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+--- Thread: From the mouth of the horse- The advice - drpardha (/showthread.php?tid=310354)
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From the mouth of the horse- The advice - drpardha - ArchivalUser - 06-11-2008
I think technically I am disqualified from giving any advice because I am a recalcitrant reader when it comes to exams.
My study pattern is 2 hrs a day for the last 6 months. I work full time with a busy family life and fun on the beach.
After my exam yestarday, my feeling was regretfullness. Nothing else. Regret for not revising everything the week before and spending as little as 3 -5 hours only during the last week.
This is an easy exam....if you have cool nerves and clear about your concepts.
They ask you simple stuff. They know that you have got a minute only to think and answer. They wont throw twisting, conning clues at you. It's either you know the basic concept or not. ( The stuff you learn in your medical school classrooms)
They also love certain things which are highlighted by your teachers on the DVDs of Kaplan & by Dr.Goljian. ( Like ATP action in muscle contarction, Kid eating lead paint, What happens with efferent & afferent contractions to GFR etc..the standard know how on top of your basic concepts)
This is the recipe:
1. Finish Kaplan books
2. Read Goljian RR
3. Do UW
4. Read FA
5. NBMEs
6. Read Kaplan + Goljian
7. Read FA during last week..referring to Kaplan & Goljian whenever you have doubts.
It should get you through....
No fancy materials, no HY stuff except for Neuroanatomy & Anatomy.
The most important thing is the FEAR......yes it's the fear that kills you.
I was enjoying the exam yesterday even though my only stress was repenting for not revising...every Q I knew the answers but didn't revise...so not sure....so make sure you really concentrate last week. Everything fits in place and makes sense in the last week.
If given a chance I would gladly redo this exam properly after revising...May be that would happen now...My aim was 85. Now looks like I may or may not scrape through.
I am amazed the way they hung on to few topics like Thyroid ( 10 Qs), Biostats (15 Qs) & Calcium + PTH (12 Qs)...which I missed out on revising. So make sure you cover every topic.
These are the Must Not Miss Topics:
1. Messengers
2. PTH & Calcium
3. Thyroid - labs
4. Murmurs
5. Biostas- Research types, errors, etc
6. Neuroanatomy ( whole of it)
7. Renal Physiology - those few pages from Kaplan
8. Pharmacology - the whole lot from FA- pretty straight forward
Yes, Goljian covers 75 % of this exam. He's been there too long..and seen it all....He is the Boss
0 - ArchivalUser - 06-11-2008
By the way I could recall 200 Q from the exam and just went through them. None of them are as tricky the Qs from UW or the ones posted in this forum...
0 - ArchivalUser - 06-11-2008
Thanks and best of luck with your score.
0 - ArchivalUser - 06-11-2008
very encouraging post, give me the confidence that this exam is doable.
Thank again for sharing your experience.
Best wishes for your dream score !
0 - ArchivalUser - 06-11-2008
Dr Pardha :
what an encouraging, inlightening post..thank you so much for writing
thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking out the time and writing out about the details..
in the end, i believe(as others on this foruM) that we dont need 200 questions repeated to us but we just need like you did, the concepts and the clarification that hard work in some way will pay off..
You are 100 %%% right about everything you wrote, infact you gave me hope and confidence to study even harder for the next 2 months..(before my own exam)..
i wish and pray for you that you get an amazing score..
Have faith in god and also in ur self..
Everything will go well
I just want to thank you for taking the time out and writing this post and helping me feel alot better about everything...
so encouraging and gave me a lot of confidence, too
god bless you and ur family and i hope you hear great news in 3 weeks, please do update us!!
take care!!
best best regards to you...stay positive.im sure you did great!! !
--strongsoul
0 - ArchivalUser - 06-11-2008
hi drpradha
best of luck for ur result
is it ok to use old version of RR 300 pgs one and also how long before test NBME should be done. appreciate ur help thanks
0 - ArchivalUser - 06-11-2008
pardha. ur post is really nerve calming,, i have the exam coming up in a few weeks time,, and i am shit scared that i am forgetting everything i have read,,,
but now theres no looking back,, i know i have =worked hard for this, lets see what the day has for me.
goodluck for ur future exams. we all know u will do well...
sam
0 - ArchivalUser - 06-11-2008
thanx sooo much drpardha.....your info is awesome..thanx a lot for sharing. Wish you 99. GL.
0 - ArchivalUser - 06-11-2008
thank you very much and wishing you a great score.......
0 - ArchivalUser - 06-11-2008
thanks drpardha.. i really hope that u did much better than u think.. truly appreciate ur advice.. i totally agree.. the real monster is the fear not the exam.. we've all done exams all our lives.. its part of medicine.. but this test comes with way tooo much anxiety.. i truly hope we all do well.. GL