Official 2013 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

[Phloston]

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I figure now is a good time to jump-start this thread.

Even though some of us who had taken the exam in late-2012 are still awaiting our scores (amid the holiday delays) and could technically still post within last year's thread, it is after all mid-January now, so it's probably apposite that we move forward and hope for a great year.

Cheers to 2013

 

[Goober11]

hi, i was wondering if anybody could post the averages for each block in uwsa1. I know the uworld blocks are around 60% and i'm just trying to compare the difficulty of uworld to uwsa1, which i won't be taking for another week or so.

uwsa1
1: 58%
2: 56%
3: 58%
4: 61%

 

[startswithb]

Took my first practice test last night. NBME 12: 221. I am kind of worried yet somewhat optimistic. I would love a 250 but am really desperate for anything in the 240s. I have my exam in 5 weeks, but have to finish school next Friday. That leaves me slightly less than 4 weeks of full-time study. I am not sure if I have scheduled my test too early!! Is a 30 point jump possible in that time? Would rescheduling to one week later really make a difference?

 

[Jonari]

uwsa1
1: 58%
2: 56%
3: 58%
4: 61%

wow, didn't realize the averages for 1 were so much lower compared to 2.

 

[Goober11]

Yeah I found UWSA 1 to be fairly challenging. Its physio rocked me.

 

[Jonari]

a question regarding NBME prediction to the real deal. i went through the last several pages of this thread and started to see that the practice nbmes are quite close to an individual's performance on the real deal. only a couple of outliers where the nbme scores were high, but the real deal the individual dropped atleast 15 points.

my question is, how can nbme 11, 12, 13, and 15 be good predictors when they're just testing four out of the seven blocks? scores will probably be lower on the real deal, correct? merely because more questions = more room for mistakes?

thoughts?

 

[skyblue2000]

Well, IMO...

you shouldnt be making more mistakes just because they are more questions (I mean more mistakes proportionately).
This is assuming the endurance of the exam doesn't kill you. So as long as you're doing 8 hours practices, the endurance of the real test shouldn't, in theory, lead to unnecessary mistakes.

 

[FIREitUP]

Took my first practice test last night. NBME 12: 221. I am kind of worried yet somewhat optimistic. I would love a 250 but am really desperate for anything in the 240s. I have my exam in 5 weeks, but have to finish school next Friday. That leaves me slightly less than 4 weeks of full-time study. I am not sure if I have scheduled my test too early!! Is a 30 point jump possible in that time? Would rescheduling to one week later really make a difference?

you have plenty of time to hit at least a 240, it's way too early to worry

 

[Jonari]

Well, IMO...

you shouldnt be making more mistakes just because they are more questions (I mean more mistakes proportionately).
This is assuming the endurance of the exam doesn't kill you. So as long as you're doing 8 hours practices, the endurance of the real test shouldn't, in theory, lead to unnecessary mistakes.

that's understandable...i can do 4 blocks in one sitting...tried to do 5...and can't...so i think i'm in pretty good shape

will do 4 blocks back-to-back, take a 30 minute break. power nap, eat...and probably do 5th block, break, 6th block, break, and then finish the last block.

 

[skyblue2000]

Ya thats amazing! I can't even do a full 3 right now without wanting to die..

The practice doing 8 hours blocks is just advice my friends gave me after they took their step.

 

[normtheniner]

Took my first practice test last night. NBME 12: 221. I am kind of worried yet somewhat optimistic. I would love a 250 but am really desperate for anything in the 240s. I have my exam in 5 weeks, but have to finish school next Friday. That leaves me slightly less than 4 weeks of full-time study. I am not sure if I have scheduled my test too early!! Is a 30 point jump possible in that time? Would rescheduling to one week later really make a difference?

I started with a 205 on NBME 6 pre-studying a week and a half ago. If you can't get to 240 then there's no hope for me. You're at a good starting point, you'll be fine.

