NBME Exams worth the extra money?

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GeneticsGoddess

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I already have access to several diagnostic exams through Kaplan and usmle world. Is there really any added advantage to spending the money on buying an nbme practice exam? If so, which one would be best to take if I can only take one?
If not, which diagnostics are better: kaplan or world?
Thanks!

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I already have access to several diagnostic exams through Kaplan and usmle world. Is there really any added advantage to spending the money on buying an nbme practice exam? If so, which one would be best to take if I can only take one?
If not, which diagnostics are better: kaplan or world?
Thanks!

I think NBMEs are worth it because they seem to be good predictors of the score on the real thing (according to MS3's from my school and here on SDN). The UWorld Self Assessments may overpredict for some and underpredict for others, but they tell you all the questions you got wrong AND give great explanations for them. I didn't take the Kaplan diagnostic because it doesn't give you a 3-digit score- just a percent correct. But it's the full 7 hours so I guess you could use it to gauge endurance.

Edit: if you do buy the NBME's, definitely splurge for the extended feedback (+$10) so you can see the questions you missed. My school gave us vouchers for 7 and 11 w/o extended feedback and they felt pretty useless.
 
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