Step 1 Much Higher Score Needed

[compatibleWLife]

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Hey guys. I'm reaching out for some advice. I am at the end of my rope. I am not sure what to do...🙁
I KNOW I am after a competitive residency, ENT to be exact.

I've delayed my test 4 weeks and stayed at exactly the same NBME score. To my credit, the subject bars did move to the right and out of the danger zone. But, I am honestly unsure about what it truly takes to break through to a better score. I've been sticking with BRS Phys, Path, FA, Goljan Audio & UW.

My exam is on 6/23 and I am just exhausted. I am disciplined and study non-stop, but I guess I am doing all the wrong things. I get 60% on UW, and always 10% above average there.

As part of the combined med-school/science program I am in right now, I have to be in research for a year (or more, but I'm choosing to go with only a year) between MS-II & III. So, I do have a choice of taking the exam later.

The school admin is going to be angry if I do take it later, since everyone takes it early and gets it over with; but regardless we have to take the exam before we start rotations. Obviously the earlier the better, since info is fresh. Every time I turn to her for advice, she tells me to go ahead and get it over with. That just doesn't feel right.

Should I take it now, or delay it and figure out how to get a better score.
My scores are:
NMBE 1 (2/28) (w/no studying): 154
NMBE 5 (4/15): 178
NMBE 2 (5/23): 211
NBME 3 (6/16): 211

Is there anyone out there who improved their score dramatically with a proven strategy?

Please help.

I am truly thankful for any advice.

compatibleWLife

 

[MystikBliss]

honestly, me and some friends are having the same problem. my advice is to cram like mad, do more questions and take the exam. for some reason, nmbe tests work for some and not others. some ppl say they are really close to their boards scores and others say different

 

[hippocampus]

just take the test. u dont know what type of questions ur going to get. i dont think the nbme scores mean anything. mine were up and down. i really doubt theyll predict my score. it'll probably be lower...? i think in the end, it's all about how lucky you are.... and i have crappy luck. in my exam, for example, i was able to answer a question correctly because i heard about that topic 2 years ago.
i extended my exam date and i regret it. had i taken it during my original date, i would have done better or the same. there was nothing i could have done to improve within the time i extended it

 

[GynGuy1983]

I'm in a similar boat, I've remained somewhat stagnant in my scores lately, but my studying has been waning 🙁 The fatigue is starting to set in, but I want to conserve my energy for one last big push before the exam.

Maybe if you were to go over more Pharm, Micro, Neuro, and other straightforward HY info, you might be able to push up your score a little just based on some one line questions. My scores have been improving only because I'm starting to put it all together and have been trying to make connections with everything. Keep your head up! Don't lose hope and keep doing questions!

 

[lord_jeebus]

I would guess you've reached the ceiling for what you can achieve with cramming in the next few weeks. The way I see it, there's an upper limit to what can be achieved that is determined by your learning over the past 2 years - the strategies we discuss here only help you get as close to that as possible. With your resources I'm guessing you're near that limit.

But because you have the option for an extra year of prep during a research period, I think you should go for that, and really cover each subject in depth to raise your scoring potential.

 

[Instatewaiter]

For anyone whose studying waning think about taking either a day off or taking a full evening off and getting a bunch of rest. Its a hard thing to do but if you are being unproductive its a good idea and will help you prevent burn out.

OP, I agree with gynguy, do some review of high yield subjects and then see where you stand.

Also what sources are you using? Just FA? FA and Goljian?

 

[compatibleWLife]

For anyone whose studying waning think about taking either a day off or taking a full evening off and getting a bunch of rest. Its a hard thing to do but if you are being unproductive its a good idea and will help you prevent burn out.

OP, I agree with gynguy, do some review of high yield subjects and then see where you stand.

Also what sources are you using? Just FA? FA and Goljian?

Thanks everyone. I truly appreciate it.
I am using FA, BRS Phys & Path, Goljan audio lectures & UW.

Many told me that NBME 3 is actually most difficult.
At any rate, I've decided to take the UW Self Assessment to further understand my performance. I think in the very end, I will take the exam on 6/23, unless my performance on UW Self Assessment is dismal.

If I have learned anything here, it is that there is a true need for correlating one's performance with a personalized strategy for doing better. Mere red/green bars just won't do it! This is an opportunity awaiting capitalization my friends.

I realize that one's potential is limited by inherent personal abilities, but I know from true experience that using the right strategy is key. In fact, I enhanced my MCAT score by 10 points, by getting a stop-watch AND stopping to use Kaplan.

I'll keep you guys posted..

 

[compatibleWLife]

Ok, guys. UW self assessment stands at 221. An ego booster.. for now.

I am making the executive decision to take more time in order to kill this mother of an exam. I know in my heart of hearts that this score is not indicative of my potential.

In analyzing my performance, I've noticed that on MANY questions I get my choices down to 2 because I am unsure of the basics. This just won't do, I MUST BE SURE OF THE ESSENTIALS.

My goal is a 240, and by God I will get my 240, and I will write a book about how I did it.