 

[Zuhal]

I started with a 205 on NBME 6 pre-studying a week and a half ago. If you can't get to 240 then there's no hope for me. You're at a good starting point, you'll be fine.

Just out of curiosity, when is your exam?
We have similar stats (pre-studying) and I'm about 7 weeks out. Just wondering

 

[John Lannister]

that's understandable...i can do 4 blocks in one sitting...tried to do 5...and can't...so i think i'm in pretty good shape

will do 4 blocks back-to-back, take a 30 minute break. power nap, eat...and probably do 5th block, break, 6th block, break, and then finish the last block.

What is the total break time allowed?

 

[normtheniner]

Just out of curiosity, when is your exam?
We have similar stats (pre-studying) and I'm about 7 weeks out. Just wondering

June 10th. I started last Monday, so I have exactly five weeks. Other than studying everything we covered in pharm I had done very little structured board prep. I'm hoping I've filled in a lot of the things I just forgot. I guess we'll see when I take NBME 12 a week from this Saturday.

 

[Jonari]

What is the total break time allowed?

1 hour split up anyway you want.

 

[redpanda]

Also, if you finish blocks early, the remainder of that time gets added to your breaks. It makes for a leisurely lunchtime if you typically finish early.

 

[excalibur86]

Awesome, thanks so much Goober. Also, is there any way to search the UWORLD qbank? Say I did a question a few days ago on linezolid and wanted to go back to it and read the explanation, is there any way to search "linezolid?" Thanks.

 

[CDI]

Well, IMO...

you shouldnt be making more mistakes just because they are more questions (I mean more mistakes proportionately).
This is assuming the endurance of the exam doesn't kill you. So as long as you're doing 8 hours practices, the endurance of the real test shouldn't, in theory, lead to unnecessary mistakes.

I'd think 8 hour practices are more useful for those who are at really high scores and are just fine-tuning their test taking strategy. In other words, they don't even know what else to study to get gains.

For everyone else, I don't think that 8 hour exams are a very good use of already limited prep time.

Even if you practice with 8-hour block days, if you are not well rested, you're likely to underperform, and even adrenaline cant save you then.

 

[CDI]

Took my first practice test last night. NBME 12: 221. I am kind of worried yet somewhat optimistic. I would love a 250 but am really desperate for anything in the 240s. I have my exam in 5 weeks, but have to finish school next Friday. That leaves me slightly less than 4 weeks of full-time study. I am not sure if I have scheduled my test too early!! Is a 30 point jump possible in that time? Would rescheduling to one week later really make a difference?

Depends on your grasp of FA.

 

[Goober11]

Awesome, thanks so much Goober. Also, is there any way to search the UWORLD qbank? Say I did a question a few days ago on linezolid and wanted to go back to it and read the explanation, is there any way to search "linezolid?" Thanks.

Yep, click UTILITIES-->SEARCH---->Change option to "Keyword"--->Type in Linezolid

 

[John Lannister]

Also, if you finish blocks early, the remainder of that time gets added to your breaks. It makes for a leisurely lunchtime if you typically finish early.

Oh, wow. That's nice. Although I'm a slow test taker so I probably won't enjoy that.

 

[hardee17]

Serious question here guys....our school had us take the CBSE and I ended up with a 99. Is this thing really that diagnostic? I have already scheduled my exam for six weeks after our semester ends--should this be moved up?? Never thought this would happen to me.

 

[normtheniner]

Depends on your grasp of FA.

Are you saying that someone like that poster who is at a 221 hadn't yet read first aid will more likely increase their overall score compared to someone who has read 221 and is at a 221?

 

[skyblue2000]

I'd think 8 hour practices are more useful for those who are at really high scores and are just fine-tuning their test taking strategy. In other words, they don't even know what else to study to get gains.

For everyone else, I don't think that 8 hour exams are a very good use of already limited prep time.

Even if you practice with 8-hour block days, if you are not well rested, you're likely to underperform, and even adrenaline cant save you then.

