NBME Basic Science Skills Assessment

[devildoc2]

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OK tell me if I got this right.

I pay $45 and I get a 30 day period to take a test thats supposed to be very close to the real USMLE Step I, with the correct timing and eveyrthing right?

Questions:

1) How close is this to the real thing? I took the sample test online (unfortunately they dont give the answers) and I thought it was really easy. But then again the sample probably is just a very watered down version of the real thing.

2) How should I use this? I will be taking off 8 weeks to study. Should I take it twice, at the midpoint, and near the end of my studying? Or will taking it more than once be worthless?

3) Is this a bank of questions that are pulled randomly like Qbank or is it the same questions no matter how many times you take the test?

4) The $45 is good for 30 days right? Is it worth it to pay for 60 days?

5) Is the number of questions and blocks EXACTLY the same as the real Step I?

 

[Long Dong]

OK tell me if I got this right.

I pay $45 and I get a 30 day period to take a test thats supposed to be very close to the real USMLE Step I, with the correct timing and eveyrthing right?

Questions:

1) How close is this to the real thing? I took the sample test online (unfortunately they dont give the answers) and I thought it was really easy. But then again the sample probably is just a very watered down version of the real thing.

2) How should I use this? I will be taking off 8 weeks to study. Should I take it twice, at the midpoint, and near the end of my studying? Or will taking it more than once be worthless?

3) Is this a bank of questions that are pulled randomly like Qbank or is it the same questions no matter how many times you take the test?

4) The $45 is good for 30 days right? Is it worth it to pay for 60 days?

5) Is the number of questions and blocks EXACTLY the same as the real Step I?

Wow so many qustions, but I'll give it a try since I've got the day off from my surgery rotaion and I'm to tired to study.

1. The one you pay $45 for I think form B is closest to the real thing it under predicted my real score by 2 points. As for form A I thought it was a little easier then the real deal even thought I did worse on from A. I think the easier the test the harder it is to do well since it well be easier for most as well. As for the free sample test it is the watered down easy questions that aren't asked anymore.

2. I think taking it more then once is worthless. You can take it many was, earlier to find out you weaknesses and work on them. Or as I did to predict or calm myself as to what score I might get. Or if you'd like take one form at the midpoint to find your weakness and the other form late to let yourself know what you might get.

3. It is the same questions no matter how many times you take it. Only form A differs from form B.

4. No it is not worth it to pay for more then the least amount of days. What people recommend is to take it not in the time mode so you can review it and go back and look up what the correct answer is. I did not do this I just took both forms timed to simulate real test conditions and stress levels to see what my score would be. I had a friend who took both forms not in the time mode but timed himself with a stop watch so he had to stop at 50 minutes and the went over each Qs and looked things up but didn't change his answer so he could get an accurate score predictor when he submitted each block. He also hit Control C and control V on each screen and saved a copy of both forms as a word document so he could go over each form at a later date. Disclaimer this is friend of mine not me if the NBME people happen to be reading this thread.

5. Yes.

 

[devildoc2]

OK one more question

you said there was form A and form B.

I'm assuming these are two totally independent tests. Do you have to pay $45 for each one, or $45 for both of them?

 

[Long Dong]

OK one more question

you said there was form A and form B.

I'm assuming these are two totally independent tests. Do you have to pay $45 for each one, or $45 for both of them?

45 bucks each

 

[myt]

Maybe they've changed it since last year, but I'm seeing Forms 1-4 for Comprehensive Basic Sciences, not Forms A And B. We don't want the Clinical Science and Clinical Medicine, those are for steps 2 and 3, right?

So, tell me if I've got this right:

Each form of 200 questions will be 4 hours of test covering all topics of Step 1. I thought I heard something about NBME offering subject tests (like a Biochem test, etc). If that's not this, does that also exist?

The only other sample questions available from NBME/USMLE is "Multiple Choice Tutorial and Practice Test Items 7" which come in some orientation pack that I never got or you can download from USMLE.org. Are these the same 150 questions that you can take at the Prometrics center for a fee?

When you take these tests, do they give you the answers or explanations? If not, does somebody publish answers and explanations like Kaplan did for the practice MCATs?

Thanks!!!

 

[CanIMakeIt]

Maybe they've changed it since last year, but I'm seeing Forms 1-4 for Comprehensive Basic Sciences, not Forms A And B. We don't want the Clinical Science and Clinical Medicine, those are for steps 2 and 3, right?

So, tell me if I've got this right:

Each form of 200 questions will be 4 hours of test covering all topics of Step 1. I thought I heard something about NBME offering subject tests (like a Biochem test, etc). If that's not this, does that also exist?

The only other sample questions available from NBME/USMLE is "Multiple Choice Tutorial and Practice Test Items 7" which come in some orientation pack that I never got or you can download from USMLE.org. Are these the same 150 questions that you can take at the Prometrics center for a fee?

When you take these tests, do they give you the answers or explanations? If not, does somebody publish answers and explanations like Kaplan did for the practice MCATs?

Thanks!!!

Yeah I think they put the new tests this year... as of Sept last year there were only two forms and then i think they added one more near the end of the year and now there are 4 forms. I have heard the same thing that Test 2 can predict your actual score within +/- 10 points, as Long Dong said.

I am also under the impression that those 150 questions are the same ones that you will be given at Prometrics center for a fee....

I took the free tests they put out in Aug to see how it was all organized and there were no explanations or correct answers provided.... you will get a bar graph for your peformance in all the subject areas tested much like the actual Step 1.