r/Step3 • u/WasabiSpider1 • 1d ago
Failed Step 3
I’m a PGY2 took my first attempt two months ago. Studied UW and CCS cases I don’t know if timing was an issue. I had taken it right after a difficult MICU rotation. I ended up getting a 195.
I wanted to try to take it again so I studied harder for another month. Doing more questions daily and reviewing explanations better. This resulted in a 198.
I feel very discouraged, and with a grueling schedule ahead just don’t know what to do. I know the explanations of Amboss are better, so I was thinking of making that change. Any advice anyone has?
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u/Plenty_Poet_5016 20h ago
Failed by 1 point retook it in 2 weeks and passed. Solely used AMBOSS found uworld not helpful at all. Did AMBOSS ethics and there’s a pdf download it. Focus on biostats on AMBOSS as well
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u/cvscrush 17h ago
I am in same situation. I am now even scared to take the exam. Plz suggest how you suggest. I am doing a full time job. Its getting on my nerves.
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u/MedSchoolMartyr 21h ago
What are you getting on CCS cases? Feel like those and really nailing down the biostats can really just save you, and is much more manageable than full repeat content review
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u/WasabiSpider1 20h ago
I was averaging 60-70% on the HY ones there was some here and there I would get low scores but most was average
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u/SpillTheTeaTY 21h ago
Good luck dear all my prayers for you and glad that you are already in residency I also has feeling that these residency stresses and lack of sleep is one factor in bad performance during exams
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u/OrdinaryBaguette 1d ago
What was your correct % on the main qbank? Do timed mode untutored and review later, this helps with time management on teatday and makes your line of thought faster.
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u/WasabiSpider1 1d ago
I got 55% correct, that was timed mode
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u/OrdinaryBaguette 1d ago
I think you should have passed, try to review cms forms for step 2 for knowledge gaps, maybe that'll help?
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u/Only-Bill2528 22h ago
What did you do for 2nd Try ? And what was the time u gave to study for ur 2nd attempt
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u/WasabiSpider1 21h ago
Second time around gave myself a strict month.
80 q daily
Ccs cases sprinkled daily
All my incorrects put the explanations on a word doc as a one liner and reviewed that
NBME 6,7 all within passing ranges above 60%
Free 137 68%2
u/dermabonding 20h ago
the only change i would make is making anki cards for your incorrects and reviewing them daily!! Putting them in a word doc isn't as effective bc its passive learning. I'm not an avid anki user and did this and it really helped me retain the info I learned earlier on especially with a busy resident schedule (i even did some on shift when i could)
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u/WasabiSpider1 20h ago
Do you recommend this or just going with Dorian deck. I was thinking of just doing those cards at work daily.
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u/dermabonding 18h ago
I would unsuspend dorian cards with the uworld questions you get wrong. its impossible to get through that whole deck. Just unsuspend your incorrects/things you guessed on and place them in a separate deck and just do those. In addition to unsuspending the dorian cards, you can make your own cloze cards for certain topics you keep getting wrong.
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u/Repulsive_Look_852 18h ago
I feel uworld isn't helpful now by many posts here .. so do u suggest switching to amboss ?
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u/WasabiSpider1 17h ago
That’s honestly what he seems like. Feels like amboss helps with management type of questions.
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u/Repulsive_Look_852 17h ago
Yes. I have exam in 2 weeks..I am only doing biistat and social science from amboss. I am regretting not doing the systems from amboss now. Amboss do have anki cards. Any idea how r those ?
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u/Snoo_98514 13h ago
Totally agree with the support here. I saw something in passing once that many states have a 3 attempt limit per step exam and USMLE only lets you take 4 times. I would double check this but would just make sure you do whatever it takes this time to pass
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u/BedAffectionate8001 23h ago edited 22h ago
I had a horrible pretest score and passed very comfortably. I downloaded the Dorian step 3 Anki and timed it to do 50 Anki cards a day. It’s very doable. And did 5-10 AMBOSS questions a day (Uw would be a fine substitute). It took about an hour to do my ankis and Qs every day (30 min ankis, 30 min Qs) some days faster than others, I did the ankis while going on a walk or just lying in bed before I went to sleep. Try not to skip days. Do it for 90 days and you’ll pass.