Today, we will talk more about the NBME self-assessment tests. We previously discussed what the NBME self-assessment tests are and how they impact your USMLE review. You can read the posts here. Now we will cover three important topics. When to use the NBME self-assessment tests, how to use the NBME self-assessment tests and how wise it is to use the USMLE World self-assessment tests instead.
We now know that the NBME self-assessment tests are accurate in predicting actual USMLE performance. And we also know that the main reason for this accuracy is the correlation study done by NBME between the two tests using AMGs performance in both tests rather than to any real similarity between the 2 tests. This correlation has also been borne out by most test takers who narrated their experience in forums. It can be used to gauge whether you will pass the examination and even if you have a good chance of achieving the score you are aiming for.
How to use the NBME Self-assessment tests
Best time to take the NBME Self-assessment tests
So when is the best time to take the NBME? The best time is when you think that you are ready for the USMLE. When all parameters indicate that you are probably ready for the USMLE examination, you take the NBME to confirm that you are ready for the examination. In other words, use the NBME as a diagnostic or confirmatory test, instead of a screening test. You can use your performance in USMLE World Q Bank or Kaplan Q Bank as a screening test.
Use NBME Self-assessment Tests to assess readiness, not identify weak points
The practice of many to take the NBME Self assessment tests to identify weak points and measure progress in review is not very practical. First, there are only 7 NBME tests (for Step 1) and second, you can take it only once. Taking it more than once invalidates the correlation and therefore its accuracy in predicting actual USMLE performance. Therefore, what do you do if you are still not ready after taking all six tests? You just used up your most valuable tool for predicting your actual performance in the USMLE.
Personally, I used the NBME exam to confirm my readiness to achieve my targeted score of 99. In preparing for USMLE Step 1, when my Kaplan scores were hitting 84 and above, I felt I was ready for the test. I took NBME form 1 only and 740 confirmed my readiness for the USMLE exam since I was aiming for a 99. 600 was enough for a 99, but I would have postponed if I got less than 660. Why? Since I decided I want only a 99, I was giving myself a 10 point leeway (600=240 and 660=250) to make sure I make it to a 99 no ifs, ands, or buts. 
The same thing holds true for Step 2 CK, I took the exam when my one and only NBME assessment test scored 700, way above what I needed for a 99.
Timed NBME Self-assessment Tests for best results
Another common question is whether to take the NBME examination timed or self-paced. Since you are trying to test your actual readiness for the USMLE examination, it is best to simulate actual exam conditions. In my case, I took self-paced but finished everything in the 1 hour allotted for it. I may look over the questions after 1 hour, but I will not change them so as not to alter the score predictability too much. Make sure everyone in the house knows not to disturb you while doing this. Although you can pause the exam, it is not recommended. Also I do not recommend you do it in a public library. There was one person who took the USMLE despite getting a low score in NBME self assessment test. He attributed it to the fact that he took it in a noisy public library and “upward adjusted” his predicted score. He failed. So, take it properly and trust the score. One warning, though, correlation is not 100% therefore always give yourself some leeway in case things do not go too well. Never, ever go for the USMLE examination if you scored 400 or less. Your chances of failing is too high and even if you passed 75 and 76 are with you for life.
What about the USMLE World Self-assessment tests
Recently, USMLE World started offering their own assessment tests for US$ 30 each, US$ 15 cheaper than NBME’s assessment tests. The question foremost in everyone’s mind is, can I switch to UW assessments tests instead of NBME’s. How wise is a decision like that?
The reason for using assessment tests is to make sure you are ready for the USMLE and to lessen the risk of getting an adverse score. NBME has proven throughout the years, after thousands of test takers, that it is a reliable predictor of your actual score in the USMLE. It is also backed up by correlation studies that have been published in journals. Now, although USMLE World’s assessment test may also be a reliable predictor of your actual USMLE performance, all we have is their word for it. No study has been cited or provided to independently verify such claim. And not enough empirical evidence from test taker’s experience forums allow us to make any judgment on its accuracy at all. Surveying forum after forum reveals variable experience with the tests as of now.
