NBME 16 = 196, exam on June 24th... Need >220 - help!

[shannon13]

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Hi guys!
So... I took the NBME 1 week ago and scored only 196 🙁 I'm truly devastated and scared. Well, I did jump from 159 (it took me a long time) but I feel that now I'm stuck 🙁

I'm gonna go through PATHOMA and FA again (just started Uworld and averaging only 65%).
I have gaps in repro, behavioral and cellular (all these tiny ****ty details lol) but also I seem to forgot CVS physiology :/

Anyway, any ideas? Is it possible to jump 30 points??
Thanks in advance!
Agi

 

[recycledpaper]

All I can say is just plugging away. You learn new things everyday. As you near your exam date, build your test taking stamina so you don't lose focus. That will hurt you more than anything.

Good luck!

 

[The Kraken]

What is your daily schedule? How are you reviewing previous days' material?

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[shannon13]

What is your daily schedule? How are you reviewing previous days' material?

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Thank you!!!
I start at 10 am and study till 10-11 pm.
I started doing what I'm missing, filling the holes - CVS, repro, Patho general, parasites etc. Will try to read stuff I supposedly know already in between.
I study for 6 - 8 hours and then do questions. Try to review the material from the day before and ugh, lose a lot of time doing this...
I also do Uworld (started yesterday) - 90 questions/day + notes.
Planning on taking another NBME in 2 weeks...
I'm trying to focus on the stuff that I missed on my 2 NBMEs.
The problem is I do have lots of holes. I seem to have a lot of knowledge but missing questions anyway.
I've done Kaplan, for example, immuno and biochem mostly Kaplan only (FA while reviewing).
I've done entire PATHOMA, well other than repro and some parts of CNS...
I have 7 weeks... I could postpone again but need to start studying for CK asap.

 

[shannon13]

All I can say is just plugging away. You learn new things everyday. As you near your exam date, build your test taking stamina so you don't lose focus. That will hurt you more than anything.

Good luck!

Thank you so much!!! It feels so good to hear the words of encouragement other than "you can't do better" lol
I appreciate it a lot!!!!

 

[hossle12]

I'm only an MS1 but realize your potential to improve is big. There is a lot of time to go, and lots of improvement to be made with focused studying. Good luck!

 

[shannon13]

I'm only an MS1 but realize your potential to improve is big. There is a lot of time to go, and lots of improvement to be made with focused studying. Good luck!

Thank you 🙂 I appreciate it!

 

[wjs010]

65% is actually pretty good in uworld. Keep it up and good luck!


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[ilovemacaroons]

I think its definitely possible. My situation is very similar to yours.

NBME 3: 165
2 weeks later
UWSA: 186
2 weeks later
NBME 5: 198
3 weeks later
NBME 11: 230

When I took NBME 5, I only completed like 30% of UWorld (average was 50-60s%) along with juggling with classes. Took 11 when I completed around 60% of Uworld (averages around 65-78%) and there was no more class so I was fully dedicated. (Hopefully 11 was not a fluke) Its definitely possible. You have to finish world. Good luck.

 

[Pushtothestars]

What helped with the jump from nbme 3 and ur other exams??

I think its definitely possible. My situation is very similar to yours.

NBME 3: 165
2 weeks later
UWSA: 186
2 weeks later
NBME 5: 198
3 weeks later
NBME 11: 230

When I took NBME 5, I only completed like 30% of UWorld (average was 50-60s%) along with juggling with classes. Took 11 when I completed around 60% of Uworld (averages around 65-78%) and there was no more class so I was fully dedicated. (Hopefully 11 was not a fluke) Its definitely possible. You have to finish world. Good luck.

 

[gobigorgohome22]

I think its definitely possible. My situation is very similar to yours.

NBME 3: 165
2 weeks later
UWSA: 186
2 weeks later
NBME 5: 198
3 weeks later
NBME 11: 230

When I took NBME 5, I only completed like 30% of UWorld (average was 50-60s%) along with juggling with classes. Took 11 when I completed around 60% of Uworld (averages around 65-78%) and there was no more class so I was fully dedicated. (Hopefully 11 was not a fluke) Its definitely possible. You have to finish world. Good luck.

I dont really have anything productive to say. I just wanted to let you know that you are showing awesome improvement and to keep at it!

 

[shannon13]

I think its definitely possible. My situation is very similar to yours.

NBME 3: 165
2 weeks later
UWSA: 186
2 weeks later
NBME 5: 198
3 weeks later
NBME 11: 230

When I took NBME 5, I only completed like 30% of UWorld (average was 50-60s%) along with juggling with classes. Took 11 when I completed around 60% of Uworld (averages around 65-78%) and there was no more class so I was fully dedicated. (Hopefully 11 was not a fluke) Its definitely possible. You have to finish world. Good luck.

