Step I Best Time to Take First Practice Exam?

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

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Specifically for those who are reviewing 5-6 months ahead of time, whose schools do not have them take a practice exam ~6 months out, and who are working through a QBank.

Should you complete a full QBank first? Wait until the beginning of dedicated? Somewhere in between those two timestamps?

Any input is welcome.

Post inspired by @MarshMedic

 

[wanderingorion]

I was planning to do the first one 12 weeks out.

Edit: I think doing a Qbank before dedicated is helpful, but you can still take a practice exam. I think that qbanks Qs at this point are just getting used to how the questions are asked.

 

[neurodjent]

I am planning on taking NBME 13 8 weeks out and then doing 1 a week until my exam

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

I am planning on taking NBME 13 8 weeks out and then doing 1 a week until my exam

I like that idea. By then we’ll be through almost every system too so it shouldn’t impact scores too dramatically.

 

[Save a life]

I’m taking NBME 13 with 3 (one hour) Uworld blocks 5 weeks out.

FYI for those who don’t know:
Step 1 is 7 blocks (up to 40 questions), 1 hour each with 45 minutes of break. Add Uworld blocks to feel the full 7 hours of questions. The standard NBME exams does not entirely replicate the test timing or number of questions (four 50 question blocks with 65 minutes each for NBME) However, you can calculate a score with them.

 

[Jesus1]

Do your first test about 8-9 weeks before your exam.