My take is that since you only have one shot at the USMLE, it is better to go with what is proven and tested rather than take a risk. Although, you can retake the USMLE if you fail, that failure is recorded and counted against you. If you pass, the score is with you the rest of your professional life. If you chose to, maybe you can use the UW assessment tests as a screening tool. Just be sure to use the NBME assessment test, whatever form to confirm your readiness before actually sitting for the USMLE.
Related Posts:
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NBME Self-assessment Tests and USMLE Review – An Update
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NBME Self Assessment Tests and USMLE Review
Hi askdoc,
Thanks a lot for your reply. I learned quite a bit from your other replies as well. Thank you.
Xij
Hi askdoc,
i really need some help. with 1st step.
i got 80% u world 82% kap qbank
and 252 on uwsa form ! before starting any of the q banks (weird) i don’t think uwsa means much.
i am aiming for a high 99 coz i really need it.
the problem came when i took nbme form 6 in late july 2009. i got only 570/238! then i reviewd my answers )i took extended feedback) and found that while i was saving the questions (screenshot) my answers to 4 questions had changed.
anyway, i pushed back my date and studied some more anatomy coz that was weakest but i’m all freaked out and my exam is in 10 days. should i push it back? what should i do??? please help me? disturbingly, i still haven’t figured out the answers to some of the anatomy form 6 questions. they were so hard!!
i have been studying for 6 months more or less and i’m absolutely plateaued, fatigued and frightened! but i need too give this test coz i need to take the others by the end of the year! somehow save me please
oh askdoc! where are you!
Hi ps,
I’m here, just a bit busy. Anyway, you don’t need my help. If you ask me you are doing very fine on your own. Both your scores seem to indicate you are going to hit 99, although there is no guarantee it will be a high 99. NBME form 6 tends to underestimate your score at least Most of the time, so there is bigger probability that your actual score will be higher rather than lower.
Actually, you should not be worried about your plateauing, you should be more worried about you declining. For most people 6 months is enough to plateau and begin declining. My suggestion to you is to take it easy, relax and get yourself ready to take the exam. Do not be too obsessed about getting a high 99. Being too anxious and worried during the examination in fact can negatively impact your performance on the day of the examination. Relax the next few days. You need to be at full strength and relaxed on the day of the exam. That will ensure that you will give your peak performance on that day. Spend only about 3 to 4 hours a day on the next few days studying, High yield stuff only. Do not attempt to study anything new as that would serve to confuse you. Do not spend it too relaxed either as some anxiety is needed to keep you at your peak. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and recuperating so you are not fatigued on the day of the exam. That will affect your performance more than anything.
I would not advise postponing the exam. When you are plateaued, postponing will lower your score not raise it. You cannot will a particular score into existence. You can only do your best. If your best is good enough, well and good. If not, then there’s nothing more you can really do. But if you ask me you’ll have a great score already. If it becomes a fantastic score, who knows, right?
A fellow 99er once told me that any score above 250 has an element of luck in it. There are probably less than 20 questions between 250 to the top score possible, a lot of luck is involved to get those questions right. ask anyone who got high 99′s. They would tell you that they guessed the answer to at least 20 to 30 questions in the exam (I know I did) so how high a 99 you get has an element of lucky guesses, right? So make sure you are at your peak on the day of the exam. If you’re lucky, you may get a really high score. If not, well high 90′s and 99 are really great scores already.
So relax, read my post on What to do on the day of the USMLE exam. Good luck on your exam. I know you’ll get a great score.
Askdoc
Hi Toshi,
Quick Pathophysiology review for Step 2 CK would probably be Goljan’s Rapid Review of pathology. I mean it is not enough to score high for step 1 pathology, but enough for Step 2 CK. Concentrate on Systems Pathology more than General pathology as that is tested more in Step 2 CK.
Askdoc
Thank you so much hor your advise. Let me study for several months as you advised me previously. If I need some help from you, I will leave a message in this blog. Thanks!!!
Toshi
Thanks so much askdoc, you make me feel much calmer
i’ll be back after my test,hopefully with a good score. TTYL!
hey askdoc
just wanted to say you were right!!! I ended up with a 259/99 just got my score last week (even then on zero sleep and post trying with an ambien). I guess the nbme and free 150 was predictive (although my highest practice was 255) I definately made some very silly recall mistakes on test day
thanks
Hi Toshi,
You’re welcome!