Wow, this is truly inspiring!
I hope I can do this as well! Hopefully, after finally doing REPRO (I really hate it) and some micro parts + UW I am able to jump as beautifully as you did! Well, I would be really happy with 220 (most residencies I'm applying for need 220...)

I'm actually going through the parts of material I clearly forgot or didn't do and rest of it in the meantime (I need to make sure I won't forget other stuff) and UW. When I was taking NBMEs I haven't done more than 10% Uworld (I went through it a while ago, like 30% but forgot every single thing).

In 2-3 weeks I should be done with everything + 50-60% of UWorld so maybe my score will be better.

Thank you again!
Thank you all again, you're a true inspiration 🙂
Agi

 

[W19]

I think its definitely possible. My situation is very similar to yours.

NBME 3: 165
2 weeks later
UWSA: 186
2 weeks later
NBME 5: 198
3 weeks later
NBME 11: 230

When I took NBME 5, I only completed like 30% of UWorld (average was 50-60s%) along with juggling with classes. Took 11 when I completed around 60% of Uworld (averages around 65-78%) and there was no more class so I was fully dedicated. (Hopefully 11 was not a fluke) Its definitely possible. You have to finish world. Good luck.

Wow! Nice to see such a monumental improvement!
Did you also do FA? Do you go over every single answer on Uworld or do you only go over the questions you got wrong?

 

[ilovemacaroons]

Wow! Nice to see such a monumental improvement!
Did you also do FA? Do you go over every single answer on Uworld or do you only go over the questions you got wrong?

Yes I go through FA once and now going over it a second time as well as taking notes on the wrong answers in Uworld as well. I just follow the wonderful advice given by SDNers and hopefully it will work out in the end for me as well!

 

[Milotic]

What is this talk about "needing (insert score)". Every medical student NEEDS to pass. No medical student NEEDS a certain score. What do people do when they are passing practice exams but not getting a "goal score" of >230, for instance? Take a year off?

 

[recycledpaper]

What is this talk about "needing (insert score)". Every medical student NEEDS to pass. No medical student NEEDS a certain score. What do people do when they are passing practice exams but not getting a "goal score" of >230, for instance? Take a year off?

No, some people do need a certain score if you have something in mind they want to do.

Get out of here if you have nothing of value to add.

 

[Milotic]

No, some people do need a certain score if you have something in mind they want to do.

Get out of here if you have nothing of value to add.

No I'm legitimately curious. Call me naive, but do students usually just not start 3rd year if they NEED a certain score and just take a whole year off to get the score they want if they have that particular thing in mind they want to do? I was always under the impression that we all just try to get the best score we can and based on how we do we decide our chances for certain specialties, whether or not they were our first choice from preclinical years.

 

[iceman55]

No I'm legitimately curious. Call me naive, but do students usually just not start 3rd year if they NEED a certain score and just take a whole year off to get the score they want if they have that particular thing in mind they want to do? I was always under the impression that we all just try to get the best score we can and based on how we do we decide our chances for certain specialties, whether or not they were our first choice from preclinical years.

I get what you're trying to say, but that mainly applies to US students, as our schools give us specific deadlines for when we must sit for the exam. However, you have to consider that many posters are international students and may not have a specific deadline.


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[shannon13]

What is this talk about "needing (insert score)". Every medical student NEEDS to pass. No medical student NEEDS a certain score. What do people do when they are passing practice exams but not getting a "goal score" of >230, for instance? Take a year off?

Well... I'm not a medical student anymore. I am an MD already. Finished med school in Europe.
No idea what it looks like when you're an Amercian med student but when you're a European MD and want to get into residency here you need to aim high...
Let's face it - nobody will take me with a low score. I'm not saying I need to get one that is sky high (I probably won't since I feel like I'm damn too old for biochemistry and stuff) but i need to be at least "competitive"...

This is what I think about it.

 

[Milotic]

Well... I'm not a medical student anymore. I am an MD already. Finished med school in Europe.
No idea what it looks like when you're an Amercian med student but when you're a European MD and want to get into residency here you need to aim high...
Let's face it - nobody will take me with a low score. I'm not saying I need to get one that is sky high (I probably won't since I feel like I'm damn too old for biochemistry and stuff) but i need to be at least "competitive"...

This is what I think about it.

Oh, no that makes sense. Ignorant me was just assuming US MD student. I was wondering how it's possible to choose to take the test whenever. Best of luck to you!! In terms of the biochem I've heard FA is usually enough. Although, I probably am not in the position to be giving advice about Step 1, myself just yet.