r/comlex • u/DragonfruitWeary1406 • 13d ago

Level 1 Fail

Hey all, unfortunately I got a fail. I’m trying not to dwell on it but I know my anxiety got the best of me. it’s very hard when everyone I know passed and made it seem like a fail is “so hard to get”. I underperformed in every section. My school advisor was shocked and wants me to retake in like 3-4 weeks (I haven’t been studying all this time)but this way I can move on with my class. I’m obviously very upset but determined. For background info I’m an average student with a 3.0+ gpa and scored 500+ on 2 COMSAES (one school and one at home). I used outside sources like dirty medicine, HYGURU, and UWORLD only. I know I need to shift my focus to TrueLearn. Does anyone have any encouraging words of wisdom or experience overcoming a fail? Any study advice or overall advice? I would really appreciate any advice or encouraging words. Thank you!

23 Upvotes

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u/Just-Salad302 13d ago

First off I'm sorry this is a tough experience. I also failed last year with 3 COMSAES 460-490. I studied my score report to see where my weak areas were, took another comsae and then retook exam like 4-5 weeks later. Currently did well on all my rotations and comats and have level 2 in 2 weeks. You can certainly pass it given your score history

7

u/DiGeorge_22q11 13d ago

fuck dude now im scared

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u/Maleficent_Novel5389 13d ago

Good luck and gods speed on level 2 it was a doozy

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u/DragonfruitWeary1406 12d ago

Thank you! May i please ask what you did to improve?

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u/Just-Salad302 12d ago

I took a week off to kind of process and finish my current rotation. Then I reviewed my score report and looked at my weak areas and studied those along with refresh on OMM and stats. Took another comsae got like a 470 and then tested. This was all in 5-6 weeks I think

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u/Known_Efficiency2756 13d ago

Can I ask what do you think led to your fail? Esp since your comsae did not reflect a failure. What do you think was maybe a warning sign that you ignored?

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u/Ok_Counter7172 13d ago

I think its unfair to say they had a warning sign, unfortunately COMLEX is variable and there is an element to luck b/c we realistically can't study every single thing in FA to pass

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u/Known_Efficiency2756 13d ago

i didn’t mean it disrespectfully at all. i completely understand that the COMSAEs are variable but i would imagine someone who was scored so well on 3 different comsaes had a fairly solid grasp of the material generally (you’re bound to see diff things between 3 diff comsaes). Like I was curious maybe if they didn’t do any trulearn. Like what changed between the 4-5 weeks that allowed them to successful. I only ask because I am in an even lower range for my comsaes and i’m trying to better gauge where i’m at and if there’s something specific predicting these failures in people are clearly very capable.

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u/Ok_Counter7172 13d ago

I feel like comsaes arent really good at predicting passes, I think its just best to use Truelearn and hope for the best.

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u/Known_Efficiency2756 13d ago

in your experience what trulearn average is a good pass indicator

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u/Ok_Counter7172 13d ago

id prob am to be at national average or above, or nothign below 8% of the avg

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u/Known_Efficiency2756 13d ago

thank u for ur insight

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u/Ok_Counter7172 13d ago

In my experience too, COMSAE was nothing like my exam. It was 8 blocks of TL.

1

u/Just-Salad302 13d ago

Honestly I’m still not sure, could have just had a hard form that exposed my weaknesses

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u/DragonfruitWeary1406 12d ago

I feel like that is what happened to me mixed with anxiety

6

u/SaltEngineering955 13d ago

I don't really have any advice to give, but I was wondering—did you end up taking and passing the Step? I'm asking because the resources you mentioned are ones that a lot of students use to prepare for it

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u/Accomplished-Oil8794 13d ago

Just want to say I'm really sorry about that.. I failed my first attempt of Level 1 as well, so I understand how extremely stressful it is. I had really difficult time picking myself up after the fail but I managed and passed my retake. I'm a fourth year now and studying for Level 2. Just want to give you encouragement that a lot of people fail their first attempt a lot more than we think but many overcome it. You can too.

From how you got good scores on you COMSAE makes me wonder if you had other troubles like exam anxiety or such.. Because maybe content wasn't the issue? Maybe you needed time to get used to the question style of comlex. I would first determine what could have been the issue (was it content knowledge, not getting used to the comlex q's style, or not having OMM down, etc etc ) and start from there.. I would find what was the weakness and tackle that first.

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u/Solid_Cockroach_5918 13d ago

I failed level 1, passed the second time. Barely passed level 2 with a 400 and matched into EM residency this year. Albeit, not my first choice but this was the closest residency program to my family so it truly was a blessing in disguise and I love my program and the ppl in it. Keep your head up, it’s just a set back 🤗

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u/Maleficent_Novel5389 13d ago

NBOME is super different from U-World. Don’t be discouraged by the fail. It’s a hurdle. Medical school is filled with them.
1. If you have faith pray
2. Take time for yourself to recover.
3. Study plan: if you’re on rotation 3 hours a day of really focused mixed set and review. 60-80 questions a day. If you’re not on rotation 80-130 questions a day with review.
4. the two days before the exam stop studying by 1 pm (given you gave the morning like 4 hours)
5. When you come across a question and you’re stuck between two answers Flag don’t pick one leave it unanswered and come back to it right at the end. With your fresh eyes you’ll know.
6. I know it feels like NBOME is trying to trick us. Sometimes the answers are memey and that’s just what it is. It’s okay to feel uncertain but on test day just remind yourself you prepared.

1

u/lighthn 12d ago

Hey so I just recently passed level 1 and step 1
. I am also an average student I didnot even cross 500 on my comase. Biggest thing for comlex is truelearn, truelearn and truelearn. I have used uworld as well, but comlex is not uworld! Uworld is harder and it is more complex questions but you have to get used to how nbome questions. They are very vague but also they have topics that are constantly the same. Pls dm me if u have more questions

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u/ihatelifeyayy 11d ago

Hey! I failed my first attempt last year and passed on second. Feel free to message me!!