Some questions I have about the exam day + prep --> please help!

[HeyThereJude]

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Could someone please help me answer these questions - I know some of these have been asked before, but I keep hearing different things.

1. Does anyone know which of the nbme exams it is that medical schools often gives out at the end of the year so I don't go and pay to take the same exam I would get for free from the school?

2. Are there any exams other than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12? Is there an 8, 9, or 10?

3. What is the free nbme 150 exam and where do I go to get/take it?

4. Which exam is it that you can schedule to take as practice at the actual test center? how much does it cost?

5. If I were to pay to take 5 of the nbme exams, would you say: 3, 6, 7, 11, 12 are the best/most accurate?

6. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to use the break time?

7. If I only use 5 minutes of the tutorial, does that mean I actually get 70 minutes of break time?

8. So a chunk of questions I have heard are not really part of the exam, questions they are testing for future years ... my questions is are these all in one and the same of the seven sections of the exam, or are they dispersed throughout all seven sections?

9. How do you know how much break time you have left? Do you just have to bring a wrist watch or something?

10. How are people using the tutorial time, I heard some people just use it for testing the headphones/audio - is this what you would suggest?

11. Did anyone have problems with audio, any malfunctioning during their exam?

12. How many audio/video questions are typically asked on the exam? Is there any website that may suggest common themes of these audio questions - like heart sounds, etc?

13. Are we allowed to go to our car to eat between sections?

14. Is it typically within 3 weeks that we get our scores back?

 

[sirius08]

Skipping questions that I can't answer:

1. Does anyone know which of the nbme exams it is that medical schools often gives out at the end of the year so I don't go and pay to take the same exam I would get for free from the school?

This is school dependent.


3. What is the free nbme 150 exam and where do I go to get/take it?

Questions published by the NBME that are meant to be representative of the real exam, but generally are easier than the real thing and overestimate your score by up to 20+ points.

http://www.usmle.org/Orientation/2011/menu.html


5. If I were to pay to take 5 of the nbme exams, would you say: 3, 6, 7, 11, 12 are the best/most accurate?

6 and 7.


6. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to use the break time?

Sparingly -- just enough to maintain focus.

7. If I only use 5 minutes of the tutorial, does that mean I actually get 70 minutes of break time?

Any break time you don't use gets added to your total. I think you start with 45 minutes, so the maximum is 60 if you skip the tutorial.

8. So a chunk of questions I have heard are not really part of the exam, questions they are testing for future years ... my questions is are these all in one and the same of the seven sections of the exam, or are they dispersed throughout all seven sections?

I don't think anyone really knows, though many have speculated.

9. How do you know how much break time you have left? Do you just have to bring a wrist watch or something?

The computer tells you every time you complete a block.

10. How are people using the tutorial time, I heard some people just use it for testing the headphones/audio - is this what you would suggest?

Yes.

11. Did anyone have problems with audio, any malfunctioning during their exam?

No.

13. Are we allowed to go to our car to eat between sections?

Sure, but that'd take too much time. Bring in anything you might want -- I think most prometric centers have lockers, fridge, microwave.


14. Is it typically within 3 weeks that we get our scores back?[/QUOTE]

Yes, usually on the third Wednesday after your exam.

 

[HeyThereJude]

Thank you 🙂, does anyone else know any of the answers? Thank you in advance!

 

[HeyThereJude]

Hey everyone ... as the test is nearing just a few lingering questions / things I am still unsure about:

1. has anyone else heard about how the "fake" questions on the real exam, those questions that are being tested for future exams and will not really be part of your score? they seem very mysterious to me - how many are there - 46? are they all in one of the 7 sections, or scattered around in all 7 sections?

2. on the test day how is it picked where you sit - I was stuck right my the entrance door for the MCAT, and it bothered me since I am highly distractable 🙂

3. Is the practice section that we can pay to take at the exam center the same questions as the free 150 questions offered by NBME online?

4. Do any of the NBME exams that are offered have answers/descriptions following the exam? is there anywhere to find such answers?

5. If someone were to take the test on a Tuesday, does that mean they would get the results on the Wednesday 2 weeks and 1 day later? (they say 3 Wednesdays after your exam is when you get the results)

6. Any other helpful suggestions/things you wish you would have known/done about scheduling/seating/test centers/using break time ... all advice is really appreciated!

 

[Transposony]

I have one question only:
Does anyone knows that you have to confirm the test date with the Prometric as mentioned at the time of booking?
Thanks

 

[Valadi]

I have one question only:
Does anyone knows that you have to confirm the test date with the Prometric as mentioned at the time of booking?
Thanks

You can call your site ahead of time. You can also go on the examinee.nbme.org website and it will list your date/time/site.

"1. has anyone else heard about how the "fake" questions on the real exam, those questions that are being tested for future exams and will not really be part of your score? they seem very mysterious to me - how many are there - 46? are they all in one of the 7 sections, or scattered around in all 7 sections?"

As far as I know, we just don't know how they do it. You can't try and game the usmle on this, so I wouldn't bother worrying about it! 🙂


2. on the test day how is it picked where you sit - I was stuck right my the entrance door for the MCAT, and it bothered me since I am highly distractable

They just seat you. If you have a real problem being next to a door or something state it -ahead of time- Never heard this brought up before so unsure if they'll be able to accommodate.

3. Is the practice section that we can pay to take at the exam center the same questions as the free 150 questions offered by NBME online?

You can do a practice sit-in, but I'm pretty sure it's not the 150 online.

4. Do any of the NBME exams that are offered have answers/descriptions following the exam? is there anywhere to find such answers?

I didn't do the NBME exams for exactly this reason. Unless you're in a position to be able to postpone you're test if you're not doing as well as you'd like then I think they're not worth it.

5. If someone were to take the test on a Tuesday, does that mean they would get the results on the Wednesday 2 weeks and 1 day later? (they say 3 Wednesdays after your exam is when you get the results)

I think you're over-thinking this.

6. Any other helpful suggestions/things you wish you would have known/done about scheduling/seating/test centers/using break time ... all advice is really appreciated!

Reeeelax about the little details. Focus on the big picture and learning the material. Be confident in your preparation and you will do well.

I generally don't recommend the pre-exam sit-in to see how everything works, but I think it might really benefit you. I've only been to 3 or 4 prometric test centers, but all were relaxed and friendly.

Good luck!

 

[Transposony]

You can call your site ahead of time. You can also go on the examinee.nbme.org website and it will list your date/time/site.

Thanks for responding.
However, I was asking if it is necessary to do it as compared to how to do it. If I don't "confirm" it then will I lose my spot ?

 

[Valadi]

Thanks for responding.
However, I was asking if it is necessary to do it as compared to how to do it. If I don't "confirm" it then will I lose my spot ?

It's not necessary. Once you register online you're good to go.

 

[Transposony]

It's not necessary. Once you register online you're good to go.

Thanks🙂