How's your NBME progression coming? scores and trends

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FrancisvsGoljan

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So I was thinking it would be a great idea to track how NBMEs are going and what question bank people are using. It gives us a good way to figure out how we're doing individually. I know it's not based on just sdn and there are a ton of people. But it's better than nothing. Also how long you've been studying. I guess I'll start!

After 1 week of studying
USMLEWorld: used 15% and overall correct is 48%
NBME 1: 172.5 :scared:

I know this is not great but hopefully a good starting point. I spent 2 days on biochem and one on behavioral science and the other times just doing questions. my overall goal is a 230. we'll see how it goes....

comment are highly appreciated. thanks! I'll keep this post updated. I hope others do too.🙂🙂🙂
 
Killer score!

yea. that was shocking. The first 100 were relatively easy, but the later 100 were more challenging, with a lot of applied type thinking. I don't think I could have studied for a lot of those, as they are no where to be found.

I marked 18% of the questions, and apparently did a lot better than that.
 
yea. that was shocking. The first 100 were relatively easy, but the later 100 were more challenging, with a lot of applied type thinking. I don't think I could have studied for a lot of those, as they are no where to be found.

I marked 18% of the questions, and apparently did a lot better than that.
Awesome! If the questions you missed are ones that you just flat out can't answer, I think you're at the point where you could just take the test 😉
 
I took the DIT predictive 2 hour exam today (finished DIT yesterday)- predicted 219

Previous scores- March CBSE (163), May CBSE (185), UWSA1 1 week ago (206).

I would be very happy with the 219 if that is accurate- any idea how well DIT predicts?

I have to decide if I want to take one NBME before my exam next Saturday or if I just want to focus on memorizing facts- I'm leaning towards the later as I don't really want to freak out if I don't score as well as I'm hoping for. Any thoughts?
 
Can you guys offer some insight on how feasible this may be..

I've been studying for ~4 weeks now. I've mainly worked with books and annotating FA. Through these few weeks, I've finished 25% of UW and 25% of Kaplan. I've been sitting at ~60% on UW on random. Kaplan is set on untimed.

Finished NBME 12 w/ 23 days to go.

With a 214 that NBME, if I devote more time to UW and to consolidate everything I've learned... how feasible is it to move up 20 points? (Given my study timeline and progress) I'm not going to be greedy, but I'm laying my eyes on 230.

I'm not sure if I'll have time to sprinkle in another NBME, but I'll be done with my first pass in 3 days (Taus). I'll be using my last 3 wks to go hardcore on UW and FA (something that I have neglected to do in these past 4 wks).

Just a little nervous and concerned!!!

Thanks!!
 
Could use some advice, too. I took NBME 11 and 12 one week apart, and in one week, I dropped from a 233 to a 221. My test is in a little over a week. I've finished UWorld and my last 25 blocks of 46 timed random questions averaged to about 69%, with scores in the 70s for the last several blocks. I just want a 230. Do you think it's do-able? What can I do to bring my score up in the last week? Thanks so much!
 
I would do the repeats from uworld, or take uwsa and then work through those questions. That's my plan for this last week.

50 pages FA/day
100 questions to review.
 
I would do the repeats from uworld, or take uwsa and then work through those questions. That's my plan for this last week.

50 pages FA/day
100 questions to review.

Ah, I'm doing the inverse (sort of).

100 pages FA/day
46 questions to review.
 
wow how do you read 100 pages of FA a day and find time to review 46Q? it takes me about 10 hours to go through 100 pages of FA while trying to re-memorize a lot of it lol
 
Hey guys and gals!

I'm about 2.5 weeks out from the beast. I've been running FA + UW so far.

UW is 60% complete with a 68% avg, timed/random

We get to pick an NBME free through our school. Which should I take first?

Also is my UW progression arite?
 
wow how do you read 100 pages of FA a day and find time to review 46Q?

As best as I can 😳. I'm in the last few days leading up to my test so I'm trying to cram every little bit in that I can.

Also, yeah, I've been up since about 8:15 and I expect to be done around 11. I've gone on two 30 minute walks and had breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

So probably, yeah it will take around 12 hours or so each day until I finish it?

