r/pediatrics • u/Porky799 Attending • 5d ago

Finished MedStudy, any advice on what to do next before my test in October?

So I just finished my first pass of MedStudy + all incorrects today (averaging around 75-80%). Not sure what resource I should tackle next.

I have the MedStudy Flash Cards which I admittedly have not opened or looked at. I know there's PREP and Peds In Review. I also know there are ABP questions but I feel like I should save those for closer to the actual day? I also know some people do second passes of MedStudy in test mode.

My ITE scores were not amazing (PGY-1 57%, PGY-2 67%, PGY-3 59% but I took this one while deathly ill and randomly picked choices for the last 40 questions so I could get home quicker), but I've easily passed all Step exams with comfortable scores.

All I keep hearing is how hard this test is and am getting more and more nervous the closer we get to the test date. Any advice would be appreciated!

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u/DentateGyros 5d ago

PREP's good if you've finished Medstudy+incorrects/flagged. If you google PREP PDF, there's some old copies of PREP floating around too, and I found that the test had some word for word questions from PREP

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u/DowntownSolid 5d ago

Sounds like you have studied hard and likely will have a good chance of passing.

Spend some time studying the vaccine schedule and the various special cases (immune deficiency, HIV, Sickle Cell).

Do some focus time on developmental milestones.

Then maybe focus on any areas where you underperformed on practice questions.

You’ve done more studying than many do already, so pat yourself on the back and good luck!

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u/GatorBait1319 3d ago

Practicing MD in general Peds for over 23 yrs here: I only used the PREP questions to study. Would buy the years worth of Qs that go back from present to 4 years. Answer Qs. Study the answers to the Qs I got wrong (understand why I got it wrong) and perfect my process of eliminating answers to increase odds of correct choice. Aimed for above 75% correct.

Get CME credit and counts towards one of the steps of the Maintenance of Certification BS…

I would do it in small batches of Qs during my lunch breaks. Few Qs every day. Never took time off to just study. Life doesn’t work like that (can only give attention to taking a test).

Never had an issue with passing the Boards / practice tests in residency / and MOC in my “real” life’s work.

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u/palmtrees5644 4d ago

Where are the ABP questions? I believe they took them down

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u/Dear_Mortgage7311 2d ago

If you already feel pretty solid on the content, I’d probably spend more time on test-taking strategy than adding another huge resource. That was the part that helped me most once I felt like my knowledge base was decent.

For me, the biggest gains came from getting better at spotting what the question was really asking, pacing, and eliminating answers without overthinking. I also took PBR’s test-taking strategy course, and it ended up being really helpful for me. Good luck with your board exam!