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So I havent seen the option to take breaks in the NBME practice exams. So on the real exam how exactly do you initiate your breaks. Is there a button or something at the end of each block?
what exactly is the tutorial? Also to clarify- so pretend after block 1 I want to take a 25 min break (just hypothetically)- I would be able to do that? Or is there a limit on maximum break that one can take?
if you have a legitimate prescription for adderall or provigil, then you wont need any breaks other then needing to drink water and peeing.
Don't want to hijack the thread with this question, but this just came to mind. Do you know whether I'll be given a hard time for taking Ritalin into the testing center (prescribed for ADD). What I mean is: would I have to get it cleared ahead of time, or would I be okay as long as I bring them in the original labeled pharmacy bottles and don't put them in a ziplock or something?
Can anyone confirm that the 15 minute thing from the tutorial still gets added to your total break time if you fly through it? I heard rumors that they got rid of that this year.
Yes, the 15 minutes get added to your break. I took it last week.
I just wanted to offer some suggestions.
Make sure to factor in the actual amount of time you can actually spend in your break.
What I mean is your ideal schedule of 5 minutes between each block may not be so easy to manage. At least that's how I found it. The problem is it can take 2 sometimes, 2.5 minutes to go thru the security check (metal detector, pulling up sleeves, finger prints etc).
Oh and don't wear pockets! My friend warned me of this- because then you would have to let them check your pockets too everytime you come back -- which would waste more time!!
During my first break I went to the bathroom, had some water, an then went through the check, got back an entered my CIN. I think 8 or 9 minutes had passed!!!
The next two blocks I took breaks but remained sitting at my station.
I took a long break for lunch when I had 1 block left. Before that I went out briefly, stayed near the lockers, had a snack, some water, and went back in. I didn't go out. My most feared scenario was running out of break time and having my block time get cut short!!
IIRC they interpret any time longer than 5 minutes during a block without user input as a testing irregularity.I'm sure this has been asked elsewhere, but can you leave the test room with a block still going? Like if I finished a block with 10 minutes leftover could I just take a quick break without ending the block?
I'm sure this has been asked elsewhere, but can you leave the test room with a block still going? Like if I finished a block with 10 minutes leftover could I just take a quick break without ending the block?
I'm sure this has been asked elsewhere, but can you leave the test room with a block still going? Like if I finished a block with 10 minutes leftover could I just take a quick break without ending the block?
Can anyone confirm that the 15 minute thing from the tutorial still gets added to your total break time if you fly through it? I heard rumors that they got rid of that this year.
In this scenario you would just click to end the block and the extra time would be added to your break time. But you have to click to end it, don't just leave it going as others have said.
According to USMLE.org-Examinees testing on or after the week of May 11, 2015: (http://usmle.org/step-1/)
Step 1 is a one-day examination. The testing day includes 308 multiple-choice items divided into 7 blocks of 44 items; 60 minutes are allotted for completion of each block of test items. On the test day, examinees have a minimum of 45 minutes of break time and a 15- minute optional tutorial. The amount of time available for breaks may be increased by finishing a block of test items or the optional tutorial before the allotted time expires.
Nice, thanks guys. So there's actually benefit to finishing early. Is there a running timer of your break time somewhere?
4) Play the long game -- remember that your score will be made or broken in the last blocks of the exam when you are at your most exhausted. Plan and use your breaks so you get to this point with lots of energy. For me this meant frequent walks outside during breaks to get some sunshine, and lots of food/drink.
Good luck!