I took first day of step 3 exam today - om

[ArchivalUser]

i took first day of gruelling boring step 3 exam it is very lengthy and time management seems very diificult. I hardly got time to finish each block and many confusing questions , none straightforward , i don't know how it was . Many questions from ethics and doctor patient relationship . really this exam is very tough and needs long preparation. write tomorrow's experience.

[ArchivalUser]

hey thanks for sharing. wish you all the best of luck!

[ArchivalUser]

all the best. write ur experience in detail along with books u used and stuff. i mean in detail. where did u take ur exam bythe way??

[ArchivalUser]

in fairfax, VA

[ArchivalUser]

hi om
where ru?would u kindly post ur exam experience....

[ArchivalUser]

i took second day of my exam . Today was a beter day for me. I did well on mcqs and got a feeling that step 3 is dooable.Today's mcqs were better for me, could manage time mostly from office setting, ccs cases were not from USW but doable. at least 2 cases are diffficult, you should expect that and i got two difficult cases could get diagnosis in all cases but could not discharge two cases and could not see important investigation in two cases as the software said patient improved and the case will end in next 5 minutes , so i could hardly discharge six cases , 2 could not discharge, one was taken for surgery.
I felt mcqs are very very vague, difficult and till last minute you don't know which one is correct. first day is really killing.
here are few hints.
1. focus on your weaknesses.
2. study at least 3 months, wholeheartedly, revising books and questions.
3. study swanson,kaplan,NMS,blueprint whatever you feel comfortable.
4.nothing is representative and everything is partly representative,like NMS, USW and kaplan.
5. you will be lucky if you get the questions you have practiced, i got few these were mirages in the midst of desert.
6.Take frequent breaks so drink juice , water and etc.
7. sleep well beforethe exam.
8. read whole question well.
9. choose the most appropriate answer.
10.if you can;t decide , guess and jump, there is no time thinkink and loosing two extra points.
11. GL t all .

[ArchivalUser]

Hi om,
Wish u good luck. Is this fred or prometric software? Thanks.

[ArchivalUser]

hi om
thanks for the info. how are the blocks divided on the first day? what do we have in first day and second day? how ca u take breaks?

[ArchivalUser]

this is fred software .you can take brake in between each block in mcqs and as much as you can or want in ccs, but you are enjoying last minute of USMLE why do want to keep much burden in your head. Just finish and run , no matter whatever mark you get it is just of matter of passing.