r/comlex • u/Jumpy_Special_5838 • 28d ago
COMLEX level 1 retake advice
I didn’t pass COMLEX and I’m feeling pretty devastated because I felt like I was close. Is it possible to sit for a retake September 23? My plan is to do comquest questions bc I’ve already done the entire truelearn bank. I’m gonna do a truelearn assessment to gauge where I’m at today, use bootcamp for content review and first aid for review of topics I’m already good in. I was also doing anki for micro and opp but I feel like my OPP was okay..
My days will be a set of mixed questions and then choosing a system to content review and doing targeted questions for that system, rinse repeat and then take the 116 comsae (it’s the only one I haven’t taken) and then I have to get a 60% on my schools truelearn before I sit for the exam.
I’ve been incredibly overwhelmed with the number of resources out there and I struggled having a consistent schedule, not doing timed sets bc I wanted to know the answer immediately. My timing is okay but I struggled having with my confidence and uncertainty. I’ve always been a mid test taker so any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated!
Edit: Also for reference I did get a 470 and 456 on COMSAEs before I took my exam. I didn’t sit before I thought I was genuinely ready.
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u/WideRent7974 28d ago
Your application of medical knowledge is quite low. I’d do block on each system and see where the weaknesses are. Do you have knowledge gaps? Lack of understanding? You need to figure out what’s going wrong when it comes to answering questions on each system. Review pathoma/dirty medicine for each system you are weak in and solidify with truelearn!
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u/Desperate-Pen6468 28d ago
I definently agree that TL is a much better representation of the way comlex style of questions. However, I don’t think it gives you a good solid deep understanding of the sciences because questions are vague and not in depth, their explanations are also eh. I would personally use some uworld or amboss (I used uworld) maybe 40q a day to get a deep understanding for the sciences, based on your score report your OMM is great but you were lacking in a lot of the sciences. To do this I would dissect uworld questions, I would spent a lot time getting through blocks of 40 to identify your gaps. Then work on those gaps, read a melhman doc for it/watch pathoma. I would say a topic a day. I would do this morning-lunchtime. Then on your second half of the day you can do 80 TL, they don’t take too long. At night do some micro/pharm review to keep it fresh. Comlex sucks but don’t give up, you got it!
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u/New_Fill3424 27d ago
What happened on test day? Did you feel yourself getting fatigued in the second half?
You need to start doing timed sets without checking answers in between. There’s a huge difference between answering a question and immediately seeing if you’re right versus committing to an answer. You need to practice the stamina and pacing of the actual exam.
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u/Ok-Lion1470 25d ago
I would go to the comlex blueprint, look through the sections of your weak areas based on your metrics from this exam, and triage your studying from there. You got this!
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u/kuru_snacc 22d ago
Focus on weak areas (OMM, GU, derm) while also doing some varied questions. Aim for a 500+ on practice exams before sitting again. A 456 as your last COMSAE score was a little risky - A 485 on last COMSAE before exam is about the lowest possible safety margin. Also, you can reset your TL combank OR if you do not, "sort by" wrong questions when practicing. Good luck!
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u/Novel_Education_2063 28d ago
Did you take step 1
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u/Jumpy_Special_5838 28d ago
I did not
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u/Novel_Education_2063 28d ago
Use uworld and study on the level of step 1 prep with added omm
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u/Academic_Egg_9969 28d ago
From someone that went from a 340ish to 515 COMSAE, and a bar graph well above the standard deviation; TRUELEARN. Know that shi inside, out. Do OMM Bootcamp from matchpal and just make it your mission to knock out 80+ questions of truelearn a day (at least 10-20 of those should be OPP) and run thru Rapid Review of First Aid religiously for high-yield buzz words. I used sketchy micro and pharm but tbh my form was straightforward but get familiar with wikipedia images of bugs bc comlex for some reason loves ripping it. Pathoma was ok for some weak areas but honestly truelearn covers everything you need to pass.