I agree that it really shouldn't be a priority in terms of prep... but you don't think it'd be beneficial to try and do maybe 2 NBMEs in a sitting at least once or twice just to get the hang of 8 hours?

I guess I just have a short attention span because I really couldn't see myself being able to do that easily, adrenaline or not.

 

[CDI]

Are you saying that someone like that poster who is at a 221 hadn't yet read first aid will more likely increase their overall score compared to someone who has read *FA and is at a 221?

Absolutely. (Just my opinion though, once again, hindsight 20/20)

 

[Phloston]

Pholston and others. Is there an expected jump from the CBSE NBME exam administered at some schools towards the end of the year?

My school here in Australia doesn't administer exams like that.

 

[STANDARDOFCARE]

Does anyone know how many questions missed would result in an NBME score of 670 and above...? I know this is an odd question but just wondering if anyone has experiences with NBME scores higher than 99 percentile... (no I am not trying to imply that this is what I'm getting or have gotten)

 

[OberynMartell]

So, I began dedicated study period last week, and started off with an NBME just to get a baseline.

NBME 5: 221

Today, after one week of studying,

NBME 11: 240

I was happy about this but wondering how to use my remaining 4 weeks. Is it better to get through First Aid as many times as possible, or finish UWorld? UWorld 46 question blocks are tiring as hell and take hours to review. I will need to average about 60 a day if I want to finish in the next 4 weeks.

Also, how thoroughly are you supposed to annotate from UWorld? I could probably cut down on the time if I spent less time writing all the intricate details.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Zuhal]

So, I began dedicated study period last week, and started off with an NBME just to get a baseline.

NBME 5: 221

Today, after one week of studying,

NBME 11: 240

I was happy about this but wondering how to use my remaining 4 weeks. Is it better to get through First Aid as many times as possible, or finish UWorld? UWorld 46 question blocks are tiring as hell and take hours to review. I will need to average about 60 a day if I want to finish in the next 4 weeks.

Also, how thoroughly are you supposed to annotate from UWorld? I could probably cut down on the time if I spent less time writing all the intricate details.

Thanks for any advice.

Oh awesome! What exactly did you do during that ONE week?

 

[John Lannister]

So, I began dedicated study period last week, and started off with an NBME just to get a baseline.

NBME 5: 221

Today, after one week of studying,

NBME 11: 240

I was happy about this but wondering how to use my remaining 4 weeks. Is it better to get through First Aid as many times as possible, or finish UWorld? UWorld 46 question blocks are tiring as hell and take hours to review. I will need to average about 60 a day if I want to finish in the next 4 weeks.

Also, how thoroughly are you supposed to annotate from UWorld? I could probably cut down on the time if I spent less time writing all the intricate details.

Thanks for any advice.

Finish them in 4 weeks! You're already at a great score, just go faster.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Serious question here guys....our school had us take the CBSE and I ended up with a 99. Is this thing really that diagnostic? I have already scheduled my exam for six weeks after our semester ends--should this be moved up?? Never thought this would happen to me.

Are you sure you're reading your results right??? Did you get 99 questions of the 100 correct?!

Your step 1 equivalent is a 99?

For example, I got 68 questions right. My equivalent was a 195.

 

[tiedyeddog]

dude, taking 4 USMLErx blocks a day sucks

 

[Jonari]

Are you sure you're reading your results right??? Did you get 99 questions of the 100 correct?!

Your step 1 equivalent is a 99?

For example, I got 68 questions right. My equivalent was a 195.

it happens, there was a girl in my class who got a 99 on the school administered CBSE...2nd highest score in school history, with the 2nd student getting a 97. 😳

 

[Jonari]

Absolutely. (Just my opinion though, once again, hindsight 20/20)

i think i shot myself in the foot. calculated how much FA i've read and it's only 125 pages out of the whole book. want to push my exam back another 2 weeks and try to get this book down cold.

