I'm taking my first shelf exam this week, and I ran across sample questions for each shelf on the NBME website (http://www.nbme.org/PDF/NBME2008SubjExams.pdf). Just wondering if anyone can comment on how these questions compare to the actual shelf. To me, they seem WAY too easy (similar to how the Free 150 questions are much easier than the actual Step 1 exam). Any feedback is appreciated.
NBME Shelf Exams - Official Sample Questions
- Thread starter metallo
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Even easier than the free 150. I took the practice q's for my first shelf and got 20/20. The shelf was much harder, so I didn't look at them for the rest of the year. I mean, there will be a couple questions on the shelf that are as easy as those, maybe 5-10, but the vast majority of shelf q's will be harder. Overall, not very realistic.
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They are much much easier. If you can do them you should at least be able to pass
Like I have told other people in terms of the shelf exams:
1) Do the last 7-10 questions first. They are easier and they have 10+ answer choices. It would be a pity if you ran out of time and had to guess on the easiest questions of the exam.
2) Move fast. Shelf exams have much, much longer vignettes than those questions or step 1. I had a ton of time after each section of step 1. There was only 1 shelf exam where I had enough time to even review my answers
3) Get familiar with the lab values. The NBME publishes how they come out on the shelf exams
http://www.nbme.org/PDF/Reference_Labvalues_combined.pdf'
Even if you dont know the normal values, know where to find them. Page 1 would be on the front page while page 2 will be on the back cover of each shelf exam booklet. Knowing where to find the values will save you a ton of time on your first shelf.
Expect these exams to be more ambiguous and "harder" than step 1. The score are scaled so you will do OK but coming out of your first shelf feels like you got hit by a bus.
Like I have told other people in terms of the shelf exams:
1) Do the last 7-10 questions first. They are easier and they have 10+ answer choices. It would be a pity if you ran out of time and had to guess on the easiest questions of the exam.
2) Move fast. Shelf exams have much, much longer vignettes than those questions or step 1. I had a ton of time after each section of step 1. There was only 1 shelf exam where I had enough time to even review my answers
3) Get familiar with the lab values. The NBME publishes how they come out on the shelf exams
http://www.nbme.org/PDF/Reference_Labvalues_combined.pdf'
Even if you dont know the normal values, know where to find them. Page 1 would be on the front page while page 2 will be on the back cover of each shelf exam booklet. Knowing where to find the values will save you a ton of time on your first shelf.
Expect these exams to be more ambiguous and "harder" than step 1. The score are scaled so you will do OK but coming out of your first shelf feels like you got hit by a bus.
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So accurate and true. I experienced this less than 2 weeks ago. We were in such shock that we all started laughing our asses off. Percentile still in the mid 80's though, so don't freak out if you feel the same way.
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shelfs are painful, but the scores work out in the end.
Thanks for the comments, everyone, especially the advice about doing the last 10 questions first. On my exam it was actually questions 93-100 that were the easy ones with tons of answers. I'm really glad I got them out of the way early because I actually had to guess on my last 3 questions since time was running out. I wouldn't have wanted to miss easy points!
And, yes, the shelf was definitely much harder than the practice questions. I also thought it was slightly harder than the Peds questions on World and definitely harder than the questions in Pretest/Casefiles.
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Just took my first one today...they're definitely no joke. Way harder than any section I saw on the step 1 for sure. Pretty sure I passed, but I'd be surprised if I got higher than low 70's, if that.
How many questions are on each NBME practice shelf?
