Score Prediction?

[stookie]

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I took the CBSSE adminstered by my school, and passed it, not a high score, but a pass none the less. 66 which is equivalent to a 190.
I also took one of those god-awful Kaplan Comprehensive Institutional Exam ( an exam made for schools to be use as a post test) and passed that also.

I've completed basic sciences exactly one month now, and have been studying ever since. Am I in a good position for passing the USMLE? I've also been using USMLEWORLD, and started out strong, but I seem to be getting destroyed now.

Discuss.

 

[DragonWell]

Take an NBME and see how you do.

 

[indo]

My school made us take this practice test too but we all logged on the NBME website and selected NBME #4. Did you do this too or is there a specifice CBSSE exam?

 

[DragonWell]

My school made us take this practice test too but we all logged on the NBME website and selected NBME #4. Did you do this too or is there a specifice CBSSE exam?

CBSSE is different than the online practice tests offered by the NBME. CBSSE is a paper test administered by your med school.

 

[stookie]

Anymore tips or suggestions?

 

[tfom08]

Did you make the 66 = 190 prior to the month of studying or was it after your first month of studying? If that score on the CBSE is before you began studying, then it sounds as it most people improve in the range of 20-40 points meaning you shouldn't have much to worry about. But if you had been preparing for a month and made the 190, it seems as though you might be cutting it a little close.

 

[RussianJoo]

take the nbme it's the only sure way to predict your score.

 

[stookie]

Did you make the 66 = 190 prior to the month of studying or was it after your first month of studying? If that score on the CBSE is before you began studying, then it sounds as it most people improve in the range of 20-40 points meaning you shouldn't have much to worry about. But if you had been preparing for a month and made the 190, it seems as though you might be cutting it a little close.

No, I took the exam at towards the end of my second year, just before I completed basic sciences. My school uses it, along with the Kaplan exam to see if you are fit to sit for the step. (Plus, you can't leave the island unless you pass one of the two) I did study a little ( we have a kaplan course, but it was only an hour and a half a day, so you couldn't cover much in 3.5 months)

What do you think?

 

[muscles]

I'd take the NBME - many people say that it correlates well with your actual scores on the step. For me, it was within 6 points, which is pretty close.

One other thing; you mentioned how your UW scores started strong but are now getting worse - you can definitely overstudy for these tests. You need to establish a timeline and be sure not to overprepare b/c you'll burn yourself out. I sort of did this for step II - I studied for a month for it, when I should only have studied for about 2 weeks...
My $0.02

 

[stookie]

Which NBME should I take?

Is it really possible to overprepare?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Which NBME should I take?

Is it really possible to overprepare?

Take 4, I liked that one. I'm sure it's POSSIBLE to over prepare, but likely to? No. I think you're better off being safe than sorry when it comes to USMLE.

 

[indo]

CBSSE is different than the online practice tests offered by the NBME. CBSSE is a paper test administered by your med school.

Oh...I see what I took. It was the CBSSE Form #4. Yours was on paper?

 

[stookie]

Yes, it was a paper test. 200 Qs and 4 hours to do 'em!

 

[tfom08]

Yeah there is a thread about this test. I think it is referred to as CBSE on that thread. From the score you quoted I think it is the same test.

 

[DragonWell]

Yeah there is a thread about this test. I think it is referred to as CBSE on that thread. From the score you quoted I think it is the same test.

My bad.

CBSE = paper test

CBSSA = online NBME practice tests

 

[indo]

wait...it is the CBSSA - assessment. ha.

My class got pounded by the CBSSA #4. The average was 320 --> 175ish I think. But, nobody took it seriously.

 

[indo]

...just to add to my last post:

My class averaged 320ish on the above test and they told us our schools step I average is 222. So, the average student here improves about 50 points between the time they have us take the CBSSA (mid-way through the 2nd semester of 2nd year) and when they take the boards ( june). Just a little anecdotal perspective.