New NDBE Part I scores

[halosniper008]

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Does anyone know how the new scores relate to the old scores? It seems like no one is posting their new scores so its hard to compare. using the 98 conversion sheet it looks like an 86 on the new exam is a 91 on the old one? What is everyone else scoring and do you have comparable results using the 98 conversion sheet?

 

[docsmiley]

hi,,98 conversion scaleis way too easy...dnt get misleaded by it....
the recent scale is more tuf..u vl get the new scale in ur part 1 score report....al the best...

 

[halosniper008]

hi,,98 conversion scaleis way too easy...dnt get misleaded by it....
the recent scale is more tuf..u vl get the new scale in ur part 1 score report....al the best...

hi docsmiley that is my point. The new scale is based on the national average for that particular exam. they round up so the average is 75. for example if you score 80 raw points out of 100 and the average is 70 raw points you add 5 points to your score which gives you a corrected score of 85.
What Is important is how this compares to the old scores. So you need to compare multiple results to see what the correlation is. If a 86 on the new exam is equal to a 91 on the old exam. Do other people find similar results??? You can use the 98 conversion sheet to figure out about what your score would have been on the old exam using your raw score.

 

[mtnprtyanml10]

hi docsmiley that is my point. The new scale is based on the national average for that particular exam. they round up so the average is 75. for example if you score 80 raw points out of 100 and the average is 70 raw points you add 5 points to your score which gives you a corrected score of 85.
What Is important is how this compares to the old scores. So you need to compare multiple results to see what the correlation is. If a 86 on the new exam is equal to a 91 on the old exam. Do other people find similar results??? You can use the 98 conversion sheet to figure out about what your score would have been on the old exam using your raw score.

I just got my scores, and with the old conversion, I would have scored in the 96/97th percentile. My comp score for the new test, however, is 91. you need a raw score of about 220 to pass. 261.2 was our raw average, so I guess that would be an 80. I think you need around a 325 to score in the 90th percentile. With this new scale, it is easier to pass, but harder to do well

 

[skabbaraju]

I just got my scores, and with the old conversion, I would have scored in the 96/97th percentile. My comp score for the new test, however, is 91. you need a raw score of about 220 to pass. 261.2 was our raw average, so I guess that would be an 80. I think you need around a 325 to score in the 90th percentile. With this new scale, it is easier to pass, but harder to do well

How was the exam.? What is tough about the new pattern.? Any good inputs on final preparation.? Please share. Thanks.

 

[dnisal]

In the old format of the exam, if you failed one section like Anatomy but passed the rest, you'd just have to re-take the Anatomy section but not the whole exam. In the new format, what happens if you get an overall passing score but you got a failing score in a specific subject? For example, say you aced the Dental Anatomy questions but failed the Microbiology questions but your overall score is still a passing score. Or a more extreme example: you get 25 in Microbiology, 25 in Anatomy, 100 in Dental Anatomy, and 100 in Biochemistry for an overall score of 250. Say an overall 250 is a passing score. What happens in that case? Anyone know? Would they make you re-take the entire exam because of this? I don't see anything about this in the NB Candidate User's Guide. My guess is that you'd still pass the exam with no re-do's but does anyone know for sure?

 

[skabbaraju]

In the old format of the exam, if you failed one section like Anatomy but passed the rest, you'd just have to re-take the Anatomy section but not the whole exam. In the new format, what happens if you get an overall passing score but you got a failing score in a specific subject? For example, say you aced the Dental Anatomy questions but failed the Microbiology questions but your overall score is still a passing score. Or a more extreme example: you get 25 in Microbiology, 25 in Anatomy, 100 in Dental Anatomy, and 100 in Biochemistry for an overall score of 250. Say an overall 250 is a passing score. What happens in that case? Anyone know? Would they make you re-take the entire exam because of this? I don't see anything about this in the NB Candidate User's Guide. My guess is that you'd still pass the exam with no re-do's but does anyone know for sure?

Great questions! but the example that you are trying to show is unlikely to happen. 25 in 2 subjects and 100 in the other 2.? Anyways, the point is, composite score is important in this new format. Sure, somebody can get high end scores in 2 subjects and below average scores of 60 or 65 in 2 subjects, that is a possibility.

 

[dnisal]

Skabbaraju, you are correct that my example is very unlikely to happen but I'd still like to know for sure: If you are weak in 2 subject areas, can you still pass the overall test by making up for it if you are stronger in the other 2 subject areas?

In the previous exam format if you were weak in 2 subject areas, you'd still be considered to fail 2 sections of the exam and have to re-take those 2 sections individually. I know that there is no re-taking of individual subjects in the new format so that begs the question: if you do very poorly in 1 subject area but still pass the overall test (because you are stronger in the other subjects), would you still be required to re-take the entire test? Does anyone know?