Askdoc
Hi ps,
You’re welcome and good luck!
Askdoc
Hi j,
Congratulations! Am I ever wrong?
Kidding aside; that is a really fantastic score. Good luck!
Askdoc
dear doc,
I was planning to write NBME tomorrow.hav USMLE exm in 5days…so no question of changing the schedule.But was seriously confused,I need the form which corelates the best….
my scores till nw are as follows,,,
Uworld Qbk-75%(64-87%)
Usim 1-a mnth before-234
usim 2-15days after-252
As you can see,the variation in score is very high…even in the Qbook and the U sim…so i am really worried….so pls suggest me the NBME that can best corelate with usmle score…
Hi suresh,
I would suggest you use NBME form 5 or 6. Not because it correlates best with USMLE score, but because you want to know if you will get a high score. Since form 5 or 6 tend to underestimate your actual score, it probably will be a better confirmation that you will get a high score. Your UW qbank score also seems to indicate you will be getting an almost sure 99 (if you did not repeat the questions and you did it random, mixed, timed) You need > 80% in UW to get possible high 99 or > 255. So barring any major disaster on the day of the exam, you have a high probability of a 99 with a small probability of a high 99. So good luck on your exam. Be sure to read my post on what to do on the day of the exam. And DO NOT STUDY the day before the exam. Just relax, get enough rest as the exam is a marathon, and endurance counts as much as what you know.
Askdoc
dear doc,
thanks for ur suggestions.I took the NBME form 5..But i got very depressed after the results because i have just 5 days more left for my exam and my score was 550 that’s 234…As u said,forms 5 n 6 underestimate the score,i still hv hope of getting 99…how far can we correlate this score with the actual usmle score??
Do we think its advantageous to take another NBME exm most probably form 6 again to get a better estimation of the corelation???
hoping for your reply
Suresh
Hi Suresh,
You still have a good chance of getting a 99, although it is not a sure thing. The question is not whether to take NBME form 6. The questions is what will you do if form 6 do not give you the score you like. If the answer is that you will still proceed with the exam, then my suggestion is not to take it anymore. If the answer is that you will postpone the exam, then taking it makes sense. However, if you postpone the exam, the next question is for how long and how sure are you an additional month of study will raise your scores higher. Everybody plateaus eventually and then decline. You might run the danger of declining and getting a lower score instead.
99 currently is 236 to 238 depending on the exam set you get. So 234 is not bad. You still have a good chance of getting a 99 with your current score. Taking form 6 may just make you more apprehensive in case you fail to get 236 again. In the end it is up to you. But my feeling is that you should take the exam. The score you get will be excellent and you have an even chance of getting a 99. What is important is to make sure you are relaxed and in top form when you sit for the exam. That is worth more in helping you get a high score than anything else you can do in the next few days.
Askdoc
hi,
thnks askdoc for your valuable suggestions.You are right…There is no point in being more apprehensive..I just need to be calm enough for the exam…But believe me,form 5 was damn tough,It had all in it,the behav science concepts out of Kaplan,genetics difficult than u world,biostat and neurology tough like anything.may be it estimates the lowest score i can get in the mains if the usmle were to throw me questions out of all the subjects i am comparatively weaker at..
I am just an UG medical student now in Nepali aiming family medicine+psych,family med or psych for myresidency…I wonder what might be the cut off mle socre for that?I will let you know more about my score after a mnth or so..Pls help me in planning for my exms and residency……..
Hi Dr Mike,
Thank you so much!! You were right about every single thing. Form 6 DID underestimate my score! yay!
thank God i didn’t postpone like i originally intended to before i talked with you.
i got my score back yesterday and it was 99/267 !! Thank You =3.
you have this down to an art
Is this still a competitive score for an img who wants medicine?( the mean is 221 sd =21)
I would really appreciate your advice for step2 ck which i have to take in 2.5 months from now…
thanks to you once again and also to GOD because he had a BIG hand in it
yours ecstatically,
ps
hey askdoc,
I finally took my test.you were right..My paper was very much like NBME 5 that i wrote just 4 days before which included more neurology and cardiology..Thank god i had revised the topics after my poor performance in NBME form 5.The difficulty level was very high compared to u world or even NBME…So I can’t even say,how much score i will get…But let us hope for the best…But i have one suggestions for all those who are appearing for USMLE..please take NBME 5 or 6 and not 1-4.at least 2weeks before exm so that you can see your weak points and postpone the exam date if needed…Otherwise taking these forms would only lower your confidence at the last moment…
PLEASE DON’T USE FORMS NBME forms 5 and 6 to ESTIMATE YOUR SCORE.better TAKE THEM TO EVALUATE YOUR LEVEL OF PREPARATION……finally thank you again for supperting me at the last moment…..
