Scored a 184 of my 2nd NBME practice exam...Really need advice

[LW4816]

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Hey guys,

I really have no idea what I'm doing wrong. I took my first exam 15 days ago and scored 184(form 3) and today scored the same exact thing(form 6). I finished all the UWorld Questions, annotated EVERYTHING I missed and probably went over FA probably 3x already.

My USMLE exam is on June 20th followed by my COMLEX on the 26th. I'm hoping to get at least a 220 on the USMLE but that doesn't seem like its going to happen. I'm thinking about abandoning the exam if I don't see any improvement by next week...

I'm also very nervous because I haven't taken a practice COMLEX exam yet.

What should I do??

 

[NewYorkDoctors]

Check your PM

 

[LW4816]

Cool, more advice would be appreciated...

 

[Kaputt]

What was your %correct in World? How did you do World (timed/untimed, tutor, etc)?

 

[LW4816]

What was your %correct in World? How did you do World (timed/untimed, tutor, etc)?

I finished with a 61% timed. no tutor

 

[BlueElmo]

Can I also get some advice I'm also in similar boat except Im scoring even lower on NBME.

 

[ipizzy]

Honest self assessment time. Why are you getting questions wrong? Do you panic when you sit down to take a test? Do you have trouble understanding what the question is asking? Having trouble with timing? Or do you think you have serious knowledge gaps? Are you focusing too much on memorizing details at the expense of spending quality time understanding concepts?

On that last point, people who try to memorize without understanding concepts seem to have a hard time with step 1. If you think your conceptual reasoning ability is lacking, you need to set aside FA for awhile and pick up some resources that help with concepts (BRS phys, pathoma is good from what I read on SDN, etc). FA is a waste of time if you don't have a solid foundation. Plus, it's probably doable to get in the 220s without knowing tons of tiny details; if you are solid at logic, reasoning, and eliminating answer choices I don't see why you can't hit 220.

In terms of test taking improvement, the only way to get better is to keep doing questions under conditions that simulate the real deal. e.g. Do timed sets of questions if your problem is timing. For every question you get wrong, understand what happened that lead to you getting that question wrong. Identify your weaknesses and focus on improving them. You're the only person who can do this!

 

[dandi]

I am in the same boat too. I just took the NBME and got a 179 on #15. Down 13 points from my last practice two weeks ago. I don't know what to do at this point and am considering rescheduling my exam that is in the middle of June. I am using FA and firecracker. If anyone has any advice....please....

 

[Daodejing]

I am in the same boat too. I just took the NBME and got a 179 on #15. Down 13 points from my last practice two weeks ago. I don't know what to do at this point and am considering rescheduling my exam that is in the middle of June. I am using FA and firecracker. If anyone has any advice....please....

How long have you been preparing? It seems like you need to spend more time with FA and actually spend the majority of your remaining time knowing the material cold. I'm surprised that you're receiving these results having done Firecracker...have you completed it? How much have you banked, and when did you start it?

 

[dandi]

I just started Firecraker and I really wish I would have done it much earlier, I've banked about a 1000. I started studying light in March and then seriously for the last week and a half. Thought I was somewhat on track bc the uworld exams (first one cold was a 172), then 192 two end of April. Really thought I would see an improvement today. I am shooting for about a 225. I think the worst part was I was excited to see my score because I actually felt good about the exam. My uworld had went up in April, but recently it has went down also. I just don't know what I am doing wrong and I don't know how to cover all the material in the time I have left.

 

[normtheniner]

I just started Firecraker and I really wish I would have done it much earlier, I've banked about a 1000. I started studying light in March and then seriously for the last week and a half. Thought I was somewhat on track bc the uworld exams (first one cold was a 172), then 192 two end of April. Really thought I would see an improvement today. I am shooting for about a 225. I think the worst part was I was excited to see my score because I actually felt good about the exam. My uworld had went up in April, but recently it has went down also. I just don't know what I am doing wrong and I don't know how to cover all the material in the time I have left.

How solid was your foundation? If you look at a post someone put a year ago... you may need to assess your core knowledge that you've attained over the past two years. First Aid is a worthless skeleton of a book if you haven't pre-connected the dots in your pre-clinical studies. Just curious what your uworld breakdown is saying, are you consistently getting physio questions or pharm questions or path questions wrong?

 

[dandi]

Definitely trouble with biochem and pharm. I've done about 40% of the bank and have been scoring in the low 50's recently

 

[normtheniner]

Definitely trouble with biochem and pharm. I've done about 40% of the bank and have been scoring in the low 50's recently

I'd hit pharm hard... the three P's take the priority (path/pharm/phys)... get that hammered down and then see if you improve. I think the layout of first aid biochem is pretty good for what you need to know for step (although I haven't taken it yet most of the 3rd years have told me this).

 

[dandi]

I'd hit pharm hard... the three P's take the priority (path/pharm/phys)... get that hammered down and then see if you improve. I think the layout of first aid biochem is pretty good for what you need to know for step (although I haven't taken it yet most of the 3rd years have told me this).

Thanks! I think you are right. I just couldn't understand why I seem to be dropping off, but I have to really focus on something specific that will be high yield.

 

[whatdidigetinto]

I just started Firecraker and I really wish I would have done it much earlier, I've banked about a 1000. I started studying light in March and then seriously for the last week and a half. Thought I was somewhat on track bc the uworld exams (first one cold was a 172), then 192 two end of April. Really thought I would see an improvement today. I am shooting for about a 225. I think the worst part was I was excited to see my score because I actually felt good about the exam. My uworld had went up in April, but recently it has went down also. I just don't know what I am doing wrong and I don't know how to cover all the material in the time I have left.

How long have you been using firecracker? I'm not taking my exam anytime soon but i was wondering what your thoughts are concerning it?

 

[dandi]

How long have you been using firecracker? I'm not taking my exam anytime soon but i was wondering what your thoughts are concerning it?

Only about a week. I love it. I really wish I would have started using it about 6 mo before my exam date bc then you have the time to do more questions and really hammer the concepts home. There are now two modes available, lite mode and regular. If you don't have awhile before your exam I would recommend lite mode. I think you can get a one month free trial.