lisa
hi,
I just happened to subscribe to UW mcqs....They are simply superb.
How wud u all comment on my decision to give up my books & just do uw MCQs & NMS mcqs real nicely....i mean reeeal nicely,as a learning tool......wud that b good enough?
Has anyone ever heard of anyone who scored real good doing mcqs only??
TAC
lisa, I did exactly what you plan to do. :o) So it is doable.
But it all depends on your background and how much u know as a baseline. If you feel confortable, go for it.
:o)
TAC
docespy - docespy
You brave souls!
ani
Apart from reading crush once, I did only MCQs and got good score
Rakhal
Brave, brave souls.
usmleman2
i am doing the same thing, following Ani's advice and i will see for myself when i take the test..
also add to your sources the free kaplan qbank..i think it is better than NMS.
if i got bad score, i will sue Ani.. (u hear me??)
Just kidding!!
docespy - docespy
Yeah but ani you're an exceptional case cadiothoracic surgeon with 10 yrs experience and obviuosly a photographic memory, don't mislead us mere mortals we have to read it at least 3 times.
Its nice to know its possible.
ani
I do not think I mislead anyone really. All I try to say is we have to be more efficient - put our energies into areas that yield maximal benefit. You do not need to know or study ever area to achieve a pass or even a good score.
The reason why most people read three times is because they have not been efficient. I have had colleagues back in med school who highlight books when they read them. And then a question comes up and they swear they have never heard of it, yet open their book and it is highted and underlined. So they had read it. So therefore it doesnt matter how many times you read, reading alone is not enough to get things to stick. Which is why you need aids such as MCQs.
Also you do not need a memory to pass the exams per se. If I took the test today I would fail. It is really all a game and the most important thing is knowing the rules and how to play it. The reason I might have done it differently is because I did not have the option of reading 3 times because I did not have the time. For me either I passed it in such a short period or never at all. The converse is the reason people read 3 times is because they do have the time (or think they have the time - really time is scarce to all of us). However when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Assuming the US immigration rules were to change in October and if you did not pass all USMLE steps by then then you would have to wait till 2009, I bet you most of you guys will immediately change your preparation mode crash the exam and pass within the next month, using approaches similar to mine. I think the confusion is that guys mix up passing exams and acquiring knowledge...the two are not synonymous. To acquire knowledge you need to understand the subjects and you need big books. To pass an exam you need to be skilled at exam technique and playing the game the examiners play, and also you need a basal amount of knowledge. To pass an exam you need goal directed therapy - everything you do is directed at passing and not knowledge. So for some things you have to accept there is no point reading because they require too much effort or memory work to grasp. Like for instance classification of leukamia is waste of time reading because only way to know it by memorizing. So dump that and read screening for cancer which is easy to understand. Also I always stress Q-bank. If you wanted to pass a driving test, would you read theory books day by day? No you would practise driving everyday. Similarly if you want to pass an MCQ exam the surest was is to practise MCQs everyday; reading theory alone will not bring success. Having contributed to this forum for the last year and seen peoples contributions before and after they passed the exam I have concluded that the main cause of lack of success or poor scores is problems with exam technique and composure/confidence on exam day and not lack of studying (as most study for 6 to 12 months). This is why I personally stress exam practice as the key to passing. I know it is personal opinion and I accept maybe I might be above average at exams than others, but I do not believe it is misleading. Indeed, being a specialised surgeon actually placed me at a disadvantage as I had no exposure to stuff like paeds, obgyn, psych, most of IM for over 10 years.
Best of luck
usmletaker1
Hey guys!
I am to take UW too ?
Should i take for one month or for two?
TAC
1 month is enough.
:o)
TAC