This is the most poignant and honest thing that has probably ever been written on SDN. I wish you would send this to the people at the AAMC/NBME because I think it speaks volumes. We literally allow 1 test to determine the path our lives can take. To think that someone who is not good at answering questions on a multiple choice standardized test may be kept from a specialty they are passionate about simply because of this stupid exam, is incredibly disheartening.
Yeah basically every time I move on to a new question to review and scroll down this happens to me. I'm used to it by now though
I would look at topics in the Qbanks you are missing a lot. Especially if you are doing Uworld. Because you can kill multiple birds with 1 stone. If you read about the answer and the incorrects you cover a ton of material. You’re at a point where’s only a few more corrects will jump your score up. So I would focus on filling those gaps not just taking practice exams hoping to get better. I didn’t find the NBMEs helpful really. I would spend this week really studying and then take an exam after this week and see if you have improved.
Not sure how much you could gain by looking at another resource since those are pretty comprehensive. To improve on repro, maybe invest into another qbanks just to practice repro and figure out why you are getting the questions wrong.
Pretty much using UFAP + Sketchy (micro & pharm). Went through Goljan & USMLERx during the school year, and I've referenced Goljan occasionally during dedicated.
Congrats! Any guess on how many questions you got wrong on the exam?
DAMN - awesome score! One of the few 270+ scores to post on SDN. Numerous questions: what resources did you use during dedicated and throughout medical school? What was your goal score? How did you do on the MCAT? Are you US MD - top 25? Did you take the exam before or after core rotations? Were you at the top of your class pre-clinicals? What specialty do you plan on pursuing? What percentage of questions do you think you got correct? How important was doing all six available NBMEs (seems like most do 2-4)? Was there anything you think you could have done differently to answer correctly the small number of questions you got wrong?
Damn! Only one?! When did you take your test?
Thanks for the thorough response. Did you use the rx or kaplan Qbanks at all? Did you use B/B, pathoma and sketchy throughout pre-clinicals? What about anki or firecracker?
Sounds like you're off to a great start. How much time does your school give for dedicated?
That makes me feel better lol, I have been looking those ones up and have gotten like 15 wrong so far! :/
What were your practice test scores?
Feeling like the high score might've been a fluke...
oh you got plenty of time! keep at it, you can definitely hit that 240!Just an update - took NBME 15 today. 4 weeks since my last NBME, 3 more weeks of classes to go, then 5 weeks of dedicated.
NBME 13 (12 weeks out): 200
NBME 15 (8 weeks out): 217
Goal is to reach 240, but I'd still be happy with anything over 230.
Next step - watch all of sketchy micro in the next 3 weeks
I don't think you have to do it in a set of 40 EVERY time (although I did), but I'd make sure you're at least doing some of 40. For me, I know endurance is one of my weaknesses, so even though UWorld is designed as learning tool, I wanted to make the blocks simulate the real thing. Like the NBMEs only have 10 extra questions per section and that somehow manages to wipe me out. BUT if you don't have issues with this, I'd say to do it in whatever way makes it easiest for you to get through. n=1, of course.
Don't see the point of doing random times uworld. Uworld is a learning tool, so it seems like tutor and organ system based is the way to do it. You'll take enough NBMEs to practice the test environment. I feel like I get through questions way faster on tutor mode since I don't need to think back to my thinking process. I'd just add on the systems though as you get through them into the question pool so you don't forget the old stuff. At least that's what makes sense to me.
If you're getting a 234 on your very first practice test, the world is your oyster. You'll almost certainly improve dramatically over the course of dedicated.
It might be that you're on the more horizontal part of the curve than people who haven't really studied for Step at all, but there's still definitely room for improvement, especially in 8 weeks! And anyway I would commit atrocities to get a 230-240 on the real thing so I'd say you're good. 🙂