 

[Goober11]

Jonari with all the rescheduling you will be taking the exam with me haha. In all seriousness, I had no idea you hadn't read the whole thing. In my opinion you would be shorting yourself if you didn't get through FA at least once...

 

[Jonari]

Jonari with all the rescheduling you will be taking the exam with me haha. In all seriousness, I had no idea you hadn't read the whole thing. In my opinion you would be shorting yourself if you didn't get through FA at least once...

tell me about it. i'm just worried about not making the match for next year...my school sucks on giving us the proper direction on how to go about this. yeah i think pushing it back maybe pushing it a week and a half...read 75 pages a day...will let me get through the book pretty in a couple of rounds...

 

[OberynMartell]

Oh awesome! What exactly did you do during that ONE week?

A lot of UWorld, Pathoma, and First Aid.

 

[loveoforganic2]

Quick question; sorry if it's already been asked -- I'm on my phone and the SDN app's search function is pretty awful.

Is the level of detail for micro and pharm in FA more than enough? I'm trying to decide whether to go through my Kaplan pharm notes again (which are pretty extensive).

Thanks!

Micro section in FA is really good - with that said, I think a bit of background is helpful. Only if you know the FA section cold - if you don't know it cold then no sense in any background.

I agree with this. FA micro seemed REALLY sparse to me (at least bacteriology anyway), but I think if you know the info that is there and how to apply it (e.g. secondary/tertiary questions), you'd be good for >90% of what would show up on the real deal. It's all just very dense and important - having known more than what's there at one point (i.e. with classes) should help the remainder HY stuff stick

when are you guys taking it?

july 11

 

[hardee17]

Are you sure you're reading your results right??? Did you get 99 questions of the 100 correct?!

Your step 1 equivalent is a 99?

For example, I got 68 questions right. My equivalent was a 195.

No, the scored grade was a 99, which translates to above 260. I'm just really in a tough place because I feel like I am in no way ready for the real thing, but then again maybe I'll never feel that way.

 

[tiedyeddog]

it happens, there was a girl in my class who got a 99 on the school administered CBSE...2nd highest score in school history, with the 2nd student getting a 97. 😳

I just am just having trouble wrapping my mind around that being possible without any previous dedicated studying... must have some kind of crazy photographic memory or something

 

[tiedyeddog]

No, the scored grade was a 99, which translates to above 260. I'm just really in a tough place because I feel like I am in no way ready for the real thing, but then again maybe I'll never feel that way.

If I were you, I'd take NBME 12 or 15 and see how I did before I made any big decisions. Maybe that one was a fluke or something? Have you at least gone through FA once?

 

[CDI]

i think i shot myself in the foot. calculated how much FA i've read and it's only 125 pages out of the whole book. want to push my exam back another 2 weeks and try to get this book down cold.

Hows that even possible? You were doing Rx, right? Thats the same thing...

 

[CDI]

If I were you, I'd take NBME 12 or 15 and see how I did before I made any big decisions. Maybe that one was a fluke or something? Have you at least gone through FA once?

Others have had this "dilemma" too. They just move their test date up and take it quicker.

 

[Jonari]

Hows that even possible? You were doing Rx, right? Thats the same thing...

yeah but Rx annoys me so much whenever i do it, i've probably done only 6.5 blocks of it. just the interface, the slow lag time, just made it a pain in the ass more so anything else. i liked uworld and kaplan a lot better...

is there still hope to jump up 15 points by reading FA in the 1.5 week, assuming i can push my exam back...

 

[Armadillos]

ok have to admit Im super confused and maybe a little late to the party when it comes to all these practice tests and assessments. Im seeing people talk about NBMEs, USWAs, UWorld Assessments, etc.

