Which NBME Form should you Use for USMLE Step 1?
This is one of the most common question that I usually encounter both in my blogs and in the various forums. And you have as many answers as there are NBME forms, in fact more. Various answers include the following
- Use all 7 NBME forms to track your progress
- Use at least 2 NBME forms and get the average
- Use NBME form 5 to 7 as they are harder
- Use NBME form 1 to 4 as they are easier
- Use NBME form (#) as they are most predictive
As you can see recommendations vary and reasons vary. My recommendation is to use at least 2 NBME forms, one from the easy set of NBME form 1 to 4 and the second one from the harder set of NBME form 5 to 7 and then get the average. If you want to know why, then read on.
What You Need to Know About the NBME Self Assessment Forms
In order to determine what NBME form you should use, you need to answer 2 questions.
- What is the main purpose of using NBME self assessment tests for USMLE Step 1 Prep?
- What is the difference between the various NBME forms if any?
I had written extensively about the NBME self assessment tests and how they should be used for USMLE Step 1 Prep. Those interested may read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 by clicking on the link.
For this discussion it is important for you to know the following,
- The NBME question pool is different from the USMLE question pool and therefore the style of the questions are different although the content that they are testing is the same.
- USMLE questions are more similar in style with the online qbanks than NBME.
- The basis for using NBME self assessment tests to predict your probable USMLE score is due to the extensive correlation which NBME has done between both test results
- Therefore, the best use of NBME self assessment test is to predict your probable USMLE score and decide the optimum time to take the exam
- Although NBME self assessment tests can be use to assess your progress, there is some limitations. It measures your knowledge of USMLE content but it fails to detect any problem you have answering USMLE type questions.
What are the Difference in Difficulty Levels of the Various NBME Forms
There are differences in the difficulty level of the different NBME forms. The higher the NBME form number, the more difficult the questions. Therefore, NBME form 1 is the easiest while NBME form 7 is the toughest.
However, since all 7 NBME forms are normed and correlated to the same USMLE exam, the predictability of all 7 sets are fairly similar but not exact. In other words, even if the NBME form 7 is tougher than the other exam, the number of correct questions you need to get an equivalent score in the USMLE is actually lower.
I have also observed that the lower NBME forms tend to overestimate your actual USMLE score a little, while the higher NBME forms tend to underestimate your actual USMLE scores a little. But overall, they are still within the SD level of + or – 11 points on the 3 digit score.
So What is the Best NBME Form to Take for USMLE Step 1?
If the purpose is to predict the probable score you will get if you were to sit for the USMLE, then my recommendation will be to take two NBME forms and get the average score. One NBME form from the easy group Forms 1 to 4 and the second one for the harder group of NBME Forms 5 to 7.
If you only have the financial resource to take 1 form then either NBME form 4 or 5 will be a good choice as they are of intermediate difficulty.
What you should not do of course is to take the “downloaded” or “pdf” version as aside from issues of copyright, it is the predicted USMLE score that is important and not the actual percentage of correct answers you got.
If the purpose is to assess the progress of your USMLE Step 1 review, then my recommendation is not to use the NBME forms at all but use 4 blocks of UW or Kaplan Qbanks on a random, timed, mixed unused basis.
Related Posts:
-
NBME Self-assessment Tests and USMLE Review – An Update
-
NBME Self-Assessment Tests and USMLE Review – Part II
-
NBME Self Assessment Tests and USMLE Review
HI ASKDOC.. i m not sure if u remember me.. i asked for your advice last year in september..i had a poor step 1 correlation and i took your advice by taking a break and postponing my exam.
I started almost 2 months later, and now i have my exam 10 days away..on this 31st. I took my nbme form 6 online and i got a score of 500/223
i would appreciate your opinion on the correlation of nbme 6.. i m also wondering whether or not i should take another nbme to confirm my score projection and if yes.. i need your suggestion on which nbme has a better correlation between 4 and 5 as i have used all other on previous ocassions.
Thanks in advance.. and your blog is just great.
Hi Bella,
Glad you took my advise! You seem to be doing well. You can take form 5 although the difference with form 4 is not really that big. Don’t forget to read my post on What to Do on the Day of the USMLE Exam. And Good luck. Keep me posted on the result.
Askdoc
my exam is in next 2 wks…which nbme exam i shud do?i havent done any oyet….
Hi askdoc. I wrote my exam last month and got 99/235, but what I’m concerned about is my nbme and real exam score irrelevance. I did only one nbme (form 7, standard paced mode, with 5 min breaks among blocks)2 weeks before and got 610/247. My UW world cumulative was 74% in mixed, unused, timed mode. So is such high deviation from expected nbme score (in my case 12 points on three digit score) normal?
Hi ostati,
Actually, for Step 1, 1 SD is about 6 points and 2SD would be 12 points on the three digit score. It’s wide but still acceptable.
Askdoc
hi askdoc!!! I really need all the info about books or courses or something that can help me to pass my step 1. I’m an IMG I came here and since then I’ve been studying for my step 1 I failed once and now I’m worried I have no money enough how to get the kaplan course I read by my self the FA and the medessentials!!! but do you know another book do you know if there is another courses (cheaper) I’m studying by my self but I guess is not enough could you help me please!!! also my mail is tkd46@hotmail.com
hi,
i got 256/700 on USMLE simulated exam for step 1. having my exam next week. which NBME should i take? what shuold i do in my last week to potimise my resutls?
Hello Askdoc,
I am once again in the study home stretch for the daunting step 1 exam. The first time through I was unfortunate enough to fail with a 186 score. I am in line to take it again in 3weeks and today I took nbme 7 with a score of 186 (nbme of 360). I have done all Uworld with a first pass cumulative score of 60%, I am on my second pass. I did form 6 two weeks ago with a score of 172 (nbme 290) which is a score that I was not getting even the first time studying for this test and took form 5. I took a review course the first time through which I used way too much time in and did not focus on trouble areas. I will be starting my 3rd FA pass in 2 days and I am at a loss at the current grades I am obtaining. I know my weak areas are biochem, respiratory, immune and general principles of health and disease. Of course money is already tight and I can’t buy more practice tests or resources. Any advice will be welcome as how I am right now just staring at my computer looking for a solution to this problem. The email is: techy19798@hotmail.com
ASKDOC
I need your help.
I have being preparing the step 1 the last 6 months. I finish kaplan center, q bank, read goljan and listen goljan audiolectures. I read first aid one time.
I was planning to take the step 1 exam in february 22.
But I just took NBME 7 and I got 350/186. I am worry because it is a very low score.
What should i do next?
Thanks for any help.
I really appreciate it.
hi mavi2012,
My suggestion is to use the qbank and the result of NBME 7 to find your weak points. Restudy those weak points for the next 3 weeks and do another NBME. If your score goes up, good you can proceed with the exam. good score means at least 204 in the NBME. Anything lower than that then there is a chance you will fail the exam. If your score does not go up, it means you have plateaued and sitting for the exam will be a mistake because you will fail. You need to take a break, restart your review and postpone your exam. So next 3 weeks is crucial. Keep me informed and Good luck.
Askdoc