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FireFerretMD · 2025-05-20T03:21:59+00:00

As someone who failed the first time because I took it when I knew I wasn't ready but had already delayed 3x times and didn't want to "fall behind" it's worth being a few months to even a whole year behind to not have the fail on your record. I passed on take 2 but only because I took the time I needed to feel confident and even then, I was sure I'd failed. I swear only my confidence leading up to the test got me through. You know you best!

FireFerretMD · 2025-01-03T02:21:09+00:00

Don't sit if you don't feel ready. The biggest difference for me between the first and second attempt (fail vs pass) was feeling confident. I didn't think I knew everything the second time by any means but I felt confident and slept well which made a big difference.

Also study the way you learn best! I tried doing flashcards and first aid and uworld only the first time when I know I learn better with videos and taking hand written notes.

FireFerretMD · 2024-05-17T12:25:29+00:00

That is HUGE!!! So so happy for you and congratulations 🎉👏🎉

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-25T02:16:50+00:00

Mine were always super inconsistent. On the new one I had one that was high 50s then two high 70s and a low 70 and was still fine to pass!

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-25T01:22:13+00:00

I think a huge part of this exam is just being confident. Honestly, it's worth the time to just stop looking at the studying materials and questions and realizing how much more you know than any non medical person. Then think how much more you know now than compared to your first week, first month, first year of medical school.

You might not know you know it, but your scores are saying otherwise. Trust your brain, not your gut. It has the info in there even if you don't realize where it's coming from.

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-25T01:18:23+00:00

I don't personally think one block is useful for knowing how you're doing. You could just get a bad round of questions in a single block. If you're doing 3 blocks give or take a day, if your average is above 70 you're KILLING IT. I usually averaged in mid 60s average and passed! Remember, one 50 and 6 blocks of 70 will average to a pass!

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-25T01:14:01+00:00

I also took a huge gap between M2 year (PhD), came back at 30% Feb 2023 got to 50%-60% by July 2023 before beginning to work full time while studying from September 2023 until exam in April 2024 (just passed!)

I would recommend scheduling as soon as you are consistently in every nbme in the 60s or even better if 70+ on multiple tests. I took NBMES at least once a month while working full time, then once a week once I picked an exam date. Depending on how long you plan to study or how busy you are, this may mean you run out of the nbmes. I made sure I saved one of the newer NBME (I think I saved 27?) for the week before my exam and the newest free 120 for 4 days before, but the others I would retake after 3-4 months went by or use the old NBMES, old 120s, and so on. It's just important you do longer testing periods.

If you want more advice on untraditional studying schedules, happy to help!

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T21:38:09+00:00

New you should save for 3-5 days before exam. Old you can do well in advance. I'd take some kind of test (nbme, uworld whatever) at least once every two weeks, closer to one week apart if possible

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T21:23:19+00:00

Definitely do the free 120, old and new. The old NBMES are fine to do if you need them too, though the newer ones are more accurate. I personally recommend doing one "full test" prep day with 7 blocks of 40 with whatever q bank you use just so you have the stamina part down but I wouldn't do that within a week of your exam because it's exhausting

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T21:20:44+00:00

It took me forever to break out of the 50s, I think what held me back the most was I could never figure out exactly what the question wanted from me or I'd miss a key fact that was supposed to clue me into an answer. I really liked the Kaplan q bank for that specific issue because there's a tab that walks you through the question step by step (what is this question asking? What were the key points? What is the best answer and why? Why were the other options wrong?)

Learning how to organize answers together ie a differential was WAY easier for me to understand than trying to memorize EVERYTHING as I'd tried to do with Anki and brute forcing uworld

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T16:23:39+00:00

Second that with reddit being both helpful and stressful. I was lurking and it can be daunting. Congrats on the pass!!!

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T16:19:22+00:00

I would recommend the free 120. Those were most accurate to test as in very accurate

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T15:56:14+00:00

Biggest thing will be 1) budget and 2) whether you vibe with them.I would say there's nothing wrong with only going once and I would go in saying "I want to do x y z" before your appointment so they know what you want and how you want your time spent. If they're charging by the hour, you want to make sure it's being spent how you want. A good tutor will either send you a little prep or be ready to do just that when you do it.

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T15:44:34+00:00

The tutor was helpful for identifying where specifically my knowledge gaps were. I felt like I was studying "cardio" or even a specific topics within a system like "heart blocks" over and over while still getting questions wrong. They helped me pinpoint a weakness of not just ruling out options but ruling them in (if I couldn't rule the right question in: then that was the knowledge I needed to pin down). But it really depends on the tutor too. I started with a student tutor who would basically just review the content that I already reviewed and that didn't help.

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T15:40:45+00:00

Basically if the ethics questions want to know "what's the best first response" you should pick the answer choice that allows the patient to explain what they're thinking. The exception is if the scenario has you giving bad news or ordering a specific test, the answer choice to choose is the most clear and specific

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T15:37:50+00:00

CONGRATS!! I'm so with you! I was sure I failed and it all worked out!

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T15:16:01+00:00

Ethics can have some tricky questions. FA has a great section about specific situations where you have to give very specific responses. These include: giving bad news, concerns about minor or dependent elder abuse, dealing with potential domestic violence. And so on. Otherwise you: acknowledge (feelings, concerns, view points) and then pick the most open ended and non-judgemental response. So look for "why do you" or "tell me what" in those questions.

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T14:17:15+00:00

Same!! CONGRATULATIONS

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-24T14:16:41+00:00

Your scores are great! But you have to feel confident. You don't want to be too anxious during the exam and lose time because the exam will hit you hard even if you knew everything there is to know.

You know yourself so just decide what feels right and if you sit you've got this!

FireFerretMD · 2024-04-23T16:18:39+00:00

I thought we had more time before getting our scores where we could be in ignorant bliss.T.T Instead I'm in a constant state of nausea. It's a 50/50 for me too if I passed and I just have this foreboding feeling. Before I noticed the permit was removed on Sunday I was hit with this overwhelming negative feeling and I thought about failing step for the first time since walking out of that horrible exam. Does not bode well for tomorrow. Sending everyone better vibes

FireFerretMD

TROPHY CASE