Question on taking the Comp

[Internal Amity]

I have heard that this exam is extremely difficult...only about 30% pass on the first try. How many tries do they give you? Three? Five? Also, what have been some quality prep materials for this exam - kaplan q bank? Class lecture notes? Books? BRS's? I'm less than a year away from taking the exam, but would like to study ahead of time for this killer...if anyone has any informative feedback, I'd love to hear it.

[TennisMan]

I failed the first attempt and I used only first aid and USMLE Rx to prep for it. I For the 2nd attempt, I used the kaplan lecture notes and Kaplan Q Bank and I passed with a 73. There's only 3 attempts allowed. A passing score is 64.

[RVCA1981]

if you're getting around 70's on the your shelves without using lists, then you should be fine. The comp isn't that bad. Just think, everyone before you has basically passed it. So if you're doing ok in school, there's no reason why you shouldn't pass. You get three attempts. Usually everyone just reads first aid, but if you want to do well, read your class notes. Getting qbank or some form of question bank definitely will help with your timing. I think for the comp, any bank will do but most will say that Usmle world will be best for step. Best of luck

[jabee_usm]

How much time are you given or should take to study for the COMP? USMLE?

[brob311]

Currently, they are giving students about a month to study forthe first Comp. If you fail the first time, you take it a second time about a month after 5th semester ends. If you fail it yet again, I believe you get about 3 months.

Once one passes the comp, you have a 6 month period to take the Step

[jabee_usm]

Thanks brob311!:) Good information!

[Neo2011]

what subject has the most questions second to Path? is the majority of questions revolving the 3Ps? Thanks.

[bcks]

wow! a month to study for the comp?! we got only 7 days to study and that was right after taking shelf exams for an entire wk!

[TennisMan]

Do not get so psyched out by COMP questions. If you are past 2nd semester, you will have taken shelf exams already. The COMP is basically a shelf exam, hence the name comprehensive shelf exam. So if you've taken any of the subject shelf exams, then you are already familiar with how the NBME asks their questions. The style, format, depth, and level of thinking for questions on the COMP are no different than what you have already experienced on an individual subject shelf exam. My personal take on it is that NBME questions are fairly straight forward in comparison to most of the questions I've seen on my mini's when I was still in basic sciences. Of course there are always going to be some questions that will always get you, but that is normal.

[TennisMan]

what subject has the most questions second to Path? is the majority of questions revolving the 3Ps? Thanks.

It was a good mix of all subjects. Remember that one question will most likely count toward your score in several disciplines at once. For example, if you had a question on a psychopharm topic, this question depending on how integrated it is, may count toward your score in behavioral science, neuroscience, biochem, pharm, and physio. About 95% of the questions are clinical vignettes with a few classical questions just asking for a straight up mechanism.

[endymion]

I know a Ross student who failed the Comp and had to scramble to retake it then rush to get the STEP 1 scheduled before the deadlines ..... and banged out an impressive 231.

Stay frosty.

[VSR]

damn...a month to study and MORE ppl are failing it than ever. We had 9 days on island to study for it, not to mention the Hurricane that came through! Good luck to all. If you have been studying and doing well during the 16months on the island, you will have no problem passing it.

[novamd]

From the sounds of people I know who just took it in May, the month to study is actually hurting you b/c people are having a hard time managing their time. Instead of staying on the island for another week and still in study mode from 4 shelves and a mini, you go home, then you go to miami where a lot of people will get caught up with having too much fun, and not study enough, and bam, you fail the comp.