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To further enhance the testing methods used in the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) examination, changes will be introduced in Step 2 CS for examinations and will be delivered beginning June 17, 2012. The reporting schedule for examinees testing from June 17, 2012 through November 3, 2012 will be 2-3 weeks longer than . . . → Read More: Changes to the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) Examination  Hello Everyone, this is actually my first time to try posting videos in my blog. So please excuse the effort if the quality is not too good. Hope to get better at doing this in the future. A lot of people think that all they need to do in order to do well . . . → Read More: How to Master the USMLE Step 1 – an Introduction
Today, we will talk more about the NBME self-assessment tests. We previously discussed what the NBME self-assessment tests are and how they impact your USMLE review. You can read the posts here. Now we will cover three important topics. When to use the NBME self-assessment tests, how to use the NBME self-assessment tests and how wise it is to use the USMLE World self-assessment tests instead. Continue reading NBME Self-Assessment Tests and USMLE Review – Part II  218 comments  Study Methods, USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK  accuracy, AMGs, Bank, best time, confirmatory test, correlation, everything, examination, forum, good chance, kaplan, leeway, measure, measure progress, nbme, nbme assessment tests, nbme self assessment, parameters, predictability, predictor, readiness, reason, review, score, screening, screening test, self assessment tests, similarity, Step, step 1, step 2 CK, step 3, study, test takers, Today, usmle, usmle world, usmleword, usmleworld assessment tests, valuable tool, World
The NBME self assessment test is another of those tools that I feel is responsible for the increasingly high scores in the USMLE. It is a great tool that allows the test-taker to assess his or her readiness for the exam. To a certain extent, if used properly, it is also a useful tool for the examinee to target a certain score, even 99′s and achieve it. Continue reading NBME Self Assessment Tests and USMLE Review 105 comments Study Methods, USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, USMLE Step 3 AMGs, Bank, correlation, examination, forum, high scores, important concepts, kaplan, nbme, nbme self assessment, pool, predictability, predictor, readiness, review, score, self assessment tests, Step, step 1, study, time constraint, tough questions, usmle, usmle questions, usmle scores, usmle world, World
I wrote this initially in response to someone who was really having a hard time answering tough USMLE type question. Most of the time, when people think their problem is answering tough USMLE type question. the reality is that they have a KA (Knowledge Acquisition) problem. In other words, they did not do their review properly and their problem is primarily with insufficient knowledge base rather than difficulty with USMLE type questions. Therefore, I always make it a point to test their knowledge base first. This is usually done by testing them using straightforward questions that test knowledge and recall without the common tricks that accompany USMLE type questions. Now as you may know, I have an online prep site at http://prep.askdoc-usmle.com. The prep site contains all the courses available to course participants of my USMLE Step 1 prep course. There is a demo prep course for Review of Pathology which features the first chapter out of 25 total chapters of Review of Pathology. It covers cell pathology. The online quiz is a straightforward quiz which directly tests recall and does not use USMLE type question. Do well there and it proves you do not have a knowledge base problem. Continue reading Answering USMLE Type Questions – Part I 25 comments Study Methods, USMLE Step 1 Answering USMLE Type Questions - Part I, Bank, cell pathology, course participants, demo, examination, good chance, hard time, information, insufficient knowledge, knowledge acquisition, knowledge base, nbme, preparation, Q Banks, question, quiz, reason, review, risk, score, Step, step 1, step 2, straightforward questions, study, test knowledge, tough questions, type question, type questions, usmle, USMLE Step 1
Everyone knows the usefulness of keeping a large amount of high yield information in your head just before the actual examination. This can help a lot in boosting your score up in the last few days before the actual examination. Although I am never an advocate for last minute cramming for an examination like the USMLE, the benefits of having a large number of high yield facts in your immediate memory is something no one can ignore. The reason is that unless the information is in your immediate memory, chances are it will take some time for you to recall that information and in the context of timed examination like the USMLE, that can make or break you. Most reviewers acknowledge these facts. First Aid for Step 1 has its Rapid Review section. Levinson and Jawetz has its “Brief summaries of Medically Important Organisms. and Trevor and Katzung’s Pharmacology Review has it’s “Key Words for Key Drugs”. All to be reviewed just a few days before going into the examination. Continue reading High Yield Fast Facts for the USMLE 15 comments General, Study Methods brief summaries, buzzwords, drugs, examination, facts, faqs, first aid, Flashcards, high yield, High Yield Fast Facts for the USMLE, immediate memory, key words, last minute, memory, pharmacology, review, reviewers, score, study, usmle step, USMLE Step 1, word associations
