NBME, UWorld and score prediction

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I'm taking the Step 1 at the end of the week and I've done very well with the UWorld questions--averaging in the 70something% range, but was surprised to get a score on the NBME 6 of 530, so there seems to be a bit of a disparity. To be fair, I took the exam under sub-optimal conditions (ended up pressed for time because I started late and had an appointment I needed to get to, so I didn't review each section as closely as I should have).

Should I assume my results for NBME 6 are not the best reflection of my performance, or should I be lowering my expectations for the boards?

 

[NickNaylor]

UWorld and NBMEs are very different IMO. While your score on NBME 6 might come with caveats, I would much rather have good NBME scores and garbage UWorld scores than vice versa. If you want to have a sense of where you are, take another NBME the "right" way. At this point though that seems silly unless you're able and willing to delay your test if you don't do well.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

Might want to try taking one of the more recent NBMEs too if you're going to as NBME 6 is fairly old at this point.

 

[Jonari]

Was going to take UWSA 2 tomorrow at 8am to see how I feel about Friday. Do you guys recommend using that as a good guide, or should I take a NBME instead?

 

[Goober11]

From what I have read on here, it is my understanding that UWSA 2 overpredicts even more so than UWSA 1. I will end up doing both for the sake of questions, however, if you are crunched a time a later NBME might be more accurate. That being said, the generous curves of the UWSAs might perk up your confidence which is a fairly important intangible going into the test.

 

[survivordo]

If you're a week away taking another practice test really isn't going to change much. The best thing you can be doing is spending dedicated time tackling the subjects you have historically done poorly in.

Survivor DO

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I'm taking the Step 1 at the end of the week and I've done very well with the UWorld questions--averaging in the 70something% range, but was surprised to get a score on the NBME 6 of 530, so there seems to be a bit of a disparity. To be fair, I took the exam under sub-optimal conditions (ended up pressed for time because I started late and had an appointment I needed to get to, so I didn't review each section as closely as I should have).

Should I assume my results for NBME 6 are not the best reflection of my performance, or should I be lowering my expectations for the boards?

Just to join you in the "misery loves company" category, for the last month I've been averaging ~72 but scored a 490 (or w/e a 219 is) on NBME 7 less than a week ago.

Really all we can do is keep on keeping on and trust our hardwork will pay off

 

[thecalccobra]

I was a firm believer in the predictive value of NBME 7 (I had taken 3 days prior) and 13 until I got my real score which was 10+ points lower than the former.

 

[addo]

yeaa... uworld 1 ridiculously overpredicts. I scored like an 84% overall and apparently thats good for a 264. if I felt that was accurate I would quit studying right now. If the NBMEs are any indication, scoring that high requires a much higher percentage correct.

 

[NickNaylor]

yeaa... uworld 1 ridiculously overpredicts. I scored like an 84% overall and apparently thats good for a 264. if I felt that was accurate I would quit studying right now. If the NBMEs are any indication, scoring that high requires a much higher percentage correct.

Yeah... I actually scored 83% on one NBME, scaled to a 225 (though 264 would be nice).

 

[Jamiu22]

yeaa... uworld 1 ridiculously overpredicts. I scored like an 84% overall and apparently thats good for a 264. if I felt that was accurate I would quit studying right now. If the NBMEs are any indication, scoring that high requires a much higher percentage correct.

Sup buddie... I heard that USWA1 predictions are close to that of the NBMEs, so it wouldn't surprise me to see a an 84% correlate that high, especially if it's loaded with the WTF questions. From perusing this a normal 80% on the u-world qbank seems to hint at 260s, so I wouldn't be surprised if their assessment is also hinting at same thing.

 

[jokerabc]

I agree what others have said, forget the tests now and concentrate on weak subjects.

As for the other part of the discussion, I feel the NBME questions are more like the real thing than UWorld questions. Many of the NBME questions (I know they are old ones) have the vague-like quality to them that is more like the real test. Anyone else agree? USMLE likes vagueness.

 

[DrEagleMike]

Do you know what percentages should approximately be obtained from UWorld q bank that would indicate at least passing on the Step 1??? I'm not referring to to the Uworld self assessment exam.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

Just to join you in the "misery loves company" category, for the last month I've been averaging ~72 but scored a 490 (or w/e a 219 is) on NBME 7 less than a week ago.

Really all we can do is keep on keeping on and trust our hardwork will pay off

Just to add to the discrepancy took UWSA1 yesterday scored a 247 (74%) (wish I could stop missing durr question that I know).

Either way, just keep plugging away

 

[oceanillusion42]

Do you know what percentages should approximately be obtained from UWorld q bank that would indicate at least passing on the Step 1??? I'm not referring to to the Uworld self assessment exam.

Won't let me post the link but google USMLE score correlation and click the link that's to the "clinicalreview" site. Not a reputable source, but may be a good place to get a ball park number

 

[medpack87]

Ive had 242 and 230 on UWSA1 and UWSA2 respectively. I have 228 on both NBME 13 and NBME 11. Im a bit dissapointed on my NBME scores, I thought I was going to improve.

I still have 40 days until my STEP 1 exam though, so I have room for improvement.

 

[DrEagleMike]

When you take the NBME, are you taking it with standard-pace or self-pace?