NBME Shelf Scoring

[docjohn101]

I know that shelf exams for subject exams (anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, etc.) have a mean of 500 and usually have around 120 questions. They are also curved.

I was wondering, how many from the 120 questions you need to get wrong to get a 70%. I know that 36 wrong is a 70%, but with the curve you should be able to more wrong and still get a 70%, but how many more wrong.

Any input on this would be appreciated.

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[Forthegood]

It depends on the curve. They are done by standard deviations on a bell curve. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/68-95-99.7_rule

That will get you about as far as one could get without knowing how poorly everyone will do on each exam.

 

[docjohn101]

so there's no conversion charts from previous years, so we can get an idea of how many we can get wrong?

 

[2012mdc]

so there's no conversion charts from previous years, so we can get an idea of how many we can get wrong?

I think the curve changes too much from subject to subject and from year to year.

I've tried to understand it but I couldn't figure it out. Biochem was a very hard shelf yet I had a higher score on that than Physio by 60 pts yet I'm sure I missed a lot more on biochem

 

[fahimaz7]

Here's the physiology one...

 

[SGuttenberg]

There is no way to convert percentage, percentile and raw score. You have to use the report they send your school with your score to find your percentile. Percentages correct are not released.

I think year to year and test to test the percentage people get correct changes and so you can't say 75% = 500 = 50th percentile.

On one test I got an 860 and that was 96th and on another I get a 740 and that was 98th. Makes no sense to me.

 

[docjohn101]

Do we get the scores in the mail or does the school give them to us? and does the school send the test back to NBME to grade or does the school grade them?

Also, how long does it usually take to get the scores for the subject shelf exams (anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, etc.)?

And, do we just see our score or do we actually see a score report with percentiles and all the other information?

 

[2012mdc]

Do we get the scores in the mail or does the school give them to us? and does the school send the test back to NBME to grade or does the school grade them?

Also, how long does it usually take to get the scores for the subject shelf exams (anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, etc.)?

And, do we just see our score or do we actually see a score report with percentiles and all the other information?

It usually took ~2 weeks to get scores back. NBME sent the scores to our school and they either had us come in and pick it up or they would email it. It would only be a score and a percentile, never seen a score report, don't know if score reports exist for shelf exams like they do for Step 1