Hi ps,
A hearty congratulations!!!. That is a fantastic score. It is very competitive. Remember the mean and SD is for AMG’s. IMG’s score lower than that. Mean will probably be around 200 based on 35% failing rate for IMG’s. Now get a high score in Step 2 CK and you are golden.
Askdoc
Hi suresh,
Glad you took the advise. Read PS’s result. Anyway, wishing you a fantastic score. Now relax, watch a movie, take a vacation.
Askdoc
Hello!
Ive been searching for some info regarding the NBME self assesments because i was able to get version 1 and 2 in hard copy with a separate sheet with the correct answers.
How can i score them correctly? Each test is 200 questions… If i get between 110-130 correct of 200 that means im getting aprox 55-65% correct… How would that correlate with an actual score?
Any help?
Hi MnM,
If the hard copy version is the one circulating among people in the various forums, then thee is a big problem with using those. First, I do not completely agree with the all the “correct” answers in the answer sheet. So the question of the actual percentage correct may be problematic. It may just be 2 to 3 questions per block or 8 to 12 answers but 4 to 6% difference in raw score mean a difference of 12 to 15 points in the 3 digit score. Second, there is only one correlation table available when there should be 1 for each form. 55% to 65% correct means 163 to about 188 in 3 digit scores. I talked about this in the updated post on NBME. I suggest not to use this “hard copy” or “downloaded versions”
Askdoc
Dr.Mike,
was calmer after reading ps result….congrts ps….i am getting my results most probab today….hope it goes good…will let you know the reults asap……..
Dr. Mike,
contrary to what i expected,,i got a score 94/226…i was atleast expecting above 95 if not a lower 99…given that i had already scored 97 in NBME 5 which is supposed to underesmtimate the score…but i was shocked to see my score….i don’t know what to say about my score….i wanted family medcine or psychiatry…i wonder if that is a good score enough for step 1 given that i have step 2 to improve….anyways thanks for your support….i have after all realized my mistakes during preparation..please suggest me is i can continue with step 2 ck this score for the specialities i want…….
suresh
Hi suresh,
Ouch! I know how that feels. My predicted score was 265 but the score I got was 256. A 9 point drop right there. I was lucky in that both scores are 99. If I’d gotten a 235 predicted score (for 97), I would’ve gotten a 226, too right! Anyway, advise still holds, 9 out of 10 times form 5 and 6 still underestimates actual results. As to how you will fare in the match, depends on your step 2 CK score. For a fresh grad (within 2 to 3 yrs from date of graduation) IMG who needs visa with a score of low to mid-90′s in both exam (for example 94/92) applying for IM categorical, you’ll probably get 6 to 12 interviews. If you are GC or US Citizen, probably around 16 to 20 interviews. Family medicine and Psych are easier to get into than IM categorical, so you’ll probably get more interviews.
Askdoc
I have 3 weeks to step 1. I took the NBME form 6 and scores a 540 (correlates to 231). I’m scoring 88% on the free practice tests on the USMLE website. Do I have a chance of improving at getting a 99 on the exam?? I’m freaking out. Please help.
Thanks
just adding to the previous post, I scored a 68% average on the UW q bank
also should I take another NBME a week before the exam after going through first aid and my weak points?
if yes, which form should I take? one of the earlier ones or form 5? sorry for my posts all over. please help
Hi Hello,
It seems you are headed for a mid to high-90′s score. You do have a 50-50 chance of getting a 99. First, you should concentrate on high-yield review. If you took notes when you did UW qBank, then study those too. Do not try to study anything new as that may just make you forget what you already know. As to taking another NBME form, the reason you want to take another form is to see if you will postpone the exam, which I do not advise. Therefore, if you will go through with the exam whatever the score you get, then I don’t see why you need to do another one.
