How important are NBMEs?

[Unch]

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I have been working mostly from FA, UW and various other sources (Goljan et al.) I've read a lot about which NBMEs when and in what order. But if I'm not going to over-worry on my "predicted" score, will the NBMEs genuinely help my score? If they're only 200 or so Qs long, how realistic are they for "simulation"? Is there any other reason to do them since I have way more Qs left in UW than I'll have time to get through thoroughly.

On a different note, I'm bonking on UW. After 500 odd Qs, I'm still averaging about 45%. How do you people manage those 70 and 80 averages?!

 

[Terpskins99]

I have been working mostly from FA, UW and various other sources (Goljan et al.) I've read a lot about which NBMEs when and in what order. But if I'm not going to over-worry on my "predicted" score, will the NBMEs genuinely help my score? If they're only 200 or so Qs long, how realistic are they for "simulation"? Is there any other reason to do them since I have way more Qs left in UW than I'll have time to get through thoroughly.

Well, the fact that the same people write questions on the real thing is one incentive. It provides the most realistic mock-exam out there.

In the past, NBME phone operators have hinted that material from the practice exams have a tendency to show up on the real exam as well. While I'm sure they say this to coerce people to pony up for all their exams, I have seen several SDN-ers swear they saw more than a couple identical questions actually pop up on their test.

People have said the same thing about USMLE World questions as well.

Myself, I did so many friggin practice questions preparing for Step 1 that I lost track a long time ago. Everything looked familiar, and more often than not it was something I figured wouldn't be on the exam and hadn't studied very much. 🙁

 

[opb]

I think that they're worth doing. You probably don't need to do all 6 forms, but maybe do at least two of them. I did three forms (3, 4, and 6). I took my test a few weeks ago and there were 3 questions on it that were exactly the same... 2 of them even used the same picture.

 

[Cards21aceking]

I think that they're worth doing. You probably don't need to do all 6 forms, but maybe do at least two of them. I did three forms (3, 4, and 6). I took my test a few weeks ago and there were 3 questions on it that were exactly the same... 2 of them even used the same picture.

One line of thought for approach to the NBME's is that it can show you your weaknesses. I know a number of people who took 3 total and used them at the beginning, middle and towards the end of their studying.

Ideally, you'll see that you score strong in some areas (either recently reviewed, or just know the material better) and you'll score weak in others (haven't reviewed or perpetually weak in).

 

[blz]

I was also pressed for time and chose to do more UW questions rather than do NBME tests. I didn't like how I would have to waste 4hrs to take the exam and not have answers to review them. I felt my time was better spent actually doing questions I had explanations for. Also, just like the NBME has questions show up on the real test, so does UW. I had exact images from UW show up on my test.

In the end though, I'm sure they are good tests and if I had all the time in the world I would do them. I did fine without them (260+) so I don't feel that they are an absolute must to do. If anything, I've seen many people around at my school actually postpone their tests because they destroyed their confidence from a low score (eventhough they ultimately did well after they took the real test).