Has NBDE part II increased in difficulty since 2007-2009

[oralarts777]

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I graduated this past May (2009), and I only raise this question because my class and the people I observed in the classes above me when I was a d-2/d-3 prepared much less for part II vs part I. Most also thought part II was easier.

On the threads here, I keep reading about a high failure rate on part II as of this year. Has the exam increased in difficulty?

Myself and most of my peers just used the decks, Mosby's, and released exams and did fine. Most studied on the order of 10-14 days.

Almost everyone studied much more diligently for part I.

 

[odontologia]

I graduated this past May (2009), and I only raise this question because my class and the people I observed in the classes above me when I was a d-2/d-3 prepared much less for part II vs part I. Most also thought part II was easier.

On the threads here, I keep reading about a high failure rate on part II as of this year. Has the exam increased in difficulty?

Myself and most of my peers just used the decks, Mosby's, and released exams and did fine. Most studied on the order of 10-14 days.

Almost everyone studied much more diligently for part I.

Actually I have sort of a unique perspective on this issue only because I lived through it. When I first took my exam as a D4 most of my classmates passed it w/out much problem at all. Much less preparation and much less studying than part 1 for sure. For me, truthfully since I heard how easy it was to pass, I just didn't prepare that well and failed it (I didn't really think the exam was that difficult). The second time I took it, I really thought my exam was somewhat easier and thought I passed it no problem only to be shocked that I had failed it. Now, on this third time I really wasn't prepared as to how hard the exam became all of the sudden. Since I had a lot to lose if I would have failed this third time I really hit the books hard and put a lot more effort into using other resources that I hadn't used in the past just to help me pass. But this third time, the test really seemed unreasonably hard for some reason. So I would have to agree that the test has increased in difficulty very recently, as recent as these past three months or so. Why? who knows!!! 👎 Study hard and don't take this exam lightly, that's the jist of all this. Good luck!!!

 

[zackyfarms]

Actually I have sort of a unique perspective on this issue only because I lived through it. When I first took my exam as a D4 most of my classmates passed it w/out much problem at all. Much less preparation and much less studying than part 1 for sure. For me, truthfully since I heard how easy it was to pass, I just didn't prepare that well and failed it (I didn't really think the exam was that difficult). The second time I took it, I really thought my exam was somewhat easier and thought I passed it no problem only to be shocked that I had failed it. Now, on this third time I really wasn't prepared as to how hard the exam became all of the sudden. Since I had a lot to lose if I would have failed this third time I really hit the books hard and put a lot more effort into using other resources that I hadn't used in the past just to help me pass. But this third time, the test really seemed unreasonably hard for some reason. So I would have to agree that the test has increased in difficulty very recently, as recent as these past three months or so. Why? who knows!!! 👎 Study hard and don't take this exam lightly, that's the jist of all this. Good luck!!!

Not to beat a dead horse but it does seem like the exam is getting harder. MOST students in my D4 class will do one or two sources for prep (decks +Mosbys or Firstaid +exams) and barely pass. The highest score in my class that I have heard was an 80.

I failed my first attempt, I got a 73 but I only studied maybe half the decks and just took it. I think this time I will actually do all the decks, mosbys, and old exams.

Odontologia, would you mind elaborating on how you used the materials each time? I mean, it seems like its fairly simple, we have decks, mosbys, and first aid (and of course old exams). None of them are comprehensive enough to be a one stop shop. And it seems like the harder the test gets, the less the prep materials actually prepare you for the exam.

 

[odontologia]

Odontologia, would you mind elaborating on how you used the materials each time? I mean, it seems like its fairly simple, we have decks, mosbys, and first aid (and of course old exams). None of them are comprehensive enough to be a one stop shop. And it seems like the harder the test gets, the less the prep materials actually prepare you for the exam.

Well, this last time I actually got myself into a schedule and I pretty much followed it to the tee. I was realistic as to how much I spent reviewing materials because of my previous experiences. So, for instance, on one day I studied endo/radiology and PEDO (decks). I used either 1.5 to 2 days to review the heavy subjects like path/OS/pharm. When I went thru the materials, I marked them in 3 ways: (check mark) for the ones I knew and didn't need to review. R for review and X for I just didn't have a clue. Then I re-reviewed first the ones marked w/X and last the ones w/R.
Mosbys and Tufts I did the same thing. I stuck w/a reading schedule on a daily basis for each book. At the end, when I had read all of decks, Tufts and Mosbys I then switched to ASDA released exams and did those starting from the 91 on. I did them at least twice. Finally I did the qbank at the end and like one poster said before, the ?s on the qbank sort of trains you to think like boards since many of them are tricky like boards.
At the end you are just overwhelmed with so much information stored in your brain, and feel afraid you won't be able to "regurgitate" it back on the exam. Believe me, it comes, you just have to be very CAREFUL in reading each and every question. It seems like I found this third exam full of trick ?s, so beware. Hope this is helpful! 👍 Oh, one more thing, make sure you look at further radiology websites as I recall many of my xrays I NEVER saw on any of my study materials. In my "favorites" I have a nice radiology website, when I'm back on my computer, I'll post the link so you can also review it.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I graduated this past May (2009), and I only raise this question because my class and the people I observed in the classes above me when I was a d-2/d-3 prepared much less for part II vs part I. Most also thought part II was easier.

On the threads here, I keep reading about a high failure rate on part II as of this year. Has the exam increased in difficulty?

Myself and most of my peers just used the decks, Mosby's, and released exams and did fine. Most studied on the order of 10-14 days.

Almost everyone studied much more diligently for part I.

The 4th year class president has been in touch with the class presidents at multiple schools across the nation. This year, there is a lot higher failure rate than in years past. I would think it was how one school taught (or didn't teach) the info if it was isolated to one school. but, when the scores are low nationwide, then it is safe to say the test was more difficult this year. It seems to be that many people are just missing the 75 score needed to pass. The 73 that one person mentioned they got is a score that many people are getting when they fail. It is not that they are failing by a large margin. They are failing by 1 or 2 points. Most people are getting no higher than the low 80's. The highest score I have heard is a 90, but that individual is a freak of nature when it comes to test taking. I am sure he could have scored better, but he had already been selected to an ortho residency by that point.

 

[odontologia]

In my "favorites" I have a nice radiology website, when I'm back on my computer, I'll post the link so you can also review it.

Here is the website that I used in addition to my other radiology study materials.

http://www.amyrdhstudents.com/RadiographReviewanswers.pdf

 

[Thalin]

Thank you

 

[Thalin]

Here is the website that I used in addition to my other radiology study materials.

http://www.amyrdhstudents.com/RadiographReviewanswers.pdf

Thank you

 

[JohnDoeDDS]

Here is the website that I used in addition to my other radiology study materials.

http://www.amyrdhstudents.com/RadiographReviewanswers.pdf

Did anyone happen to save this file or have a new link for this?

The link doesn't work anymore 🙁