NBME Assesments - Difficulty Levels and Predictive Power

[RustNeverSleeps]

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I just took NBME Assessment 3, and it seemed to be a lot tougher than assessment 1, although I ended up scoring better than I thought that I would. (I am saving #2 because a lot of people have said it is the best predictor of your actual score.) What is everyone's impression of the difficulty of the various test? Do they get progressively harder? Have people's scores been relatively constant across different subtests taken in the same timeframe?

I am also curious about how accurate the NBME assessments are at predicting USMLE score. I understand if there is a variance of +/- 10-15, but is it common to have a very big drop in score between the assessment and the actual test? Sorry for all the neurotic questions - I am taking the exam two weeks from today, so nerves are really starting to kick in! I am going into psych, so I don't need to set the world on fire with my step 1 score, but I would like a solid pass. I scored in the 220s today and am hoping that will hold up or improve for Step 1.

Thanks! 👍

 

[Surgeonizer]

I don't think any of the NBME tests closely simulate the real test. QBank certainly does not. I took NBME paid assessment #2 and got a 290 on it. I ended up getting a 259 on the real test. Just stick with BRS Path, BRS Phys, High Yield Neuroanatomy and know everything in First Aid. These books are all you need to destroy Step 1.

Good luck, man.

 

[ice_23]

I don't think any of the NBME tests closely simulate the real test. QBank certainly does not. I took NBME paid assessment #2 and got a 290 on it. I ended up getting a 259 on the real test. Just stick with BRS Path, BRS Phys, High Yield Neuroanatomy and know everything in First Aid. These books are all you need to destroy Step 1.

Good luck, man.

290? The score schedule gives you a >265 if you get an 800 on the NBME. Unless this is what you meant.

-Ice

 

[Surgeonizer]

For some reason I distinctly remember the number 290 for one of the paid assessments, but there wasn't any "800" on the feedback. Maybe it meant 290 out of 800?? I don't know. I only missed a few questions on the assessment, which obviously wasn't the case on the real thing (missing a few quesions would have put me at like 280+).

 

[ice_23]

For some reason I distinctly remember the number 290 for one of the paid assessments, but there wasn't any "800" on the feedback. Maybe it meant 290 out of 800?? I don't know. I only missed a few questions on the assessment, which obviously wasn't the case on the real thing (missing a few quesions would have put me at like 280+).

Or perhaps the score schedule was different when you took it, which is a distinct possibility. The max score you can get on the NBME tests (at least 1, 2, and 4) are >265 which is an 800.

If you had gotten a 290 for the NBME score, then that would have scaled to a 105 or something...🙂

-Ice