03-05-2014, 06:45 AM
Passed Step 3 recently with a score of 221.
Prepared for 1-2 months on n off doing interviews. Took CK 10 months ago with 235.
Primary resource was UW Qbank and then referenced MTB.
UW cumulative was 59%; timed and mixed. (all my exams i have used timed n mixed and they have been the best way to prepare n simulate and also predict my score).
UWSA 2 days before exam was 229. ( out of four blocks; i did great on 1 block so it over predicted my score). I knew these self assessments lacked CCS portion which counts for 25% of weightage; so I had to be confident on that too.
Didn't do the FRED Free 150 Qs from usmle website due to lack of time, but I should have done them. For my other exams those 150 qs were spot on in predicting my score.
MCQs were weird and 25-50% couldn't be found in UW or MTB. But I went with my gut feeling unmarked what i felt was right.
CCS: practiced for 2 weeks on UW CCS software of 50 cases. Did all cases once and retried the cases until I got everything right in outcome. It simulates the real software very closely. Couldn't do the written hand out notes of UW 41 cases, due to lack of time. I was apprehensive in CCS, but felt very confident during exam due to practice in UW software. Revised all the cases summary n scoring section one day before the exam. All cases i got were different from UW cases, but pretty manageable if you know what to do in common cases. They were all pretty straightforward cases. I had diagnosed all cases, 2-3 till the very end; but I paid more attention on doing the process right. (thats what they score you on). I had three times when patient 'declined' an invasive procedure I had advised. (which meant it was an unnecessary procedure and I must have got -ve marks for it). I scored just above borderline on CCS(3 stars on the shaded area and rest away from shaded area to the right).
My advice on CCS is to stress on process and proceed as if you would in a real life case. think twice before moving time ahead, specially in ER cases. Don't freak out, you will get common cases and as long as you know how to deal with them in MCQs you will be fine.Dont rush in CCS. Think a lot before proceeding time. Think twice, thrice before ordering an invasive test. Even if you mess up like me, you will get nice score on CCS as long as you were right in PROCESS.
Feels good to be done with Steps and Now I can look forward to Match Day and also concentrating on my training if matched.
Prepared for 1-2 months on n off doing interviews. Took CK 10 months ago with 235.
Primary resource was UW Qbank and then referenced MTB.
UW cumulative was 59%; timed and mixed. (all my exams i have used timed n mixed and they have been the best way to prepare n simulate and also predict my score).
UWSA 2 days before exam was 229. ( out of four blocks; i did great on 1 block so it over predicted my score). I knew these self assessments lacked CCS portion which counts for 25% of weightage; so I had to be confident on that too.
Didn't do the FRED Free 150 Qs from usmle website due to lack of time, but I should have done them. For my other exams those 150 qs were spot on in predicting my score.
MCQs were weird and 25-50% couldn't be found in UW or MTB. But I went with my gut feeling unmarked what i felt was right.
CCS: practiced for 2 weeks on UW CCS software of 50 cases. Did all cases once and retried the cases until I got everything right in outcome. It simulates the real software very closely. Couldn't do the written hand out notes of UW 41 cases, due to lack of time. I was apprehensive in CCS, but felt very confident during exam due to practice in UW software. Revised all the cases summary n scoring section one day before the exam. All cases i got were different from UW cases, but pretty manageable if you know what to do in common cases. They were all pretty straightforward cases. I had diagnosed all cases, 2-3 till the very end; but I paid more attention on doing the process right. (thats what they score you on). I had three times when patient 'declined' an invasive procedure I had advised. (which meant it was an unnecessary procedure and I must have got -ve marks for it). I scored just above borderline on CCS(3 stars on the shaded area and rest away from shaded area to the right).
My advice on CCS is to stress on process and proceed as if you would in a real life case. think twice before moving time ahead, specially in ER cases. Don't freak out, you will get common cases and as long as you know how to deal with them in MCQs you will be fine.Dont rush in CCS. Think a lot before proceeding time. Think twice, thrice before ordering an invasive test. Even if you mess up like me, you will get nice score on CCS as long as you were right in PROCESS.
Feels good to be done with Steps and Now I can look forward to Match Day and also concentrating on my training if matched.
