Is NBME Shelf and USMLE 1 the same test ??

[kornphan]

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We just took the basic Science NMBE exam and since I was doing great on Q-Bank, I thought it would be easy but I found it much harder then Q-B and USMLE kind of questions... .. (did do a search on this, here but could not find anything ).. any advise/comments ?... Thanks..

 

[Fabio]

We also took the basic science NBME . . . and yes, I think the actual Step 1 is closer to that than to Q-bank. But don't let that dissuade you from using Q-bank. I know lots of people who only used that, were scoring in the 70s or so, and did quite well on Step 1.

Bottom line, nothing out there is perfect in terms of preparing for the test. There were days when I did in the 50s on Q-bank. There were questions on the USMLE that I hadn't encountered in ANY of the 10+ books I used.

Best study method, I've found, is to think CRITICALLY during studying - question everything - why is it wrong, understand the answers, etc. Simulate actual test days as much as possible. These methods, in addition to using the "tried and true" such as First Aid, should be sufficient - regardless of what other sources/questions you do.

Be confident. You wouldn't have gotten this far if you couldn't handle it. 👍

 

[Stinger86]

Personally, I think Qbank is just a glorified security blanket, but I guess I'll find out in a few weeks

 

[Solace]

There were questions on the USMLE that I hadn't encountered in ANY of the 10+ books I used. :

Many of these could very well be the questions that they are experimenting with and will eventually throw out and use on future exams...just an assumption. I think this is why some people feel that they did horrible on the exam because they encounter those experimental questions that may need some tweaking and they don't know how to answer them but they are pleased when they get their scores back.

 

[southerndoc]

My Step I questions were very similar to my qBank questions.

Step I is surprisingly more clinical than one would think. (Applying basic science knowledge to clinical situations rather than just spitting off facts.)