Erratic nbme scores..

I've taken 2 (with very very minimal studying) and I only noticed a 6 point difference. Now, if you look at the breakdown - that varied greatly between each test (getting a * in GI...then just barely getting it half way....but getting a * in Renal...doing well in nutrition than doing crap in nutrition, etc)

 

Not sure if this applies to you or not but here is my story:

The first NBME i took as on paper, the CBSE and i did well...especially for not really starting hardcore boards prep yet ~225

The second one i took on the computer after doing a bunch of qbank questions...thought i was doing fine and ended up in the low 200's and was PISSED

the third test: I noticed that if i had already selected an answer and then highlighted another answer with my cursor the computer would change my answer to the one that i was highlighting (which is bad for me, because i always highlighed answers i knew were wrong). I hadnt noticed this on the 2nd test, but I'm sure I was doing it quite a lot. I'm pretty sure this is what put my 2nd test in the low 200's

I stopped using my cursor to highlight answers and just wrote letter choices down on paper and crossed them off as needed, only clicking on the correct answer with my cursor. Much much much better result: mid 240's

I didnt bother to take another test to confirm my hypothesis, just prayed i was right.

My real step 1 score was just 1 point different than my last nbme test, which was proof enough for me!