5 days until exam - UWSA#2 or NBME7?

[knuckles]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi guys,

I was wondering if you think its worth my while to do one more (or two) practice exams before my test. I like the practice of doing a lot of blocks in a row, just to get physically and mentally prepared for test day. I have finished UWorld with an average of 74%.
NBME 6 - 240
UWSA - 247
Free 150 - 252

My scores have a lot of variation so I can't be sure exactly where I stand. Thanks for the help.

 

[kryptik]

do both if you can, uwsa is just another 200uw questions you can learn from(although most of the concepts are covered in the main bank) and nbme 7 for final assessment if you have to do one, go for nbme 7

 

[1nycdoc8]

Hi guys,

I was wondering if you think its worth my while to do one more (or two) practice exams before my test. I like the practice of doing a lot of blocks in a row, just to get physically and mentally prepared for test day. I have finished UWorld with an average of 74%.
NBME 6 - 240
UWSA - 247
Free 150 - 252

My scores have a lot of variation so I can't be sure exactly where I stand. Thanks for the help.

Knuckles hey man, I took the test yesterday, I haven't written anything up yet (was inebriated instantly after my exam and I have a massive h/a now) but I definitely had some repeats from NBME7 that I got incorrect when I took that prac so I only got those right by seeing them before. I think there were 3 repeats from that one on my test. I'd say that going over UWSA2 also gave me a bunch of q's so def try to do both if you can! With that said I'd do UWSA2 first then NBME7, looks like you're in good shape man keep it up!

 

[MilkmanAl]

do both if you can, uwsa is just another 200uw questions you can learn from(although most of the concepts are covered in the main bank) and nbme 7 for final assessment if you have to do one, go for nbme 7

My thoughts exactly. You'll likely see at least a couple NBME 7 repeats.

 

[footcloud]

Is that the only case with NMBE 7 or do the other NMBE's also repeat on the real thing? I'm trying to save money so if it's not necessary, I don't want to do them, but if they repeat, then it's kinda worth it.

 

[knuckles]

Alright, thanks guys. Sounds like a good plan. I'm going to do UWSA tonight. I'll review it tomorrow, and I'll take NBME 7 on Tuesday, 3 days before the test. Hopefully keeping up with lots of sequential blocks, will give me a test taking IQ boost.

Can't wait to be done with this thing and 3 and a half weeks from test day, I can complain that my score isn't high enough.

I'm just nervous after seeing those threads where the people were considering a rescore after receiving a 20-30 point drop compared to their practices.

 

[RaraBovis]

Does one have access to the NBME qs at least for a few dyas, after having taken it? What about UWSAs?

 

[kryptik]

Does one have access to the NBME qs at least for a few dyas, after having taken it? What about UWSAs?

with the nbmes you only have access to your performance breakdown, uwsa gives you access tot he questions and explanations for two weeks

 

[knuckles]

If you buy the extended feedback (for an additional $15), then you get to see the questions you got incorrect. Correct answers aren't provided, but it shows what you put, so you can effectively research the correct answer.

 

[PokerDoc]

if you only do one, i felt like NBME 7 was far more representative than UW 2

 

[knuckles]

thanks man, congrats on the 1000th post

 

[2012mdc]

if you only do one, i felt like NBME 7 was far more representative than UW 2

I agree, I also had repeats from 7 and 6. They used the same exact picture on one of the questions and it was a straight id question.

If you have time I would consider doing both, preferably in the same day. Doing 8 blocks prepared me for the real thing as I learned how to manage my break time to maximize my effectiveness at the end of the exam. I believe this is crucial because me and many of my classmates had our easier blocks at the end when we would be more tired

 

[aashkab]

good luck knuckles! i'm sure you'll smash it man.

i took UWSA #2 and thought it felt a lot like the exam. I can't comment on NBME 7 because I didn't take it. Doing both would be ideal I'm assuming. i just hate the no explanations thing on the NBMEs.

 

[knuckles]

Haha.

Just wondering, if I take it on the 23rd, what day will scores be released? Thanks to whoever knows the score release pattern.

 

[PokerDoc]

thanks man, congrats on the 1000th post

Most of those posts came as a premed, thats my story im sticking to it... lol

good luck bro, no matter which one u do you'll be just fine, youre more than ready right now.

 

[knuckles]

I still don't really know anatomy well at all. Should I just take the hit, or should I waste a half a day reading HY anatomy?

Or is that so low yield, I'd be better off just reviewing FA again? Thanks

 

[aashkab]

i skimmed through it ( took about 2 - 3 hours, jsut read some of those clinical pearl things). honestly, its SUPER LOW yield but it helped me start identifying stuff like the stomach on CTs that WORLD didn't really do for. that's seriously about it. maybe look at the images if you don't know some of the angiograms yet (but you do cause you were all over that anatomy/neuroanatomy thread).

as long as you know thyroid stuff, brachioplexus, lower leg distribution and some of the random stuff like double barrel aorta, pancretic pseudocyst, etc, you'll be fine. its SO low yield though man.

go through FA one last time, and if you annotated, read THOSE most importantly to cram those one line facts in.

 

[Dakayus]

anatomy is ok. I just looked at the MAJOR arteries, veins, nerves, and muscles. I think I got all the anatomy questions right, but it wasn't super high yield. Go for UWSA2 since you get all the explanations and such.

 

[PokerDoc]

I still don't really know anatomy well at all. Should I just take the hit, or should I waste a half a day reading HY anatomy?

Or is that so low yield, I'd be better off just reviewing FA again? Thanks

I don't want to fool you and say its low yield.. just like every other subject its hit or miss depending on your luck of the draw.. I got six lower limb anatomy questions alone and probably 15-20 total and i know someone who got 30.. now, this isnt meant to scare you, EVERY single question was in FA

I dont think you need to use another source but def know all the anatomy in FA cold.

 

[knuckles]

Just finished UWSA2 - you guys weren't kidding when you said Block 3 was tough..

Predicted score: 250 (660)

Not much of a boost from last week's UWSA1, but I guess upward progress is better than nothing. I just hope I can hit my goal of 240 on Friday. If I could somehow make 250, that'd be incredible.

I'm going to take NBME7 now, to simulate the test day experience. Here goes nothing.

 

[knuckles]

took nbme 7....got a 242.

Can't say I'm not dissapointed. Was expecting a little higher. There's a huge gap between my NBMEs (240,242) and UWorld (247,250) predictions. Anyone able to justify this? thanks

 

[doc29]

knuckles did u do the extended feedback one? if so, do u know how many questions you got wrong?
thank you

took nbme 7....got a 242.

Can't say I'm not dissapointed. Was expecting a little higher. There's a huge gap between my NBMEs (240,242) and UWorld (247,250) predictions. Anyone able to justify this? thanks

 

[2012mdc]

took nbme 7....got a 242.

Can't say I'm not dissapointed. Was expecting a little higher. There's a huge gap between my NBMEs (240,242) and UWorld (247,250) predictions. Anyone able to justify this? thanks

Only a guess but if you are one to make silly mistakes or miss "easy" questions the nbme's curve is a lot more harsh than uwsa

 

[knuckles]

I did awful on the behavioral science questions...which is strange cause i'm normally alright. They had some crazy ethical situations like a schizo girl who you needed to check to make sure her parents were coming bc she didn't trust anyone. Another was a grandmother who wanted you to pretty much forcefeed tea down her grandchild's esophagus. Apparently you were supposed to negotiate with the old hag, rather than just straight up tell her it could cause sloughing of the gut. Anyhoo....