10-29-2006, 09:00 PM
Hello dear friends...just wanted to continue from where i left off earlier..
My last 2 blocks had chunks and chunks of immuno and anatomy,genetics..lots of gross as well as neuroanatomy..stress was laid on-interleukins{know them cold!},Kawasakis,SCID{3 questions}, Digeorges with diagram identification,TH helper subset questions, autotolerance,pick put the right arm of immunity affected, Graves,polyarteritia nodosa,Brutons,some very vague and tough questions on hypersensitivities-not direct at all but kind of twisted.
Embryo of heart--sinus venosus,omphalocele vs gastrochisis-very well worded..again hard to choose between 2 options, one q on HOX genes--had no idea,reproductive endocrines--haeav emphasis on specific histo findings of menstrual cycle{no real clues to go with that...just look at the histo and identify the day of the cycle..had actuall 3 of those in different blocks}.easy identificatin of thyrois disorders, confusing q about role of calcitonin,know all MEN syndromes
A table with different epidem studies and a case scenario--easy...forward looking type of study=cohort
Biochem pathways..friends knnnow the rate limiting enzymes cold--u should be able to write down what is what theyr--u think u know it but for me under time pressure i was literally racking my brains when asked to point out the enzymes on a diagram--sure i messed that up
know the fetal circulation well-q's were repeated in 2 blocks
3-4 questions on identification of inheritance patterns-one was mitochondrial pattern
Lots of newborn physiology q's--found them tough
multiple sclerosis,Guillain barre-again repeated questions
Cant remember more now but will keep posting as i do.
A few tips and mistakes hope u dont make which i unfortunately did:
1. Please dont ignore anatomy and behavioural science--they r as imp as patho and physio r--in fact ALL Q'S R WELL DISTRIBUTED
2 Start FA from atleats a month before the exam day---u will practice recall if u do it repeatedly and wont miss simple questions on the test{its difficult to immediately recall with that damn clock clickin away!!"
3.Learn to intergrate subjects as u prepare--I did not do that and regret it--
4.Physio GRAPHS R SO HIGH YIELD--Kaplan is enough but practice puttin them down on paper---ALL autonomic system is so heavily tested.
5.CTS AND MRI interpretation is a must---lost so many valuable q's just because i could not identify them on the exam---knew the answers though and felt miserable!{still get nightmares about those questions}
6. Bio stats is simple calculations--so know basic formulas wel-SEnsitvity,specifi,PPV,odds ratio,incidence rate,infant mortality rates
&.Biochem rate limiting enzymes along with arrows for FAD/NAD/NADPH/GTP--knw what is where
8.Glomerulonephritis--2 q's with justbthe immunoflorescence pattern--very little in the stem of the question to go on--webpath has that in detail
I cant remember more now--but will post more as and when it rings a bell.
I dont have much hope from this exam and am praying hard to pass but please dont let my experience in any way scare you--instead please let it help u better --all of you have the potential to make it and i wish all of you the best of luck in your preparation.This exam is not a monster but can be managed with lots of good,hard preparation,luck and lots of prayers.Please dont postpone your exam for too long...i wish i had not delayed it so much--6-7 months of consistent studying,q-banks and revisions of notes is realy important.
All my very best to all of you{i have tried and thanked all of you in my earlier post} and aplogise if i ahve missed anyone. Good luck friends--u CAN ALL DO IT!!
My last 2 blocks had chunks and chunks of immuno and anatomy,genetics..lots of gross as well as neuroanatomy..stress was laid on-interleukins{know them cold!},Kawasakis,SCID{3 questions}, Digeorges with diagram identification,TH helper subset questions, autotolerance,pick put the right arm of immunity affected, Graves,polyarteritia nodosa,Brutons,some very vague and tough questions on hypersensitivities-not direct at all but kind of twisted.
Embryo of heart--sinus venosus,omphalocele vs gastrochisis-very well worded..again hard to choose between 2 options, one q on HOX genes--had no idea,reproductive endocrines--haeav emphasis on specific histo findings of menstrual cycle{no real clues to go with that...just look at the histo and identify the day of the cycle..had actuall 3 of those in different blocks}.easy identificatin of thyrois disorders, confusing q about role of calcitonin,know all MEN syndromes
A table with different epidem studies and a case scenario--easy...forward looking type of study=cohort
Biochem pathways..friends knnnow the rate limiting enzymes cold--u should be able to write down what is what theyr--u think u know it but for me under time pressure i was literally racking my brains when asked to point out the enzymes on a diagram--sure i messed that up
know the fetal circulation well-q's were repeated in 2 blocks
3-4 questions on identification of inheritance patterns-one was mitochondrial pattern
Lots of newborn physiology q's--found them tough
multiple sclerosis,Guillain barre-again repeated questions
Cant remember more now but will keep posting as i do.
A few tips and mistakes hope u dont make which i unfortunately did:
1. Please dont ignore anatomy and behavioural science--they r as imp as patho and physio r--in fact ALL Q'S R WELL DISTRIBUTED
2 Start FA from atleats a month before the exam day---u will practice recall if u do it repeatedly and wont miss simple questions on the test{its difficult to immediately recall with that damn clock clickin away!!"
3.Learn to intergrate subjects as u prepare--I did not do that and regret it--
4.Physio GRAPHS R SO HIGH YIELD--Kaplan is enough but practice puttin them down on paper---ALL autonomic system is so heavily tested.
5.CTS AND MRI interpretation is a must---lost so many valuable q's just because i could not identify them on the exam---knew the answers though and felt miserable!{still get nightmares about those questions}
6. Bio stats is simple calculations--so know basic formulas wel-SEnsitvity,specifi,PPV,odds ratio,incidence rate,infant mortality rates
&.Biochem rate limiting enzymes along with arrows for FAD/NAD/NADPH/GTP--knw what is where
8.Glomerulonephritis--2 q's with justbthe immunoflorescence pattern--very little in the stem of the question to go on--webpath has that in detail
I cant remember more now--but will post more as and when it rings a bell.
I dont have much hope from this exam and am praying hard to pass but please dont let my experience in any way scare you--instead please let it help u better --all of you have the potential to make it and i wish all of you the best of luck in your preparation.This exam is not a monster but can be managed with lots of good,hard preparation,luck and lots of prayers.Please dont postpone your exam for too long...i wish i had not delayed it so much--6-7 months of consistent studying,q-banks and revisions of notes is realy important.
All my very best to all of you{i have tried and thanked all of you in my earlier post} and aplogise if i ahve missed anyone. Good luck friends--u CAN ALL DO IT!!