 

[hippocampus]

UW self assessment is a piece of cr*p.. i scored a 258 on that cr*p... will i even pass the real thing? I dont even know! i cry everyday!!

take the nbme practice tests... i think it will predict your score better

 

[compatibleWLife]

UW self assessment is a piece of cr*p.. i scored a 258 on that cr*p... will i even pass the real thing? I dont even know! i cry everyday!!

take the nbme practice tests... i think it will predict your score better

hippocampus, for sure nbme is the only prognostic measure. speaking of the hippocampus, though, i saw an article today about a small (http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/abstract/192/6/472) study indicating that a "small hippocampus volume may predict depression relapse among men." um, thought you'd want to know. 🙂

 

[VPDcurt]

"small ______________ may predict depression relapse among men."

Interesting. If I saw a blank there, I would definitely not fill it in with hippocampus.

 

[Hassler]

UW self assessment is a piece of cr*p.. i scored a 258 on that cr*p... will i even pass the real thing? I dont even know! i cry everyday!!

take the nbme practice tests... i think it will predict your score better

True... but that was the exact reason I took it: to boost my confidence level a little lol

To the OP: I have similar practice exam scores as you, and my strategy now is stay away from NBME's or even qbank practices and focus on cramming those random facts from First Aid. What I really need right now is a positive attitude for this final week and not things that get me demoralized.

I'm taking it on 6/23 too. Good luck to us all.

 

[GynGuy1983]

Interesting. If I saw a blank there, I would definitely not fill it in with hippocampus.

😛 I literally LOL.

 

[LUBDUBB]

Ok, guys. UW self assessment stands at 221. An ego booster.. for now.

I am making the executive decision to take more time in order to kill this mother of an exam. I know in my heart of hearts that this score is not indicative of my potential.

In analyzing my performance, I've noticed that on MANY questions I get my choices down to 2 because I am unsure of the basics. This just won't do, I MUST BE SURE OF THE ESSENTIALS.

My goal is a 240, and by God I will get my 240, and I will write a book about how I did it.

Good call! While we will never ever feel totally confident walking into the exam, at least you want to feel as if you've done everything possible and that you've hit your intellectual ceiling. You know yourself best. NO regrets 👍

 

[logical44]

I am looking for the same kind of solution as well . Just need to get a higher score on the NMBEs

 

[LUBDUBB]

I am looking for the same kind of solution as well . Just need to get a higher score on the NMBEs

I second that. I'm trying to see if I can delay it another four weeks. BrisketAttack's post really freaked me out.

 

[VPDcurt]

I second that. I'm trying to see if I can delay it another four weeks. Brisketbasket's post really freaked me out.

who is this elusive Brisketbasket you speak of?

 

[BrisketAttack]

i'm sorry if my comments freaked people out. I was not in the right frame of mind after finsihing the test and probably should not have posted. i am sorry for that. please take those comments with a grain of salt. i just posted a detailed experience in the main thread, which i feel is more accurate. again, i'm very sorry if my comments worried people. i know how intense this whole process is, and the last thing i want to do is undermine somebody's progress. step 1 is hard, but it's not unmanagable.

 

[LUBDUBB]

i'm sorry if my comments freaked people out. I was not in the right frame of mind after finsihing the test and probably should not have posted. i am sorry for that. please take those comments with a grain of salt. i just posted a detailed experience in the main thread, which i feel is more accurate. again, i'm very sorry if my comments worried people. i know how intense this whole process is, and the last thing i want to do is undermine somebody's progress. step 1 is hard, but it's not unmanagable.

Brisket,

No need for apologies. Your posts gave me a very well needed reality check! It made me realize that the chances of me walking into the exam and getting recog/recall questions a la NBME are probably very low. All this time I was hoping that I would "magically" get "pick and click" questions about concepts that were familiary to me. Today I realized that I really don't know my stuff as well as I could and as well as I need to (I'm an Ophtho weasel). I'm glad you were open about your prep/test taking experience/practice test scores - I think it was an eye-opener and woke me up from my semi-lucid dream in which I falsly cling to NBME 3 for reassurance, all the while knowing in the back of my mind that I don't know squat about Molecular Bio. So in reality, you probably just saved a good few points. Especially, after the idea of burning out after 250q's, I'll probably crank a few 350 straight up blocks of UWorld, for stamina building. Thanks for your all your advice, including yourpost today too, I just read it.

Best of luck 👍

 

[medstylee]

a message to everyone who is freaking out. if there's one thing i learned from studying and then freaking out and then finally taking step 1 (yesterday), it's that we all know a lot more than we think. i was freaking out big time yesterday morning because i had so many things racing through my head and i was sure i didn't know this and that... but when you sit down to take the test, you recognize a lot of the stuff. it's easier to think about the things you don't know as opposed to the things you do know (which is a lot more). part of being successful on the exam is having some confidence in your knowledge. anyway, hopefully that is in someway helpful/reassuring. best of luck to everyone who will be taking the exam soon.

 

[DwyaneWade]

I second that. I'm trying to see if I can delay it another four weeks. BrisketAttack's post really freaked me out.

What the post where he moaned about how he didn't do as well as his 263 NBME and he was going to miss out on his derm residency spot?

 

[LUBDUBB]

What the post where he moaned about how he didn't do as well as his 263 NBME and he was going to miss out on his derm residency spot?

Yes.