step 1 grading question

[r_dubbs]

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First of all wanted to thank you guys for the helpful advice on this website...I've been lurking for quite awhile and have found a lot of great information here (thanks especially to Big Frank, Idiopathic, Jalby -wherever you are, and many others)

I just finished the beast and will post my take on the test, strategy, books used etc. when I get my scores (then you'll know if my advice is worth anything)

In the meantime, I was wondering if anyone knows (or rather hypothesizes since I don't think anyone knows) if the date when we took the test possibly affects the scoring...i.e, are we essentially thrown on a curve against people who took the test within the same 4 week period as us or are we compared on a broader scale (i.e., test takers within the last year)

I ask because it donned on me that the relatively small number of med schools who finish their first two years of preclinical classwork earlier than others would essentially compete against each other, if the grading only covers a month long period.

Thanks for shedding any light. I realize this is completely irrelevant to anybody's score but I was curious and bored so I thought I'd ask

Good luck to those still studying... I promise to post my insights shortly to hopefully return some of the SDN love 😍

 

[Linus2807]

sorry i have no answer for your topic...but i thought i would ask what you thought of the test, harder than expected/easier...thanks...i take the test saturday

 

[north2southOMFS]

Yes, having taken the test on the 2nd of this month, who are we graded against? Cause if its me vs. R_Dubbs and Automaton and the others who just took it I may be in some trouble. 😉

 

[r_dubbs]

sorry i have no answer for your topic...but i thought i would ask what you thought of the test, harder than expected/easier...thanks...i take the test saturday

I'd say it's what I expected...I took form A of the NBME practice tests and while the questions were definitely different in terms of content I felt the difficulty was similar (I'm talking about the $45 thing)... in my opinion the questions were, in general, easier than Qbank questions - I think Qbank (mixed sets of 50 with a time limit) is an invaluable tool especially if used over a couple of months so that you can really learn from the questions. However, I also used it in the last days leading up to the test to target areas where I was specifically weak.

My best advice since you're down to the last few days is to do whatever will get you in a confident frame of mind...whether that's studying like mad 12 hours per day up until saturday or watching baywatch reruns...think good thoughts going into it (if you're prepared the only thing that will mess you up is getting too nervous)

best of luck...there are few things as nice as driving down the street with prometric in the rear view mirror

 

[north2southOMFS]

best of luck...there are few things as nice as driving down the street with prometric in the rear view mirror

Amen.

 

[Linus2807]

i finished q bank 2 weeks ago and averaged 71%
the first nbme about a month ago --510
second nbme past saturday -- 600
so hopefully i am prepared enough...i am scanning through first aid and my own personal notes everyday until saturday....hopefully it will be enough
thanks for the reply