Passed 207 my 5th time - vesodoc

[ArchivalUser]

Good job avemaria. I think you mentioned not feeling well the first time. Can you plz elaborate on what if any materials added, anything about recognizing same/similar exam qs 2nd time, etc...thanks

[ArchivalUser]

Vesodoc-
What did you do after you finished residency without step 3? Could you practice anywhere?

[ArchivalUser]

@snaggletooth77
sure,my second attempt ,all ccs cases came right,and my performance in ccs in all stars in high performance area, in my first attempt I didnt complete 2 ccs cases right time ,my ccs stars 4 in borderline and rest of them was in higher performance area.

in FIP ,first attempt only 2 stars in border line and all rest 7 stars in lower performance area but in second attempt two stars in higher performance area and 5stars in borderline and 2 in lower performance area

in ACM first attempt all 11 stars was in lower performance area ,but in second attempt out of 11 stars 4 stars in higher performance area and 6 stars in border line and 1 in lower performance area

[ArchivalUser]

Stressed123,

I don't think you can practice as an MD without Step 3, because you can't apply for license without this exam taken. Me, I just came back to Europe since I had a lot of stuff to do at home already. And I could afford it anyway.

Snaggletooth77,
(Oh, how I like your name
Look, don't wrap your brain too much around the manipulation suspicion, please.
I think it's just limited to cases of borderline results - when one has 190 or 191, it could easily go down to 189 and boom, you're on the losing side. But this won't happen, if you have a higher score, like say around 200. I don't know where this gray area would go with the new passing score.

[ArchivalUser]

Something I forgot to tell you.
I'm not sure it was that crucial, but helped me feel better while I studied.
I used the CCS Series of Conrad Fischer on Internal Medicine, Peds, OBGYN and Surgery.
I know, it's kinda a lot, but that's where I got several pretty good explanations of otherwise seemingly quite convoluted concepts. You know, sometimes a well formulated one liner can be worth thousand pages...I very much recommend these books.

[ArchivalUser]

Tireddoc04,
Thank you so much for the kind words!
I believe you'll make it the third time, don't give up. It's a matter of accumulation. It will come to you.
I'd suggest you give yourself a break, so you could forget the stems of the questions in QW, or Kaplan qbank. Try to only read Kaplan Lectures 2016, do extensively CCS on UW, try these CCS books by Conrad Fischer.
You could also try a new approach towards the material, like systems, diseases, one by one with
- clinical symptoms
- differential diagnosis
- tests (starting from the cheapest going up to the most expensive ones) and always imagine yourself in the office of family practice, or in the ER.
- risk factors (possibly genetics)
- prevention
- crazy situations - this one could help you preemptively prepare for the crazy questions on the real exam, something like - this disease in pregnant patient, in patient taking some specific chronic medication for another condition...i don't know ...anything you stumble upon during reading...
Hope this might be a good idea.
Good luck!!!

[ArchivalUser]

Thanks avemaria13,

so, did you just keep reviewing the same study materials for your reattempt or did you add anything new in the 3 months between ? Some test takers like to stick to as few resources as possible, on the other hand it's common to see much more being used....thanks.

[ArchivalUser]

Thanks vesodoc,

your contributions are very helpful. Yeah the exam isn't likely as manipulated as I agree your explanation , and it even looks like it can be for some a luck of the draw kind of thing, like more doable mcqs or ccs just happened to be on exam...but it's best to be as prepared as possible for this exam

[ArchivalUser]

Congrts

[ArchivalUser]

I new to this forum. I wanted to know if i can personally msg you. I was wondering have you tired to work since finishing residency. I am also in my final year and has not yet passed step 3. I was stressed about and don't know what will happen if it does not works out for me but the time I'm ready to finish residency.