Read my post on “What to do on the day of the USMLE exam” and good luck.
Askdoc
Can you plz guide me for step2 ck prep…when should i plan my CS so that i can apply for 2011 match.
Hi Docjay
If you want to make is to 2011 match, best to finish Step 2CK by August, so results are available by September. Step 2 CS can be taken anytime between now until August. I suggest doing it after your first reading of Step 2 CK. You need to know how to diagnose, how to do differentials and how to order lab tests and you learn that in Step 2 CK.
Askdoc
hi askdoc,
thanks alot for all your advice and suggesstions during my step1 prep. i got my score for step1 237/99.how do you find this score for neurology residency. how should i start my prep for ste2ck? once again thanks alot…..
Hi,
Yesterday I took NBME form 1 for step1 and I got 600. I’ve read kaplan and took USMLE world q bank which the last time I reviewd the whole thing, average score was 86% (between 81 to 93%). I thought Iwould do better in NBME assessment. I am planning to take step1 sometime in Jan. How do you think I can improve my score? I really want to get a 99 in step1 as I am an IMG and it is almost 9 years from my graduation. So I need a high score to get into a good programm. (Right now I am doing a PhD in immunology which I am going to finish it by summer 2010)
Thank you for your advice.
Adding to the prevous post, my week areas were behavioral science and genetic and I had difficulty with the pictures in NBME assessement exam. How do you think I can improve these areas?
Hi DocJay,
Congratulations, 237/99 is a great score. If you are a fresh grad, you should get a lots of interviews. Step 2 CK is also done in 3 revisions. First revision, I recommend you read through Kaplan Lecture Notes. But make sure to make diagnostic algorithms and treatment protocols. You need to know how to work up a patient and how to manage their treatment, not just what are the tests done and drugs given if you know what I mean. In short, positive or negative tests may lead to further testing. Reaction to treatment may lead to modification of treatment. They are in Kaplan but is basically not organized like an algorithm. On second revision, revise the algorithms and also read through Kaplan a second time. During 3rd Revision, Study the algorithms, read through Kaplan quickly and do UW qbanks at the same time. Use the qBank to guide you through your weak points. Check your progress with NBME. Do a 4th or 5th revision as needed in order to get a higher score.
Askdoc
Hi Nooni,
Yes, there is a complete disconnect between your UW qbank score and your NBME form score. You have to answer this question for me before I can give you further answer. was your UW world q bank done random, timed, mixed blocks with no repetition of the questions. Because repeating the questions will artificially raise your scores. When I repeated my blocks (as an experiment) I was averaging 99%, so completely useless to gauge your competency.
Askdoc
Hi askdoc,
First of all happy new year.
Ok let me explain how I did. About 1 year ago I went through all the UW Qbank once system by system. but as I told you I am a PhD student so my speed for preparing for usmle is not great. In two months I went through first aid and all my notes from UW qbank twice and I did random and timed for the same qbank which was stupid as I had to go through a new set of tests like kaplan, I think. Now I got kaplan Qbank and I am taking random blocks timed and almost 4 blocks a day on weekends and about 2-3 on week days after work (finish all blocks and then go through the answers)
The first few blocks I felt so pressured that I couldn’t even breath well ( as I was so disappointed because of NBME score) and the average was 72%. I felt I don’t know anything. But I realized most of my mistakes was the one that I couldn’t concentrate. So I took 2 days off, relaxed and started again. Now my score went up to 80 to 88%. And still my weakest point is behavioral science!!!!
But I still feel bad because I think what if this is the case for the actual exam that I get so stressed that I can’t think and even breath.
So would you please give me some advice? I really appreciate your input.
Thanks
Nooni
hi askdoc,
i am preparing for my step 1 exam. i have completed reading the kaplan material once. i have watched the videos also. i havent studied the first aid material yet. i want to give my exam after one month. someone suggested me to write NBME exam to assess my preparation and then do the USMLE WORLD accordingly. then write another NBME block to assess my readiness for the exam. Please advise…
thanks in advance….
