MS II taking NBME - can you pass?

[Gheorgia]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm an MS II with about 4 months to go before taking the steps. We still have about 2 months of classes left and I was thinking about taking a practice NBME exam over the weekend to see if I can pass. Have any of you taken one of these exams "cold" (without any prior reviews) and passed? Did it accurately reflect your final scores? From what my classmates have told me after they took it over winter break, most of them couldn't pass without any prior review, so I was wondering if it's worth it to spend 1 weekend doing a practice NBME or if I should hold off until after I'm done with classes in May and have spend a few weeks reviewing.

 

[sylvanthus]

Wait, there is no point in doing it now unless you want to freak yourself out. And of course taking one of these cold does not reflect your scores, you still have dedicated study time left....

 

[WashMe]

I'd say hold off on the nbme until later. Save your money. Do UW and stay awake in your classes. Do your first practice test about 6-8 weeks out.

 

[jatt12]

How is everyone preparing for this beast. I took my in house exam, and my weakest link is stupid biochemistry, renal physio, neurology. I have HY review online course from Kaplan given by school. I will be using CMMRS, Pathoma, and Uworld Qbank, and Kaplan for physio and neuro. Is there anything else i should be adding, to prepeare for biochemistry, physio renal and neuro?

Thanks

PS: has anyone tried Kaplan step1 HY online.

 

[sylvanthus]

Uhhhh first aid maybe.

 

[jatt12]

Uhhhh first aid maybe.

lol thanks!!! I should have been more clear. Is kaplan enough for biochemistry, neuro anatomy and renal (physio).

Thanks

 

[082810]

I'm an MS II with about 4 months to go before taking the steps. We still have about 2 months of classes left and I was thinking about taking a practice NBME exam over the weekend to see if I can pass. Have any of you taken one of these exams "cold" (without any prior reviews) and passed? Did it accurately reflect your final scores? From what my classmates have told me after they took it over winter break, most of them couldn't pass without any prior review, so I was wondering if it's worth it to spend 1 weekend doing a practice NBME or if I should hold off until after I'm done with classes in May and have spend a few weeks reviewing.

Actually I would disagree with some of the other responses. I took a NBME right after MS-II and before I started Step studying to get an idea of my baseline. But it also depends on whether getting a lower score will make you study harder or panic.

Oh- and its definitely possible to pass.

 

[WashMe]

Actually I would disagree with some of the other responses. I took a NBME right after MS-II and before I started Step studying to get an idea of my baseline. But it also depends on whether getting a lower score will make you study harder or panic.

Oh- and its definitely possible to pass.

You're saying you took an NBME at the end of MS2, but the OP seems to be asking about taking an NBME with several months remaining.

At the end of MS2 and prior to any dedicated board studying, my friends and I took NBME 5 or 6 to see how we'd do cold. Scores ranged from 210's and up, so everyone passed comfortably. For the most part, people who pass MS2 will pass comfortably without much more work. Getting a high score, like 245+, will take a decent amount of work for most people. Getting a 260+, which I didn't do but a bunch of my friends did, just means you're a f'ing monster. Those people were scoring 250-260+ in some cases with a month of MS2 left and no dedicated boards study time. One dude got >265 on UWSA 1&2 cold, then nailed 88% correct on UW first pass, then landed in the 270's on the real deal...