We now come to Part II of our discussion on “Preparing for the USMLE Step 2 CS”. In Part I, we discussed how to prepare for the medical interview part of the clinical encounter. We will now tackle the physical examination part of the clinical encounter, To answer the first question on a lot of people’s mind. No, you should not do the physical examination while conducting the medical interview. Not only is it rude, you miss the opportunity of building rapport with your “simulated patient”. A question your “patient” is asked is if they would want you to be their physician and depending on the source could be an additional 1 or 2 points for you. Continue reading Preparing for the USMLE Step 2 CS – Part II Leave a comment Study Methods, USMLE Step 2 CS building rapport, clinical encounter, clinical history, complete physical examination, examination, gloves, medical history, medical interview, multitasking, note, paper and pen, Preparing for the USMLE Step 2 CS - Part II, risk, standard operating procedure, Step, usmle, USMLE Step 2 CS
We begin part 4 of our series on “What to Study for the USMLE”. In Part I, we discussed the need to choose our review material based on what we want to achieve in the exam. We also discussed the use of substituted judgment when we rely on reviewers to know what to review for the examination, and the need to make sure that these judgments are based on the same goals we have with regards to passing, scoring well or acing the exam. In part 2, we discussed that the score you want to achieve not only dictates the review materials you choose, but also how much of those review materials should be mastered and not just read through. In part 3 we talked about the various materials you used for review and the need to go back to textbooks for concepts you do not know, since you cannot review concepts you do not know. You have to learn them first and you need textbooks for that. In part 4, we will discuss the two types of text reviewers you should be using for your review and how to use the concept of different types of recalls with the reviewers to maximize the amount of material you can store in your head for the exam. Continue reading What to Study for the USMLE – Part IV 8 comments Study Methods, USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, USMLE Step 3 Blueprints, board, board examinations, examination, forum, Immunology, information, Jawetz, kaplan, Levinson, Medicine, Microbiology, multiple times, NMS, note, Outline, review, reviewers, score, Shelf, Step, step 1, step 2 CK, step 3, study, textbook, usmle, What to Study for the USMLE - Part IV
We begin part 3 of our series on “What to Study for the USMLE”. For those just joining us, please refer to previous post here and here. Due to the sheer number of review materials available to examinees, we need to classify them in order to make it easier to choose and mix and match between them. Broadly, we can classify our study materials into three. First are reading materials, mainly books and other written study aids, eg. Flashcards, etc. Second are Question Banks, which by themselves are very important and crucial study materials. Lastly and increasingly gaining importance are audio and visual resources like lectures both audio and video. Continue reading What to Study for the USMLE – Part III 6 comments Study Methods, USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, USMLE Step 3 audio, Bank, buzzwords, capacity, concise explanations, examination, Flashcards, hard time, how, kaplan, maxim, memory, Outline, poor performance, Q Banks, question banks, review, reviewers, right solution, score, second time, Step, study, study aids, textbook, usmle, visual resources, what, What to Study for the USMLE - Part III
Back in 2004 when I was just starting my preparation for the USMLE, my greatest fear was in failing this examination. My status as an old graduate made failing a stark reality for me. Every person I asked told me that as an old graduate I have no chance. The most encouraging response I got was, “maybe you’ll pass, but it’s impossible to match with really low scores.” When I went to forums, I hear horror stories of people failing which frightened me even more. Then once in a while, when I read of people celebrating and crowing about their 99′s, I secretly wished that that was me. Even my own family thought it was impossible for me to make it. It got so bad, it took me over a year to get around to seriously preparing for it. Now 4 years later, with a double 99 in my belt, I feel bad whenever, I read about people failing the examination. If I can make it, they should be able to make it, too. 2 years ago I wrote an advise to someone who had failed already thrice and was plaintively asking people “What to do”. I’m happy she eventually passed her exam with an 82. Since that time, I am happy to note that a lot of people have passed and raised their scores and even got 99′s using that advise. A couple of them had the opportunity to catch me between Steps and was couched by me through emails to raise their scores with varying results. However, since that time, hundreds of people still failed. Some had read my advise but were doing exactly opposite of what I had written. Others, I found out did not understand how to implement what I had written.
“For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” |
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