step 1 timing strategy

Anonymous · #1 (**permalink**) 02-24-2004, 11:34 PM

Hi everyone,
I have been a frequent silent observer for a long time in this forum before taking step 1. I still visit this forum from time to time after taken step 1. I found this forum to be a very valueable resource since there are many essential tips and pointers shared by members of this community. Today, I would like to share something that I felt was very useful when I was taking the exam, yet nobody has discusssed this(at least I have not seen it on this forum). This tip I am about to mention was taught in my medical school during a step 1 introduction meeting that was intended to get 2nd year student familarized about step 1. Alright, that's get to the point. Here is the timing tip. We all know that we have 7 blocks of exam, and 8 hours of total exam time (one hour per block plus a hour of free time/resting/lunch block). Thus, we have an hour for each block or 50 questions. TECHNICALLY, THIS IS NOT TRUE. Actually, you will have 59 minutes and 59 seconds for 49 questions; and unlimited time for the 50th question. Allow me to explain how this works. During a block, make sure you answer at least 49 question by 59 minutes and 50 seconds or with 10 seconds remaining on exam. THEN, MAKE SURE YOU GO THE THE SCREEN OF LAST QUESTION (NOT THE MANU SCREEN) BEFORE TIME EXPIRES. Once you are in the screen of your last question, you will still be able to answer and submit the question AFTER TIME EXPIRES. You may take as long as you want for the last question because once the time expires, the time you use to answer the last question is deducted from your one hour resting time. As I mention earlier, you will have unlimited time for the 50th question. That statement is not exactly correct, but you may take as long as you want to answer the 50th question as long as you have time remaining in your resting block. Allow me to take you through a senerio to further demonstrate how it works. During ever block of my exam, there is always one question that I know if I have more time, I can get this question correct. For me, such question may be behavior science calculation problem, pharm graph question or a simple fact that is in the back of my mind but I just cannot recall at this time. You can now mark that question or write it down in the erasible white pad they give you during the exam. After you have completed the rest of 49 questions, you can now go to that particular marked question and take your time to answer that last question. REMEMBER, YOU MUST GET TO THE LAST QUESTION SCREEN BEFORE TIME EXPIRES. In my expierence, I will usually answer 49 questions with about 10 seconds to spare, then go to the last question that I know with more time, I will be able to solve the question. By the time I got to the last question screen, I usually have about 5 seconds left. Now, once you are in the your last question screen and the time expires, your will still be able to answer the question, you can even change answers if you like (example: from A to C or E to B). The point I am trying to get at is computer WILL NOT TAKE YOU TO ANOTHER SCREEN OR FREEZE UP SCREEN AFTER TIME EXPIRES. After you have selected you answer for last question, click on the submitt or continue or next (I do not remember the name of exact buttom, but something like that)so you can submit this last question. Anyway, the time you use after 60 minutes test time has expired until your submission of last answer will be deducted from your resting time. As for me, I usually take an additional 3 or 4 minutes to answer my last block question. I found this to be very helpful during my exam and I can honestly said that I probably picked up another 5 question using this method as opposed to not knowing this. Once again, this little tip was taught by a USA medical school. I and many of my classmates have used it and it works. If anybody on this forum have used it in step 1, please reconfirm it and share your experience. Finally, I hope I have explained this clearly. Since English is my second language, I am afraid I might not have explain this as clearly as I should. If you have any questions on this, please post it on this forum and I will try to answer it.

Felinefan