I have 4 and half weeks till exam, Im working through Uworld at a pretty good pace so I think I should be able to finish that without too much trouble. What assessments am I wanting to do and when, if lets say I think I have time to take 2 to 3 of them? I'm more concerned about whichever ones would give me the best practice/learning for the real thing, don't particularly care about getting the most accurate score estimates (would be nice, but more concerned about learning). I made a 225 on the NBME we took at the end of the year, and thats really about what my goal score is, so I mostly am looking to make sure I shore up all the low hanging fruit so that even if I have a crappy day on the test I can make >225.

Also is the basic science NBME my school gave us one of these numbered NBME's, I want to make sure I dont accidentally buy it again or something.

 

[Jonari]

Also is the basic science NBME my school gave us one of these numbered NBME's, I want to make sure I dont accidentally buy it again or something.

no

 

[CDI]

yeah but Rx annoys me so much whenever i do it, i've probably done only 6.5 blocks of it. just the interface, the slow lag time, just made it a pain in the ass more so anything else. i liked uworld and kaplan a lot better...

is there still hope to jump up 15 points by reading FA in the 1.5 week, assuming i can push my exam back...

Its not about what you like/don't like. Its about increasing your score whatever which way possible. No one can tell you what your gains (or losses) will be by pushing it further.

FA helps everyone to a point provided they've taken the time to digest it. Ive been repeating that for 6 weeks. (And guys like Phloston for like 6 months.)

At the same time you don't want to postpone if you're just looking for a way to second guess your methods.

As for FA - 75 pages a day isn't going to do much unless you've already read it several times.

 

[Jonari]

Its not about what you like/don't like. Its about increasing your score whatever which way possible. No one can tell you what your gains (or losses) will be by pushing it further.

FA helps everyone to a point provided they've taken the time to digest it. Ive been repeating that for 6 weeks. (And guys like Phloston for like 6 months.)

At the same time you don't want to postpone if you're just looking for a way to second guess your methods.

As for FA - 75 pages a day isn't going to do much unless you've already read it several times.

good advice...yeah i read the 2011 book while i was in school...hopefully thing will pick up quickly again

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

i think i shot myself in the foot. calculated how much FA i've read and it's only 125 pages out of the whole book. want to push my exam back another 2 weeks and try to get this book down cold.

I have no idea how you haven't read FA at least once by now...I almost can't believe this is true. Seriously, I was bearing down to get it down at least twice by test day and with my heavy annotating from UWorld I'd probably seen FA 2.5x. You gotta read FA if only because you won't know what tables/charts you keep forgetting if you haven't actually read them.

I mean you've done all these UWorld and Kaplan questions without even seeing the sections in FA at all?

 

[Jonari]

I have no idea how you haven't read FA at least once by now...I almost can't believe this is true. Seriously, I was bearing down to get it down at least twice by test day and with my heavy annotating from UWorld I'd probably seen FA 2.5x. You gotta read FA if only because you won't know what tables/charts you keep forgetting if you haven't actually read them.

I mean you've done all these UWorld and Kaplan questions without even seeing the sections in FA at all?

ok, maybe i over exaggerated my post a bit i've annotated a good amount with certain concepts i got wrong into FA from uworld and kap...and when i was done annotating it, i'd read that related topic also in FA...i guess i just didn't read it like a book from page 1 to the end...it was more so chunks at a time

 

[Phloston]

Does anyone know how many questions missed would result in an NBME score of 670 and above...? I know this is an odd question but just wondering if anyone has experiences with NBME scores higher than 99 percentile... (no I am not trying to imply that this is what I'm getting or have gotten)

I can't recall the 800-scale scores, but for my last three NBME exams (with extended feedback):

NBME11 + 13: 264 (9 wrong out of 200 on both)

NBME12: 266 (8 wrong)

Notice how 265 wasn't even a possible score.
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There was also some girl several years ago (you can probably search for her username on SDN), called PrincessPeach, who talked about having gotten a 273 on one of the NBMEs (I think 13), and that was 3 wrong. She got a 274 on the real deal, IIRC.

I would also recommend contacting thehundredthone. He had two 270+ NBMEs, so he could tell you how many wrong he had on those.