Help - Please...

[MuffDivin]

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Hey guys im in tremendous need of help. I'm an american IMG studying for Step1. I have been studying for 2 solid months (10hrs/day), been through FA 2x and have done the Uworld qbank twice. My NBME's are lingering around 180, wtf? This is truly depressing. There is no correlation b/w my Uworld block percentages (which range from 60-88%) and my NBME's...?

If anyone could lend some advice as to how I can get on track, change study methods, etc and into the two hundreds it would much appreciated. Please, any advice is well taken.

Thanks....

 

[jtlc2345]

I would take some of these 'score predictors' with a pinch of salt. I averaged in the mid to high 60s on USMLE World and ended up with 95 on Step 1 - working through all the questions on USMLE World supplemented by First Aid is what got me through.

Jonathan

 

[MuffDivin]

I would take some of these 'score predictors' with a pinch of salt. I averaged in the mid to high 60s on USMLE World and ended up with 95 on Step 1 - working through all the questions on USMLE World supplemented by First Aid is what got me through.

Jonathan

Thanks for your input. Some of my colleagues have suggested that maybe I had a bad testing day or that my Uworld average is falsely high and I may be remembering the answers and so forth. I also have friends in your situation scoring 190 on nbme and hit 220 on the real exam. I sometimes feel like sampling of the questions has a lot to do with it. Maybe some tests have more cardio and renal than others? or Is there a fair balance of questions from each discipline on the exam? Who know's.

Thanks for your input....

 

[OveractiveBrain]

A 66%-80% on Uworld is about a 240 on Step 1. If those percentages were first pass. If you are getting asked the same questions again, and are getting them right, then taking new questions and are failing, you have not mastered the material but rather have only memorized the answers.

If you have the time, a useful exercise would be to try a different Qbank. You have unfortunately chosen what I call the "trainer" Qbank (the one you do if you are preparing for the test) versus Kaplan, the "learner" Qbank (where the questions are harder, unlike the real exam, but emphasize content rather than practice). Try Kaplan, though. See what your percentages are like. If you fall to 50% or lower by getting a new Qbank, I don't think you are ready.

You have to keep in mind that this is not a test of knowledge, it is not a test of your dedication, it is a test at how well you take multiple choice exams. If you aren't scoring well on multiple choice exams your score is not going to be strong on the real deal. Since you are American Caribe IMG you are going to want to come back to the states to practice, I presume, and do require a strong Step 1 for consideration for residency.

Do not be discouraged by low scores nor should you be excited at high ones. It is the average and consistency you are after. Evaluate that by getting practice tests with reduced variability (i.e. UWorld 4 block practice exam or another Qbank, such as Kaplan).