Dear colleagues,
I hope this finds you well. I took a little time me to review the BCSE materials provided
by the Educational Commission for Foreign Graduates as well as the practice questions
put forth by the NVBME. I haven't quite mastered the Yahoo group email thing, but if
you think this would be useful by all means share it with the group.
Here are my thoughts:
BCSE looks like a "Mini NAVLE"
- It is 200 questions (not 360). BSCE questions have only 4 choices (NAVLE gives 5)
- They say to expect "many graphics" 4/15 (26%) of the practice ?s have graphics.
- There will be 18-22 questions on Anatomy, (unlike NAVLE)
- It's a completely new test. It's only $75. Just take the thing, and see how you do.
Bottom line: I'd study for it like you would study for NAVLE
What I would do:
1.Do your homework
Review the guidelines and know what to expect on the test
ECFVG http://www.avma.org/education/ecfvg/
BCSE http://www.avma.org/education/ecfvg/bcse_bulletin.asp
2. Do practice questions:
Make darn sure you know the answers to the BSCE practice questions and why. As you
study those topics quickly, it will give you a sense of how to approach other topics.
BCSE Practice test http://www.avma.org/education/ecfvg/bcse_practice_test.asp
Or www.prometric.com/testdrive
Also look at:
NAVLE practice questions: text version
http://www.nbvme.org/?id=23&page=Sample+Questions
Or zipped computer-based version (about ½ way down the page) WAY BETTER
http://www.nbvme.org/?id=2&page=NAVLE+Candidate+Information
Zuku Review practice questions: www.zukureview.com
(Sign up also for the Question of the day- these are newer, tougher questions not yet
posted in the Zuku archives)
The NVMS books have ~ 75 good (tough) clinical questions at the end. Very well done
and thoroughly explained. Harder than BSCE questions in my mind, but good.
NVMS Large Animal Internal Medicine, Ogilvie
NVMS Small Animal Internal Medicine, Shaw & Ihle
Because of all the graphics, you may want to practice on your image recognition
Try going to the Merck Manual image library and as you look at their image, ask
yourself, what question would I build around this?
For example: If I see an image of an animal with a chest full of blood, what toxicity
might I be thinking of ?
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/htm/bc/toxro902.htm
(You better be thinking anticoagulant rodenticides!)
Merck image library
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/mvm_list_img.htm
There are good examples of image questions the Zuku Review "Test Taking Strategies"
area.
3. Other study sources:
I would look through the information in Reza's EXCELLENT study library for material.
Books I use all the time, for the Zuku Review:
- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook 5th ed., Plumb
- The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult, Canine Feline 3rd ed. Tilley and Smith
- Guide to Bovine Clinics 4th ed, Pasquini & Pasquini
- NVMS Large Animal Internal Medicine, Ogilvie
- NVMS Small Animal Internal Medicine, Shaw & Ihle
and always, the Merck veterinary Manual online:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp
Get savvy about multiple choice question strategy
Kaplan has some excellent advice on what to do the week before, day before and day of
your test. READ THIS. Very clear and good advice on becoming a smart about multiple
choice questions.
http://www.kaplanmedical.com/Kaplan/Article/Medical_Licensing/Step-1/Practice-theStep-1/ME_step1_strategy.html?ProductId =
4. Stay ethical
After you take the test, don't go sending lists of all the questions you remember to your
friends. That's unethical and could get you disqualified from practice in the U.S.
Several vets who worked together on a Yahoo group much like this one a few years ago
shared specific test question details after they took NAVLE- I believe they had lawsuits
brought against them and lost their licenses. There's no need for such behavior though.
http://nbvme.org/components/get_file.php?mid=73&fn=may06.pdf/may06.pdf
I guarantee you the NVBME keeps an eye on this Yahoo group, which appropriate and
fine. We are all smart hard-working people with plenty of good material to study. So, lets
give our best energy to the material, and it will pay us back in professional development!
Best regards everyone,
Steve
Steven I McLaughlin DVM, MPH, ACVPM
The Zuku Review, Veterinary online test prep
www.Zukureview.com
1 800 928 8218
Steve@Zukureview.com