 

[skabbaraju]

Skabbaraju, you are correct that my example is very unlikely to happen but I'd still like to know for sure: If you are weak in 2 subject areas, can you still pass the overall test by making up for it if you are stronger in the other 2 subject areas?

In the previous exam format if you were weak in 2 subject areas, you'd still be considered to fail 2 sections of the exam and have to re-take those 2 sections individually. I know that there is no re-taking of individual subjects in the new format so that begs the question: if you do very poorly in 1 subject area but still pass the overall test (because you are stronger in the other subjects), would you still be required to re-take the entire test? Does anyone know?

I think that depends on your composite score. If you are in the competitive range, then you don't need to repeat the exam. If you perform miserably in 1 or 2 subjects, more likely than not, you will not be in the competitive range, in which case, you might need to repeat the entire exam. Hope this helps.

 

[mtnprtyanml10]

How was the exam.? What is tough about the new pattern.? Any good inputs on final preparation.? Please share. Thanks.

I think it is tougher in the fact that more people that are in Dental School are on the level of med school students, so the scale is harder than before. However, the scale accounts for the diversity of the questions and how hard it can be to take all subjects in one setting. So, the difficulty is in getting a good score, bit not passing overall. The failure rate for US students is about 3-4%, so I wouldnt not be worried about failing. I think you can so poorly in one section (like fail) but have an awesome score in another section to make up for that. So study decks and old released exams, and you will be fine. But study the questions along with the answers on the old exams. they dont stray away from the old concepts that much. Good luck and your score and results will be better than u think

 

[skabbaraju]

I think it is tougher in the fact that more people that are in Dental School are on the level of med school students, so the scale is harder than before. However, the scale accounts for the diversity of the questions and how hard it can be to take all subjects in one setting. So, the difficulty is in getting a good score, bit not passing overall. The failure rate for US students is about 3-4%, so I wouldnt not be worried about failing. I think you can so poorly in one section (like fail) but have an awesome score in another section to make up for that. So study decks and old released exams, and you will be fine. But study the questions along with the answers on the old exams. they dont stray away from the old concepts that much. Good luck and your score and results will be better than u think

Thanks! brother. I appreciate your tips. Will do. Good luck to you too.

 

[dr tamkin]

could some one PLEAAAAAAAAASE tell me how they attained 90+ in part1?
i'm very bad at taking exams i panic! and have anxiety attacks, i got an 83, even though i studied so much!!!
what did you guys do to get 90 above? with the new pattern....
i'm planning on taking it again

 

[rtrujill]

I missed 77 out of 400. turned out to be an 89.

 

[rtrujill]

if you are going to study old exams, i found most repeats and repeat concepts came from 96, 98 and 2004 pilot. I was scoring 97's and 98's on those exams. The 2008 NBDE has a different grading scale though. about 7% less than what you are getting on the 1996. for example if your 1996 converted score averaged out to be about 96 than minus 7. i found this to be a pretty good predictor of what you may get.

 

[enamelix]

hi i m a new member,can anyone help me with nbde and all the things related to it

 

[STANyDENT]

*start with OLD (released) exams from ASDA -order online
*study with DENTAL DEX (order new online or used on E-bay)
This are for passing scores 😕75-82
For scores 87-90+🙂 you need:
compare and read: FIRST AID FOR NBDE I.
+ KAPLAN review , Q-Bank,Mosby, etc if you have time😀
You can review this INFO on this Forum...just search.
Good luck !

 

[benitz2]

this new format is horrible.... the post above missed 70 whatever and got 89 i missed 57 (343/400) and got an 89....that is absurd.

 

[jackhammer]

I feel like giving up.
I dont know if it is any point applying with the following scores.
If you think I can apply and get into any college please pm me or post a reply. I really dont have the money to apply to a lot of schools. I am looking for some honest advice as I dont know what to do. I am a foreign medical graduate from India and planning to apply to AS program. I have no clue if any school will accept me. My GPA is 3.2

This is my second attempt, in my first attempt I made a 74

Scores
MY CURRENT FINAL SCORE = 78

My Score (National Mean)
Anatomy 65 (63)
Micro/Path 65 (54)
Dental Anatomy 71 (73)
Biochem/Physio 51 (61.2)

 

[icecoast]

I feel like giving up.
I dont know if it is any point applying with the following scores.
If you think I can apply and get into any college please pm me or post a reply. I really dont have the money to apply to a lot of schools. I am looking for some honest advice as I dont know what to do. I am a foreign medical graduate from India and planning to apply to AS program. I have no clue if any school will accept me. My GPA is 3.2

This is my second attempt, in my first attempt I made a 74

Scores
MY CURRENT FINAL SCORE = 78

My Score (National Mean)
Anatomy 65 (63)
Micro/Path 65 (54)
Dental Anatomy 71 (73)
Biochem/Physio 51 (61.2)

hi

don't get mad or frustrated. when there is a will there is a way. i'm not sure what the exact average or desired scores are. but i have heard the the mid-west or east coast is generally people get in with lower scores compared to some other regions.

