142 baseline score on NBME 15. How to improve to 220+??

[Tandoorichickensquad]

Hi everyone. I recently got a 142 on my baseline NBME 15 for STEP 1. I have always done average or above average in classes, so this freaked me out. I have 10 weeks until the exam. I am going to use the standar UFAPS (while making flashcards for my UW incorrect answers). Is it still possible to push into the 220+ range? Any advice on how to do this using UFAPS effectively? All comments are appreciated.

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[Medical_studies]

I have no idea what you should be studying, but try to keep 18 hours a day in the same room, no cell phone or any contact with the outside world. if there is a way to firewall all websites except uworld boards and beyond pathoma, and sdn, i would do that as well. All the best!

 

[Tiran145]

I have no idea what you should be studying, but try to keep 18 hours a day in the same room, no cell phone or any contact with the outside world. if there is a way to firewall all websites except uworld boards and beyond pathoma, and sdn, i would do that as well. All the best!

This seems like the worst advice ever. Fellow M2 here, but don’t take step till next year so I don’t have answers for you b t this crap is terrible advice

 

[NicMouse64]

I got a 152 on my first CBSE (5 months before my exam) and ended up with a 230. When is your exam? That will tailor my advice to you.

 

[Tandoorichickensquad]

I have no idea what you should be studying, but try to keep 18 hours a day in the same room, no cell phone or any contact with the outside world. if there is a way to firewall all websites except uworld boards and beyond pathoma, and sdn, i would do that as well. All the best!

Thanks for the response! I think that isolating myself like that would cause me to crash and burn, covid isolation is already taking its toll. But thank you for the well wishes!

 

[Tandoorichickensquad]

I got a 152 on my first CBSE (5 months before my exam) and ended up with a 230. When is your exam? That will tailor my advice to you.

I take my exam in a bit over 10 weeks. Novemeber 20th

 

[NicMouse64]

I take my exam in a bit over 10 weeks. Novemeber 20th

That is not enough time to pass. You need to delay.

 

[Tandoorichickensquad]

That is not enough time to pass. You need to delay.

I understand this is a possibility but I was thinking making a decision to delay based off the NMBE 18 i will take 2 weeks away from the exam.

 

[stickgirl390]

Search around for that reddit spreadsheet, it’s a much better predictor than those crap NBME scores. My NBME 4 weeks out was 36 points below what I scored on the real thing, and I don’t think I added 36 points worth of knowledge in those 4 weeks.

 

[Tandoorichickensquad]

Search around for that reddit spreadsheet, it’s a much better predictor than those crap NBME scores. My NBME 4 weeks out was 36 points below what I scored on the real thing, and I don’t think I added 36 points worth of knowledge in those 4 weeks.

I found the reddit spreadsheet and put in my score. The "average" score it equaled to was a 203. That is still low, but leagues better than the raw NBME score I got. Comments on the spreadsheet seem to say its generally pretty accurate, which eases my fears slightly. Still ****ting bricks though lol

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Hi everyone. I recently got a 142 on my baseline NBME 15 for STEP 1. I have always done average or above average in classes, so this freaked me out. I have 10 weeks until the exam. I am going to use the standar UFAPS (while making flashcards for my UW incorrect answers). Is it still possible to push into the 220+ range? Any advice on how to do this using UFAPS effectively? All comments are appreciated.

I took NBME 15 as baseline as well, and I got 160 with 60% correct (which should have been at least a passing score on the real thing). That was a month ago. I haven't taken the exam yet, but I would go back and see how much you got correct because the curve is messed up on those old NBMEs and the score isn't accurate on the lower end of the spectrum. Probably because so many people have taken them and probably also studied uworld premade decks and searched answers while taking them shifting the curve to the right. The new NBMEs (20, 21, 23, 24...) curves are more accurate from what I've seen. Also, I don't know how far along you are into UWorld, once you take UWSA-1 (usually half way through Uworld), then you can gauge where you're actually at, then hammer at BnB/FA/Pathoma/Sketchy/anki on your weaknesses. Good luck! I'm 9 weeks away, so we'll be taking it around the same time.

 

[Tandoorichickensquad]

I took NBME 15 as baseline as well, and I got 160 with 60% correct (which should have been at least a passing score on the real thing). That was a month ago. I haven't taken the exam yet, but I would go back and see how much you got correct because the curve is messed up on those old NBMEs and the score isn't accurate on the lower end of the spectrum. Probably because so many people have taken them and probably also studied uworld premade decks and searched answers while taking them shifting the curve to the right. The new NBMEs (20, 21, 23, 24...) curves are more accurate from what I've seen. Also, I don't know how far along you are into UWorld, once you take UWSA-1 (usually half way through Uworld), then you can gauge where you're actually at, then hammer at BnB/FA/Pathoma/Sketchy/anki on your weaknesses. Good luck! I'm 9 weeks away, so we'll be taking it around the same time.

Im 10% done with UW but will go 1.5x before the exam. Definitely hitting content harder in the next few weeks. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. Best of luck to you as well!

 

[NicMouse64]

If I were you I'd take UWSA1 in a couple weeks. It's usually an indication of where you'll be in 4-5 weeks. If you don't pass it you need to push back your exam. I took UWSA1 5-6 weeks before my exam and it is what I got on the real exam.

 

[naijacardriodoc]

Below 200 almost always means content knowledge gaps: boards and beyond/sketchy micro pharm, Pathoma, pixorize for biochem, uworld and anki should get you to the 230 range

also Make anki cards for your incorrects or have a journal

 

[naijacardriodoc]

Also try getting a virtual study partner....it’s helpful

 

[Tandoorichickensquad]

Also try getting a virtual study partner....it’s helpful

Will do, thank you for the advice!

 

[JibsGuy52]

NBME’s suck. Keep going. UWSA 1 of below 210 2 weeks out, delay.

 

[Tandoorichickensquad]

Update: just took NBME 16, got a 175. So in 3 weeks time, i went from 142 to 175. Studying wasnt the best due to extraneous circumstances (california fires had me evacuate for a few days). Rest assured, getting back in the groove. I was also able to move my test back to December 4th (last date possible for me) from November 20th originally. So im sitting at 175 for my most recent test, with 64 days left in dedicated.