Hi Nooni,
I suggest you continue doing Kaplan qbank. Relax and do not stress yourself out. You will get a lower score if you let stress get the best of you. Part of the reason you were scoring high in UW is because you took notes and studied UW qbank. Doing Kaplan now will in the end test how good you will perform later. a score of 78 to 80% correlate with a 600 in NBME. which is 99 already by the way, although not yet a high 99. You should relax, take it easy. You will do well in the exam, unless the stress takes you out. I suggest you schedule your exam ASAP. Relax the last week before the exam. study at most 4 hours a day and in the last 2 days not at all. Important to get enough sleep so you are in top form on day of exam. Read my post in this blog on What to do on the Day of the Exam. Good Luck and have a great score.
Askdoc
Hi Ramesh,
Depends on the score you want to get. Based on what you have done so far, if you are planning to just pass this exam, then your plan is good. If you plan to score high, then it is not enough. Again depends on what you are aiming for.
Askdoc
hi askdoc,
thanks for suggestions..i m done with kaplan reading and started with usmleworld.what cummulative score correlates with 250 or more in real ck exam.
hi askdoc,
thanks for the reply. i am in the final year of my medical school. i will graduate in 2010. i am planning for a score of 95+ preferably 99… you say that if i want a better score, this is not enough… please suggest what i can do in this one month to get the score i desire??
ramesh
I got a 68% on my UW qbank and I got so freaked out that I took an NBME without doing much research on which form to take 2 weeks before my exam. I did form 6 and got a predicted score of 231, which freaked me out even more and I extended my exam date by 1 week. I then read through all the kaplans again, spending 2 days on each subject and revised first aid in a week. I took NBME form 1 two days before my exam and got a predicted score of 249. I just got my result and my score is 251/99…such a relief after my first NBME and UW scores!
hello askdoc,
i graduated in 2009 thn i started my usmle prep.n cleared step1 236/98 and preparing for ck.but all these time i was not attending any hospital. will it affect me in anyways that i sat so long unemployed.
Hello askdoc,
First off I must say I am very impressed by your dedication to all of us by responding with such detailed and personal messages.
My story is… I have graduated from a Caribbean Medical school that barely taught me anything. I have been studying for a year now, I took a review program because I had to start from scratch (basically re-learn my 2 years of medical school). I started off with 200′s,300′s on NBME 1&2 in the beginning of my learning process (I realized now after reading your blog that I should have used the NBME’s as a confirmatory tool instead of screening!)
Nonetheless, I have finally worked my self up and somehow stayed motivated…studying 12 hrs a day/7days a week even though I use to have a reputation of never studying in my family. I really just want to do well… so I have really gotten serious so much so that I have my peers asking for help explaining concepts. ( I am good at explaining concepts and mechanisms but I have a hard time recalling quick facts, because I feel like my memory is poor). All my classmates and friends feel I am ready to take the exam because of my strong ability to understand the material…but I do not feel this way at all so I have been postponing my exam. I refuse to go into the exam with atleast a 450 or above… that has always been my descion from the first day of studyng.
Like you said, alot of students just get frustrated and want to take the exam of hoping a miracle will come out of it and they will pass even after failing all NBMEs. I cannot afford this risk, even though I am only 22 fairly young graduate, I rather just work hard now rather than having to fail and retake the exam. The problem is, everyone around me (family,classmates) feel that I am taking TOO long, and its time I just go in and take the exam…regardless of anything…”how much longer do you need to be confident about taking this exam… its already been so long”…is a question I hear often, which is true…I am also eager to finish but now I am starting to wonder if this is my “plateau”..If I will ever get better than this?
I recently took NBME form 5 (offline…once again,learned from you not a good idea!), I received a 340ish on there.
Then about 2-3weeks after that I took NBME form 7, received a score of 470.
Then only after 3 days, took NBME form 6 to receive a score of 290.
I never have lost motivation or lost hope in my studying process because I believed that studying for STEP 1 is time-dependent. One cannot rush in to take the exam, “just because you want to.” But after NBME 6 I have felt a bit defeated, especially because after form 7… I finally saw my dream becoming a reality, the confidence in me grew which was never there before because I just never ACTUALLY thought I can PASS STEP 1!