(Test is on the 9th).
 
As best as I can 😳. I'm in the last few days leading up to my test so I'm trying to cram every little bit in that I can.

Also, yeah, I've been up since about 8:15 and I expect to be done around 11. I've gone on two 30 minute walks and had breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

So probably, yeah it will take around 12 hours or so each day until I finish it?

(Test is on the 9th).

wow best wishes on your upcoming exam~ it sounds like you're on your way to nailing this thing! 👍
 
Hey guys and gals!

I'm about 2.5 weeks out from the beast. I've been running FA + UW so far.

UW is 60% complete with a 68% avg, timed/random

We get to pick an NBME free through our school. Which should I take first?

Also is my UW progression arite?

You look good! Take whatever you want. 7, 11, 12 are all good from what we hear, with some people taking a slight drop with 11 and 12.

I went up from UW to 11, so can't really complain there.
 
wow best wishes on your upcoming exam~ it sounds like you're on your way to nailing this thing! 👍

I'm gonna give it everything I have. Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. 🙂

Best of luck to you as well. It sounds like you're in a pretty good position yourself. 😀
 
Prestudying - NBME 5 - 214
11d in, 27d out - NBME 6 - 226
24d in, 14d out - NBME 11 - 245 😀

Focusing on FA. I will be happy with a 235.
 
Prestudying - NBME 5 - 214
11d in, 27d out - NBME 6 - 226
24d in, 14d out - NBME 11 - 245 😀

Focusing on FA. I will be happy with a 235.

That's awesome! Congrats! Sounds like you're going to rock it!

Can I ask what you did between NBME 6 and NBME 11? I have about a week left before my test and I'd be really happy to go up about 10 points. So if you have any tips, please share!
 
That's awesome! Congrats! Sounds like you're going to rock it!

Can I ask what you did between NBME 6 and NBME 11? I have about a week left before my test and I'd be really happy to go up about 10 points. So if you have any tips, please share!

It's all just memorizing first aid. Practice questions for maybe 2hrs/day.
 
woohoo...71% UWorld on 46 question random timed block.


Wahoooooo....nice boost for 4 days before the exam.

Yeah Decicco is right. You have just got to drill first aid like nothing else. Drill it.
 
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i did my last world block yesterday, was holding onto it for 2 weeks. these last couple of days are really hard to study. its more of a psychological battle now.
 
For those of you who have taken an NBME w/ expanded feedback.

Aside from the bar graph they give you, can you go back and look through the questions? Also, do they give out an answer key or do they simply say "question 5, correct" etc.. Thanks in advance.
 
You get your number of incorrect, what percent of those you marked, a categorical breakdown, and the ability to see only the incorrects with your answer choice. No correct answer or explanation. Its frustrating not being able to see your marked, but I guess kids would just mark every question so they can't do that.
 
For those of you who have taken an NBME w/ expanded feedback.

Aside from the bar graph they give you, can you go back and look through the questions? Also, do they give out an answer key or do they simply say "question 5, correct" etc.. Thanks in advance.

You just get to see the ones you did wrong but no right answer is given. Also you get to see the % of questions you marked in each specific subject as well as how many you got wrong in that subject.
 
Need advice!

Have a week left. Last blocks on UsmleWorld have been at high 70s to low 80s. Done with Uworld tests but I still have 10 left to review. What should I do now (it takes me 2-2.5 hrs per set)? Review them or just focus on reading first aid? Should I retake as many tests as I can? I've retaken a couple and I'm able to finish each test in 30 minutes.

I'm planning to take NBME 12 in 4-5 days.

Please advice! Although my Uworld scores are on the higher end, I'm nervous. I've done averagely in med school so far (and so, the scores surprise me but I'm happy). Haven't read Goljan or listened to the audio. Just focused on Uworld and FA.

Ideas?
 
Thanks. How should I review Uworld? I will aim to finish reviewing the remaining tests only. Should I also try to cram in some retakes? Is it worth it?
 
I would do the repeats from uworld, or take uwsa and then work through those questions. That's my plan for this last week.

50 pages FA/day
100 questions to review.

