USMLE How important are cbssa/nbme practice exams?

[kehlsh]

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First of all, I am sorry if this topic has been asked before.
I will be done with Uworld first pass in 3 days and my exam is in 17 days.
After my first pass on Uworld, I am planning to re-do the entire Uworld so I will have very limited time for practice exams...

Therefore, I am wondering if doing as many NBME practice exams as possible is important? If not, what forms should I be doing if I decide to do maybe 2-3?

Thanks for answering.

 

[abolt18]

First of all, I am sorry if this topic has been asked before.
I will be done with Uworld first pass in 3 days and my exam is in 17 days.
After my first pass on Uworld, I am planning to re-do the entire Uworld so I will have very limited time for practice exams...

Therefore, I am wondering if doing as many NBME practice exams as possible is important? If not, what forms should I be doing if I decide to do maybe 2-3?

Thanks for answering.

General response seems to be if you're only going to do a few, do the newest ones. (15, 16, 17)

 

[nds86]

You should complete at least two of them and in this case do 16, 17.

 

[Slade009]

First of all, I am sorry if this topic has been asked before.
I will be done with Uworld first pass in 3 days and my exam is in 17 days.
After my first pass on Uworld, I am planning to re-do the entire Uworld so I will have very limited time for practice exams...

Therefore, I am wondering if doing as many NBME practice exams as possible is important? If not, what forms should I be doing if I decide to do maybe 2-3?

Thanks for answering.

They're only important if you want to know what score you're most likely going to get in the Step 1. Other than that they're good for building stamina for the real deal. Besides that I suggest you at least take the latest 2 or 3 NBME's out, if you can. If your scores come back not in the +/- 5 points (Step 1 converted) range that you want your score then you should extend the date to a later one.

 

[kehlsh]

Thanks guys... I will probably do most recent three

 

[pd1112]

They're not just important for a score estimate. They give you a representation of question style that is very different than UW IMO.

 

[stevesteve123]

probably "important" in helping you go from 240---> to 250/260

not "important" in helping you go from 190 ---> to 240