test I didn't study and went out walking and refreshing, went to the exam center to check the road and assess the time needed, and I was thinking that I've finished the work and now it's time to harvest so I should be happy and relaxed. But I couldn't fight the subconscious mind which prevent me from sleeping the night before the test, I woke up every hour at that night.

The Day of the Test:

I woke up at 6:30, took my breakfast and went out at 7:30, reached the center at 8.

The time in the test was good, I was left with 5-10 min after each block to review the marked Qs, only one block I couldn't review all the marked as I had only 2 min.

I felt I did well on the test (to be honest I was thinking I will get 260+).

Assessment scores:

UW (Random, timed, mixed, unused) 80%
(second round incorrect and marked reached 90%)
NBME 7 ……..(1.5 month before) …. 252
UWSA 1 ……..(2 months before) ……260
UWSA 2 ……..(10 days before) ………265
Free 150 Q ….(4 days before) ……….94%

The real Step1 252/87 (As NBME 7)

Over all:

-keep the study fun, every thing new you know will help you in the future to help people.
-Keep the +ve thinking (this is greatly important, I can't tell how important is this), this will help you cope with the tuff material.
-Be sure that you Can Do It, as many have did it, and many will do it.
-Do Qs as much as you can, this will make you pay attention to things you ignored.
-FA is great and try doing it 3 times at least (the more the better).
-Goljan audios are useful as I said above, he make things looks very easy and understandable.

I wish you all the best, any question is welcomed and I hope I can help.
 
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