Man, I just finished my UWSA 2 review...took forever. It is funny how no matter how well (or poorly) I do on practice exams, there are always a good 10 mistakes that I think to myself, 'What the hell was I thinking?"

You know, those ones where 80% got it right and for whatever reason you picked the answer that 0% select.

I've got enough questions left that I need to have 2 blocks a day complete to really finish everything with a week-ish left. I'm at that impasse where I want to get through First Aid again but it seems difficult with also balancing questions. I guess I could just ditch writing stuff down as much though....Suggestions?

UWSA 2 said I was weakest in biochem/cell bio (no surprise since I was somewhat planning to cram it), GI ( a bit of a surprise but the questions I missed seemed kind of flukey), renal and microbio/immuno (both of which I normally do fairly well in, so that was kind of odd too)

Also, with those bar graphs on the UWSA, is that lower/border/higher graph relative to everyone taking it or just your own performance on the exam?
 
Something is wrong with me.....

NBMA offered by school 245 before really studying bout 6wks pre exam
Free 150 89% 4 weeks before exam
NBMA 6 221 3 weeks to go
NBMA 7 238 2 wks to go
NBMA 12 224 1.5 weeks to go
Uworld 90% complete with a score of 67%


I feel my scores are a bit inconsistent??? Any suggestions...was hoping for a 240 but not sure?
 
Man, I just finished my UWSA 2 review...took forever. It is funny how no matter how well (or poorly) I do on practice exams, there are always a good 10 mistakes that I think to myself, 'What the hell was I thinking?"

You know, those ones where 80% got it right and for whatever reason you picked the answer that 0% select.

I've got enough questions left that I need to have 2 blocks a day complete to really finish everything with a week-ish left. I'm at that impasse where I want to get through First Aid again but it seems difficult with also balancing questions. I guess I could just ditch writing stuff down as much though....Suggestions?

UWSA 2 said I was weakest in biochem/cell bio (no surprise since I was somewhat planning to cram it), GI ( a bit of a surprise but the questions I missed seemed kind of flukey), renal and microbio/immuno (both of which I normally do fairly well in, so that was kind of odd too)

Also, with those bar graphs on the UWSA, is that lower/border/higher graph relative to everyone taking it or just your own performance on the exam?

I'm making sure that I've reviewed all of my first pass through Uworld, gone back and seen all of the incorrect questions (I'm doing blocks of 46 on these.. it's super fun), and made another pass through first aid before the test is here. The last two days for me are going to be micro, immuno, pharm, and biochem heavy, with me also writing down formulas several times/day.

That's my plan.

As for the bar graphs, I think those are purely how you compare to the rest of the nation.
 
Yea, I'm probably going to do a bunch of blocks to finish out uworld with just a lightning review for most questions and then start going through the incorrects and marked. I kind of consider it a 1.5 pass for me because I did go through about 90% of the questions already, but that was gradual and over a very long time span where I then did all of Kaplan. I have probably outright remembered the answer to 1 or 2 questions the entire time andt hose were the behavioral science "what would you say" questions.
 
Apparently a 167/200 = 231 on NBME 11, for anyone who is keeping track of the new scoring system.
 
Finally took my first NBME!

NBME 12: 231/540

Pretty happy with it...gonna focus on the areas without stars and take some more NBME's soon.

2.5 weeks to go!
 
What's interesting is that I basically had the same scores... but the range was enormously different...

258 uwsa @78.75% correct
261 NBME 11 @ 94% correct.

Ouch.
 
What's interesting is that I basically had the same scores... but the range was enormously different...

258 uwsa @78.75% correct
261 NBME 11 @ 94% correct.

Ouch.

yea there's no point in judging UW to nbme's. From my experience 75% on a UWSA puts you near 250 by their mark. Different question style on the nbme's though...much less room for error. Definitely makes me nervous that I need to maintain a 88% or so. Pretty much all I think about now is pharm leaving my brain through the ears and my score going down down down haha. I'm gonna take 1-2 more nbmes this week before the big dance next wednesday. at this point i'm sick of FA and i don't ever want to hear goljan laugh again.
 
yea there's no point in judging UW to nbme's. From my experience 75% on a UWSA puts you near 250 by their mark. Different question style on the nbme's though...much less room for error. Definitely makes me nervous that I need to maintain a 88% or so. Pretty much all I think about now is pharm leaving my brain through the ears and my score going down down down haha. I'm gonna take 1-2 more nbmes this week before the big dance next wednesday. at this point i'm sick of FA and i don't ever want to hear goljan laugh again.

