just took $45 practice test...

[barkster]

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This is my first post, but I read often and am grateful for all the valuable insight on this board.

I have a question concerning my "performance profile." I understand that if there is an asterisk next to a subject, it means I'm off the scale, but what if there is no bar at all? Does that mean I totally rocked that subject or totally flunked it?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Idiopathic]

Depends on where your asterisk is. If there is an asterisk on the right and no bar, then you probably didnt miss a question. Of course, if the asterisk is on the left, well then...

 

[barkster]

That was the answer I was hoping for. Thanks! Now just to take care of all those other areas...

 

[coop528]

A score of 450 and 440 for me....is is safe to say that I will reach the 200 mark, or not? I have 2 weeks left to study.

Thanks.

 

[QuothTheRaven]

did you guys take this test with the one hour option, or four hour option? i figure if you're going to drop $45, might as well use it as a study aid.

 

[Stinger86]

Here's how I did it. I purchased the four-hour mode for both exams. I gave myself exactly an hour to complete each block (to simulate a real block), but before submitting it, I spent the remaining 3 or so hours reviewing the questions and answers. If I got a question correct, super. If I missed a question, I made sure I understood why, and then left it incorrect, so my distribution wouldn't be skewed. In the end, I was pleased with my scores, but knew they could be like 100 points better because I missed some really STUPID questions (I actually got B12 and folate sources mixed up, ouch), so it was a nice confidence boost for me.

I'm not sure I'd put too much stock in the performance profile. I think the best way to use it is to look at your weaknesses, and then understand why they were weak on that particular test. Never look at your strengths and think "looks like I know that subject pretty well". Case in point: heme/lymph and renal were weaknesses of mine on Form A, but on Form B, heme/lymph and renal were off the chart, and nutrition was a weakness. I don't think I really had a weakness in any area-- I simply realized that I missed some dumb B12/Folate Q's on Form A and then botched some vitamin biochemistry Q's on Form B. I knew why I goofed, and didn't worry about it, because I knew I wouldn't miss those on the actual exam.

Also, something interesting: as far as the bar graphs go, my overall performance as indicated by the bars was better on Form B than Form A, and yet my score was a little lower on Form B than Form A. Weird.

 

[barkster]

I've only taken Form A so far. I haven't decided whether to do Form B or not. Any suggestions?

I took the test using standard timing. I only have a couple of days before the test, and there is some other stuff I wanted to study, so I knew I wasn't going to spend more than 4 hours to take it. If I had more time, I'd probably do what Stinger did.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I had a good amount of time after each block to go through and write down the topics of the questions I was unsure on.

 

[QuothTheRaven]

i just took a section on the first form. let me get this straight. is there a way of getting an answer list, or do you just have to review the questions yourself and assume that if you understood the question, your answer must be correct?

 

[Idiopathic]

No way of getting answers that I know of, probably because some/all of these questions are still 'in rotation' on the exam.

 

[lindyloohoo]

Not to freak anyone out or anything....but I've seen people say the NBME SA tests correlate exactly, and that the true score is actually higher than the NBME score in some cases, but has anyone had/heard of someone with an actual step 1 score lower than the NBME "predicted" score?

 

[Spang]

Bump.

 

[lindyloohoo]

Not to freak anyone out or anything....but I've seen people say the NBME SA tests correlate exactly, and that the true score is actually higher than the NBME score in some cases, but has anyone had/heard of someone with an actual step 1 score lower than the NBME "predicted" score?

So is this a good thing that no one's talking about lower scores than "predicted" because they don't happen? or are you just too scared to tell us about it cause you think we're gonna lose it and freak out. 🙂 we've got balls (well some of us 😉 and those of us who don't can borrow some. ) I'm not talking 1 pt below here folks, more like you figured you'd get a 250 and you ended up with a 230 or 220.

 

[kafka]

I just took the second form last night (timed) and got an 800(!!), so I'll go out on a limb here and claim that it is possible to score below one's NMBE prediction on the real thing. I'll have to admit there is a small but finite chance I may not break 289 (217 + 3 x SD of 24).