So here I am, back to studying after taking a day off to be “depressed” after my last NBME. I had my exam scheduled for last week of this month. I don’t know if I got lucky in form 7 or I had a bad day with form 6.
On my usmle world qbank I average between 60′s to 70′s at times (unused).
I really have come to the point that I want to REALLY take this exam, but I am too afraid to go in without a good NBME score average backing me up…just wondering how much longer that will actually take because my long hours are getting ridiculous!
I’m sorry that was an extremely long message, I guess it’s easier to type this out to someone who is well-researched then speak to a classmate who already has a preconception before I even speak that I should go take the test!
I really hope you can get back to me as soon as you get a chance!!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! =)
Hi Nerd,
First, studying too long is not a good idea. Of course studying too short is not a good idea either. There needs to be a balance. Getting the right balance is important but discussing all the details is too long to do here either. In my course, it is covered in the first 1.5 hour lecture, How to Master the USMLE Step 1 and discussed further throughout the course. Anyway to make the long story short. You need to cover a lot of material in the USMLE step 1. And you need to keep all of it in your head for that one day you sit for the exam. For the purpose of the USMLE, what you cannot recall during the exam and you have about 1 minute to do that, you DO NOT KNOW. It does not care if you have read it a hundred times. It does not care if you’ve answered thousands of questions in qbanks. Therefore, you need to be able to keep all those information in your head and recall them at the same time. There are methods that can help you do that.
In order to do this right you need a lot of time to study, learn and memorize the materials needed. But your biggest enemy is still time. Why, because immediately after you finish reading something, you start forgetting it. That is true for everyone, you, me and and every other person out there including people who gets double 99. Therefore the longer the total study time you invest into reviewing, the more you forget. That is the only results guaranteed. Whether you learn more with a longer studying time depends on a lot of factors, including studying things the right way. So it is a common misconception that you can study as long as you want to get a high score.
Everyone plateaus eventually. Where studying more will not increase your scores. In fact delaying the exam longer after you plateau will insure that you start declining and will actually score lower. Everyone plateaus eventually, some at 99, some at 85, some at 75. You just pray you don’t plateau with a failing score. Studying properly from the start can help you plateau at a higher score though, so it pays to have good study methodology and not just hit the books and read. Per my experience with people I have taught, most people plateau in 6 to 8 months so it is best to be ready to sit the exam by that time.
In your case, you might have plateaued and declined already, which is not good. My suggestion is this. If you still have unused qbank question. Do about 4-5 blocks, random, timed, unused, mixed. If your average score is equal to the UW average for the blocks. You have an even chance of passing this exam. which means your chance of passing is about 50-50. If you get about 5 points above UW average, you have a good chance of passing. If you get 10 points above UW average, you’ll score in the high 80′s. If you get 15 points above it, chances are you will score in the 90′s
Askdoc.
Hi doc,
I am 1/4 int usmle world with 71% average(timed, unused random) and my NBMEs are – Dec-form 2 – 500, January NBME 4 – 570, Feb NBME 5 – 550(dunno what happened).
I plan to write in March 22nd and I am aiming for at least 240(25 would be sweet but not confident abt that one). I plan to finish world and do first aid the 3rd time and goljan the 3rd time – (using Taus method). What do you thing my chances are?
thanks.
sorry made some typo – i meant into -not int, 250- not 25, think- not thing
thanks
Hi articulate,
Based on your current performance, you are near your goal yet not quite. Based on NBME you will score between 225 to 235. Although you still have 30 days to study more or less, the problem is we do not know if you have plateaued. Plateauing means that further study will not increase your score and that happens to all of us. I suggest you continue covering high yield materials in your review in the last 4 weeks and taking it easy on the last week. Do not attempt to study additional low yield material just to boost your score as you seem very close to plateauing and doing that can lead to decline and that would be worse. Your plan seems good at this stage. Whether you can reach your dream score will depend on whether you have plateaued or not. extending study time will not help because it may even lead to decline and you will get a lower score than you have now.
So stick to the exam date, You have very good chance of getting a score in mid to high 90′s which is already very good. You have a fair chance of getting a 99 so it is not impossible at this stage. Anyway, good luck in your exam and make sure you read my post on What to do on the day of the USMLE exam.
Askdoc