Yeah, it seems like the NBMEs give you a lot more easy questions... but they also tend to throw questions at you that you've never seen before ever; while the USWA tends to require you to think hard but give you stuff you've seen before.
 
Tomorrow morning I'm taking my first NBME since starting studying (took 6 a few months ago as a pre-study diagnostic). I did UWSA1 last week and got a 220 on it (not thrilled). I'm three weeks out from tomorrow...

Tomorrow: NBME 11 or 12
Next monday: NBME 7 and UWSA2
Following monday (t-minus 1 week): NBME 11 or 12 (whichever I don't take tomorrow).



any thoughts on 11 v 12? I'm thinking I need a little confidence booster, and am a little hesitant to take 11 if I'm going to get schooled haha
 
NBME 11 was the only one I took online and for me 178/200 (22 wrong) = 245. Seems harsh.

I got 177/200 on NBME 11 today... I assume it's 243-244?

There were 3 questions on the first block that I missed due to complete ***** mistakes and I was really mad when I saw afterwards. Overall though, I'd say the other 20 were legitimate misses and I need to get my act together!
 
I got 177/200 on NBME 11 today... I assume it's 243-244?

There were 3 questions on the first block that I missed due to complete ***** mistakes and I was really mad when I saw afterwards. Overall though, I'd say the other 20 were legitimate misses and I need to get my act together!


I'd say you're making good progress, maybe no big leaps, but steady progress....matching a uWorld sim exam score with an NBME the following week should NOT be viewed as no progress since it's pretty safe to assume a natural level of ~10 point inflation in the uW sim score....hence, I'd view that week as a legit 10 point improvement. Nice.👍
 
I got 177/200 on NBME 11 today... I assume it's 243-244?

There were 3 questions on the first block that I missed due to complete ***** mistakes and I was really mad when I saw afterwards. Overall though, I'd say the other 20 were legitimate misses and I need to get my act together!
Yeah..i think for 12...missing 25 was 240 and missing 20 was 245....i think.. so somewhere in bw...good work!
 
I'd say you're making good progress, maybe no big leaps, but steady progress....matching a uWorld sim exam score with an NBME the following week should NOT be viewed as no progress since it's pretty safe to assume a natural level of ~10 point inflation in the uW sim score....hence, I'd view that week as a legit 10 point improvement. Nice.👍

Thanks for the confidence boost!

Yeah..i think for 12...missing 25 was 240 and missing 20 was 245....i think.. so somewhere in bw...good work!

Thanks! 🙂
 
69% UWorld this morning/afternoon. Test on Thursday.

Getting nervous, trying to hold it together.

One of my classmates texted me good luck this morning.

Idk, I'm just losing it a lil bit. I think I will be fine on Wednesday. But not today, not yet.
 
NBME 5 (4/15 - 9.5 weeks out): 460/212 (dunno %)
USWA 1 (5/15 - 4 weeks out): 630/245 (73%)
NBME 6 (5/23 - 3w + 2d): 590/242 (22 wrong)
NBME 11 (6/6) - 610/247 (20 wrong)🙂
UW: 72% avg

i'm really happy with that score, but that was a hard test. i got lucky on about 50% of my guessing in the anatomy questions. i thought genetics (which i actually have hit hard!) was tough in this one. test is in 9 days. not sure if i'm going to squeeze in 7 and/or 12. anyone take these think they were particularly helpful? it looks like i'm going to be around a 240 (which is awesome) and i just need to maintain the information. unfortunately that's much easier said than done. and i still have no idea how to study for anatomy😳.

still have to do my second pass of all the systems, and keep churning pharm/micro each day. this is definitely a marathon, the whole process beats the will out've even the most resilient people.
 
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