Discouraged about NBME12 score....1 week before test

[monkeyMD]

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So my step1 is coming up in approximately 1 week. Just took the NMBE 12 and scored well below my target score. Got a 220 but I am shooting for ultimately a 245. My first NBME was 11 and scored a sad 196. I have approximately 10 days before my exam and I am feeling pretty discouraged. What would be the best use of the rest of the time I have left to at least increase my score by a few points? I am not at all done studying. Haven't even gone through FA completely thoroughly yet.

Should I watch DIT?
Watch Kaplan?
Read more Pathoma?
Finish my uworld qbank?

And is it even worth taking another NBME? If so, which one is the best one to finish off with?

And is NBME12 score even accurate? I've been hitting 80% on Uworld Qs and was hoping I'd score higher on the NBME today

 

[Arg10Messi]

NBME isn't perfect. The real thing is a **** show. Do your best on the NBME, but be prepared for an exam that is nothing like you've ever taken. Forever.

 

[Psai]

Finish first aid. That's your #1 priority imo

 

[J ROD]

FA
Pathoma
Uworld
NBMEs

I think you waiting a tad bit too short if you are shooting for a 245. I think you can expect between a 220-230 at this point.

Unless you have A LOT of FA to finish. Still not common to see such a high UW % and that low a NBME score. Maybe look into why? Are there different kinds of questions messing you up?

 

[cynthiam]

Have you considered rescheduling your test date to give yourself more time to prepare? That's what I'd do if I were in your situation.

 

[notbobtrustme]

NBME is like rapid fire medical trivial pursuit. There's like 10 questions on those exams that require some indepth thinking, the rest of them are straight up fact recalls. I think the reasoning behind NBMEs being predictive is that if you can nail the lay-ups and then do average on the rest of the questions, you should be scoring near your NBME scores.

The real deal was a mix between NBMEs and UWSAs/Uworld.

 

[monkeyMD]

FA
Pathoma
Uworld
NBMEs

I think you waiting a tad bit too short if you are shooting for a 245. I think you can expect between a 220-230 at this point.

Unless you have A LOT of FA to finish. Still not common to see such a high UW % and that low a NBME score. Maybe look into why? Are there different kinds of questions messing you up?

I've been looking through the ones I got wrong and for some of them, I still can't find out the answer. And for some, they were stupid mistakes. What percentage do you have to get right on the real deal to get at least a 235?

 

[Psai]

There are discussion threads and you can google any question, someone is bound to have asked about it before

 

[J ROD]

I've been looking through the ones I got wrong and for some of them, I still can't find out the answer. And for some, they were stupid mistakes. What percentage do you have to get right on the real deal to get at least a 235?

That is like performing magic since it is based off those that are taking the test that day. From what I have learned from my time in here is NBMEs are the best predictors. They have a harder curve than UW. More fact based etc.

Most folks with a UW of 80% would be near a 250+ so it does not add up in terms on "Average".

Do you find UW questions much easier than NBME?

 

[monkeyMD]

That is like performing magic since it is based off those that are taking the test that day. From what I have learned from my time in here is NBMEs are the best predictors. They have a harder curve than UW. More fact based etc.

Most folks with a UW of 80% would be near a 250+ so it does not add up in terms on "Average".

Do you find UW questions much easier than NBME?

It's just that some of the NBME questions are very confusing. I also feel some of the questions were not well written. I posted another thread asking for help with some of the questions I got incorrect. Maybe you can help me out there. The questions I got wrong on NBME...most of them, I had no idea what the answer is.

Also, I have trouble with all the drugs and also some of the microbes. Are there any last minute resources or tips?

I also got 38 incorrect...which adds up to approximately 81% correct on that nbme.

 

[J ROD]

It's just that some of the NBME questions are very confusing. I also feel some of the questions were not well written. I posted another thread asking for help with some of the questions I got incorrect. Maybe you can help me out there. The questions I got wrong on NBME...most of them, I had no idea what the answer is.

Also, I have trouble with all the drugs and also some of the microbes. Are there any last minute resources or tips?

I also got 38 incorrect...which adds up to approximately 81% correct on that nbme.

I can only guess that an 80% will put you near a 225-230 on the real deal. Just my guess.