NBME Basic science comphrehensive vs USMLE Step 1

[mikeshana]

Has anyone taken step 1 and the NBME's basic science comprehensive? I just took the comprehensive (along with my class) and it was ridiculous. I dont think i have ever guessed so much in my life. `

If you taken both how do they compare? is the real step 1 more difficult?

any input would be great

thanks

mike

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[mikeshana]

our school is weird

we only get a week off between 2nd and third year. We are not required to take step 1 in between. We must have step 1 done by december of our junior year. Most people study for it during one of their easy rotations (like psych or family medicine). I am going to take it sometime early september.

We just took the Basic science comprehensive, although it was not mandatory to take it 90% of the class took it.

all in all, i have about 2 months to study

 

[mikeshana]

??

 

[mikeshana]

?

 

[kcrd]

mike, perhaps most schools don't offer this test. I know mine didn't. I can say that I thought that the questions on the real usmle were exactly like the online $45 Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA). I also felt that the questions were similar to the shelf exams. I think some people have been saying that q bank was more detailed than the real thing - I did not find this to be the case for my test. The details asked were different, but they were still on the usmle.

 

[GrandMasterB]

according to the nbme (i emailed them) the CBSSA online is made up of old actual test questions from last year and recent years. ie they are trying to get us to pay for newer "released questions." their goal is to eventually use this exam to predict your score, so the SD/Mean they give you should be a pretty decent assessment of how you might do. keep in mind that this is a pilot/beginning run so don't stress too much if your results don't match your goals. i would say that the online exams were far more useful than qbank (which i bought and did about 50% of and didnt care for- ie i am an outlier in that respect).

 

[Oceandust]

My NBME online score matched my real Step I score within a couple points if the mean on the real exam is 215 with an STD of 20.

I scored 640 on the NBME thing (500 is mean with 100 STD), or 1.4 STD above the mean

On the real thing I got a 243, similarly about 1.4 STD above the mean.

 

[hj2005]

oh man i hope they correlate. i got a 750 and 700 on the online assessments while i was getting 70% on qbank. i guess i'll see on 7/16 at the latest, as per "step 1 score reporting delay".

 

[WakeMedHeel]

Took the basic science comprehensive....got smoked.

Study for a month...did well on USMLE.

 

[kcrd]

I got a 460 on the assessment that I took the 24th, and took the usmle on the 26th. I am really just hoping that I passed, and anything above that is gravy. but congrats to ocean and hj on your big brains!