 

[floridadent]

Hey guys,

First let me say congrats, alot of you guys have performed superb on the boards. I recently took mine, I am an american and in dental school in boston.

I was a little shocked at my scores, I took the old exams and did alot better than I felt I did on these. Here are my scores:

78 overall 😕
Anatomy - 59 (avg. 63)
Biochem/physio - 70 (avg. 61.2)
Micro/Path - 64 (avg. 64)
Dental Anatomy - 68 (avg. 73)

I am curious if i want to specialize what do i need to get. Also should I risk taking them again, I mean next year everything will be pass/fail so will my scores really matter? Also I dont think i could do alot better with the exception of dental anatomy, where i dropped the ball. But would it have made a massive difference? Please give me your advice and thanks in advance.

Floridadent (even though I am in boston now)

 

[Cold Front]

Also should I risk taking them again, I mean next year everything will be pass/fail so will my scores really matter?

If you are serious about specializing, retake it!

Here is why.

 

[floridadent]

Thanks I am Legend,

At least things are clearer now, not easier, but I know what I have to do. Let me ask you this in case you might know it, how important is the board score compared to the class rank/GPA.

Thanks

 

[Cold Front]

Thanks I am Legend,

At least things are clearer now, not easier, but I know what I have to do. Let me ask you this in case you might know it, how important is the board score compared to the class rank/GPA.

Thanks

It varies from program to program, but in general:

0. Politics (I rank this 0 because some people start here in the list to get into certain programs)
1. board scores
2. class rank (not necessarily your GPA)
3. letters of recommendations
4. everything else (research, interview, etc).

don't worry, persistent applicants who don't meet the cut-off almost always specialize, but it will take more time and commitment; re-applying multiple times, doing a year GPR/AEGD, fellowships and research, other crazy stuff like working as a teacher at a dental school for few years, etc. But then again, it's much cheaper and you will save more time if you re-take the test and do well on it.

 

[floridadent]

Dear Coldfront,

Thanks alot for the help. I agree with you, save alot more time and money by just retaking it. So if I want to hit in the 88-90 range, is doing the decks and the old exams enough, or do I need to read through one of the books?

Thanks an advance for the tips.

 

[anshi manshi]

Hi,can smebdy pls help me?I scored

NBDE (Part1)-83
TOEFL-100
GPA-3.7

Nw shd i go for admission applications or repeat part 1?One of my friends told me to go for part-2.I m in doubt what to do?

Thanks!🙂

 

[chipotle]

Hi,can smebdy pls help me?I scored

NBDE (Part1)-83
TOEFL-100
GPA-3.7

Nw shd i go for admission applications or repeat part 1?One of my friends told me to go for part-2.I m in doubt what to do?

Thanks!🙂

Good Job done !!! But since u just took ur exam and things might still be fresh..retaking ur part 1 is a better idea .

 

[missiondds]

this new format is horrible.... the post above missed 70 whatever and got 89 i missed 57 (343/400) and got an 89....that is absurd.

the trick in nbde lies in the fact that it doesnt matter which how many questions you get correct. but it certainly matters which question you answered correct. if relatively few test takers answered the question correctly you are sure to score heavly. and vice versa. i got 315/400 n scored 87. my frn got 320 n scored 84. so its all about relative grading. I guess thisis the way thy wanna be fare to all the test takers on tht day.

 

[Manila]

Hi everybody,

I took part 1 on Dec 08 and scored 85...
Got 83 in Gen Anatomy
85 in dental anatomy
75 in micro bio
only 60 in biochem/ physio

I did terrible in Biochem... Some school wants a passing score in all... Does that mean i should have alteast 75 in all sec...I did apply to NYU, Colorado and Marquette but havent heard from them... Although i am plannin to retake it again soon..Any tips to improve the score?

Suggestions would help Please anybody...

 

[endo7]

hi all...
i just want to do how many correct qustions out of 400 someone need in order to pass the exam!!
i feel it's around 270, other people say it's almost 220-230!!!!!
i am really confused!!

 

[mike28mike]

i need to know how many questions do i have to answer just for passing the nbde part I.... i did terrible in microb-pathol...😕

 

[mike28mike]

como saber el numero de preguntas correctas para pasar el examen. Por favor......

 

[mike28mike]

please... i need to know how many questions do i have to answer just for passing the nbde part I.... i did terrible in microb-pathol...😕

 

[mike28mike]

please....did you find out how many questions are required for passing the test...