How to use Electronic Questions Banks for Step1 (specifically USMLEWORLD) Emily Curran, MS4 WSUSOM Office of Academic Support April 2008
What is a Question Bank? • Software designed to give you a feel of real test format. • Benefits:
– Take tests with variable modes – Review the questions with explanations – Analyze and improve on your weaknesses – Track progress
Take Home Message • USMLEWORLD for Step 1 contains 2034
questions. • YOU SHOULD DO ALL 2034 QUESTIONS!!! NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTTS ABOUT IT.
Welcome Page • Your Account Information : – Expiration Date : 5/3/2008 11:28:28 AM – Suspended Tests: 0 – Completed Tests: 0 – Unused Questions: 100%
Create Test Page • Allows you to create your own tests. • Must specify: – Test style – Question pool.
Test Styles • Timed mode: – This option will impose a time limit for your test. – For example, 50 questions should be answered in an hour for Step1.
• UnTimed mode: – This option allows you to take the test at your own pace. – In this mode, the software displays the time elapsed, but does not impose any time limit during the test.
Test Styles • Tutor mode: – Displays the correct answer and explanation after you have answered the test question. – Once an item is answered, its explanation is retained for the duration of the test. – In this mode, the software displays the time elapsed, but does not impose any time limit on the test.
Assess vs. Educate • Timed Mode = Performance Assessment
– Valuable for checking pace
• Tutor Mode =
Educational Tool – The majority of your questions should be completed in the tutor style. – Important to read explanations!! – Reference relevant portion of First Aid
Performance Anxiety • Do not get hung up on
your overall percent correct on USMLEWORLD. – It does not strongly correlate with actual score on real exam.
• It s in your best interest to get a question wrong than right!!!! – It s an opportunity to reinforce material.
Specify No. of Questions • No default values for the number of test questions. • You have to type in a specific number. – Minimum number for each test = 1 – Maximum number for each test = 50
• If the chosen number of questions exceeds the available remaining questions in the question pool, the program will produce a message stating the number of available remaining questions.
Question Pool • All questions: – Randomly creates a test containing questions from your specified discipline/s. – Includes questions may be unused or used (i.e., previously answered or marked).
• Unused questions: – This option will create a test containing only the remaining unused questions.
Question Pool • Incorrect Only: – Create a test containing only the incorrectly answered questions from previous tests. – There might be instances when an incorrect question is also a marked question. In such cases, the software will also load the marked status of the question.
Question Pool • Marked Only: – Create a test containing only the marked questions from previous tests. This function is especially useful for mastering important or high-yield topics just before the exam. – ****Note: Once a test is generated using this mode, all the selected questions automatically become unmarked; however, if you decide to mark certain questions during the test, then those questions will be returned to the pool of marked questions.
Disciplines To Be Tested – 2 Choices • Main-divisions: – Large disciplines – i.e. Anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology…
• Sub-divisions: – Organ Systems – i.e. Blood vessels, cardio, GI, head/neck, renal…
During the Test • Clock Display: – Time remaining (for timed mode) or – Time elapsed (for untimed and tutor modes).
Layout During the Test - Toolbars • Left Navigation Toolbar:
– Lists of item number for each question.
• Top Navigation
Toolbars Buttons: – Next – Previous – Mark – Lab Values – Annotation – Suspend – End
Marky Mark • Very important
feature of Question Banks!!! • Mark high yield/tricky questions. • Therefore, you can go through all your marked questions during the last week before Step 1.
Marking during Step 1 • During your actual exam, mark around 5
questions To go back at end of block (if you have time remaining) • You should always submit your initial gut answer. – You can change your answer later if need be.
Highlight • Highlight button part of top navigation toolbar. – Button toggles between the highlight function and the cross-out function.
• Highlight key parts of stem!!! – Therefore, when you come back to question, you can quickly read your highlights and ignore the irrelevant parts of the stem.
• Cross out answer choices you know are wrong. • Documents your thought process!!!
Lab Values • Chart of normal values: – Blood – CSF – Hematological – Sweat and urine
• Get comfortable using the lab value chart in your Question Bank.
– You will know exactly where to find values during real test.
Suspend Function • You can suspend a test at any time, just
by clicking on the "Suspend" button. • Your answers will be saved and stored. • You may resume taking the test at a later date and time.
End Function • To end the test at any time, clicking on
the "End test" button. • Once you have ended the exam, you cannot go back and change your answers.
Results • Results given at end of test in timed mode or after each question in tutor mode. – Green check mark = Correct – Red X = Incorrect – ! = Omitted
Previous Exams • Lists of all your completed tests • Option to review or view analysis for each test.
Reviewing Completed Exams • Percent correct at top – compared to average score of all users. • Lists each question with: – Your response – Main division – Subdivision – Teaching point – % of Correct Response – Link to explanation detail
Analysis of Completed Exams • Performance in Test: – Overall correct – % of correct, incorrect, omitted
• Performance in Main Divisions: – % correct in anatomy questions, etc…
• Performance in Subdivisions: – % correct in cardio questions, etc…
Cumulative Performance • Performance in all completed tests: – Overall correct – % of correct, incorrect, omitted – Answer changes!!!
• Performance in Main Divisions: – Overall % correct in anatomy questions, etc…
• Performance in Subdivisions:
– Overall % correct in cardio questions, etc…
Tracking Progress • Performance graphs easily illustrate your strengths and weaknesses. • Shows if you got the topic you studied that day.
– Schedule in more time to re-review your weak areas.
Upload Function • If error occurs during submission of your
test results Will be prompted to select a location on your computer where your results can be temporarily saved. • Do not edit file. • Then you upload the file to USMLEWORLD interface to have your results recorded.
Most Popular • USMLEWORLD • Kaplan
Any Questions?
• Best of Luck! • I can reached at ecurran@med.wayne.edu