NBME didn't improve much, but doing well in Uworld

[McNCheese]

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I'm feeling a bit out of sorts right now due to my NBME 15 score. I'd appreciate any advice or encouragement anyone has. My exam is in 2 weeks.

Here is my progress so far (scores are the 3 digit approximations):

NBME 12 = 170 March 16th (pre-study period)
NBME 16 = 215 March 29th (1 week into study period)
UWSA1 = 260 April 6th (2 weeks in, 1 complete pass FA)
NBME 15 = 220 April 10th (almost 3 weeks in)

I was pleasantly surprised with my performance on UWSA1, and I knew that it is known to be an overestimate of score, so I didn't think too much about "260". But I was feeling good about my progress, especially since this week I have seen a dramatic improvement in my random timed question sets - I'm getting between 75% and 85% consistently. So I took all of that to mean that I had improved quite a bit since NBME16, which I took just one week into my studying. I was fired up and merrily studying away and learning everything.

And then I got a 220 on NBME 15. I'm trying to be really objective about this and use this assessment to figure out what has gone wrong and what I need to improve, but I'm just feeling...deflated. I've read through posts on this sort of thing, so I know that NBMEs are the best indicators of performance. I am taking the exam in 2 weeks, although I do have the option of rescheduling for one week later.

I'm doing the Free 150 at prometric on Monday, so that will add another assessment to the mix. And I am thinking that I will take NBME 17 next Friday, and decide at that point if extending my study period by a week will be needed or even helpful.

I'm finishing Uworld this weekend. I've planned out my time for next two weeks to include a second run of Uworld starting with incorrects and a second pass of FA, plus time to continue making and reviewing my anki cards and memorization lists. I've dabbled in Rx, and I may use that to get some targeted practice with my weakest areas.

Anyway, long post. I think sharing this was good to help get it off my mind so that I can get back to work and focus. If anyone wants to share any experiences with making big improvements in the last two weeks of studying, it is very much welcomed. If anyone wants to confirm that NBME 15 seals my fate, please be gentle. 🙂

 

[FalconSlice]

Cons so far:
You have only taken 3 NBMEs
UWorld qbank is a LEARNING tool... not an assessment tool

Pros so far:
Your NBMEs seem to be improving
You still have a lot of work to do in the next 2 weeks
and have more NBMEs to do...

 

[McNCheese]

I'm updating my post, in case this ever comes up in someone's search and it can be helpful. After taking nbme 15, I reviewed it and determined specific weaknesses that I knew I could improve. Kept working hard, and it all paid off. Don't let anyone tell you how long it takes to increase a score - I started with a 170, studied for 5 weeks, and scored a 253 on the real thing.

NBME 12 = 170 March 16th (pre-study period)
NBME 16 = 215 March 29th (1 week into study period)
UWSA1 = 260 April 6th (2 weeks in, 1 complete pass FA)
NBME 15 = 220 April 10th (almost 3 weeks in)
Free 150 = 88% April 13th
UWSA2 = 252 April 16th
NBME 17 = 249 April 17th
Overall average in uworld (mostly random times) = 71%

Step 1, April 24th = 253

I hope this helps anyone out there struggling to do better on the nbme's despite pretty good performance in uworld.

 

[nds86]

Solid Score..Congrats...If you don't mind, could you please share the resources you used besides the Qbanks and Fa? Thanks!

 

[McNCheese]

Thanks! I watched and annotated Pathoma during M2 year, and used it very little during study period (just with areas I felt weak in). My goals were to get through FA twice and to get through Uworld twice. I accomplished my FA goal, and I ended up going through Uworld once + all of my incorrects again.

I will list the other resources I used below, but I want to note that I only used these when I identified a weakness. I bought a lot of these in preparation for study period just so that I could have them if I wanted them, and I couldn't really plan beforehand how I would use them. That was a call I had to make throughout study period.

BRS physiology (went through most of this and I really think it's how I finally started getting physiology questions right)
Clinical Neuroanatomy Made Simple (Quick read, nice review, helped me lock down some concepts)
Review of Medical Microbiology (I spent a day late in my study period with select topics in this book, and it really helped me get a better picture of the bugs that sometimes blend together, and I liked going through the practice questions)
BRS pathology (only did a few topics in here for extra practice)
BRS Anatomy (was a nice reference when I needed to look something up)

USMLE Rx Videos - I didn't discover these until 4 days before my test! I watched a couple sections and I found these to be pretty helpful and well done.

BRS Biochemistry - did not use (I tried a couple times, but it was just too wordy and not helpful to me)
BRS Behavioral Science - did not use (I felt pretty strong in behavioral without looking at this one)

I'll add more if I think of anything else I used or tried. I had a ton of books in my room, and I liked having access to all of those resources, but I know that doesn't work for everyone.

 

[McNCheese]

[Double post], was having some problems with SDN 🤔