Subject NBME scores are horrible

[Iaka]

At my school we take NBME subject exams after each semester for each class. Anatomy one went well but since then it has been horrible. Not just for me, it seems like my MOST of my class did just as bad. I do well in the classes and feel like I understand the material... then i take the NBME and find out that im below 50th percent... Luckily my prof curves using our class average so I ended up doing ok. Still im VERY concerned taht this dooms me for boards next year.

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[Mr hawkings]

At my school we take NBME subject exams after each semester for each class. Anatomy one went well but since then it has been horrible. Not just for me, it seems like my MOST of my class did just as bad. I do well in the classes and feel like I understand the material... then i take the NBME and find out that im below 50th percent... Luckily my prof curves using our class average so I ended up doing ok. Still im VERY concerned taht this dooms me for boards next year.

Dont forget that the shelf reports as a percentile score. 50th percentile does not mean you only got 50% of the answers right. It means you did better than 50% of the people that took the test nationwide. Thats why your school curves it so much.
You could theoretically score an 80% and be 50th percentile so i dont think it means you are failing step 1.

The point of teh shelf is for you and your school to assess how well they are teaching you compared to others around the country and not specifically how ready you are for step1.

 

[njbmd]

At my school we take NBME subject exams after each semester for each class. Anatomy one went well but since then it has been horrible. Not just for me, it seems like my MOST of my class did just as bad. I do well in the classes and feel like I understand the material... then i take the NBME and find out that im below 50th percent... Luckily my prof curves using our class average so I ended up doing ok. Still im VERY concerned taht this dooms me for boards next year.

Use these as a guide on what you have to spend a bit of extra review time. Other than that, these scores are not particularly "predictive" of anything. Many schools use these scores as a means to change the content of their coursework in terms of specific subjects. Since Step I is integrated, a specific score in a specific subject is not too helpful other than guiding your review of that subject next year. The manner in which NBME test is different from Step I.

 

[HPSPpayissues]

At my school we take NBME subject exams after each semester for each class. Anatomy one went well but since then it has been horrible. Not just for me, it seems like my MOST of my class did just as bad. I do well in the classes and feel like I understand the material... then i take the NBME and find out that im below 50th percent... Luckily my prof curves using our class average so I ended up doing ok. Still im VERY concerned taht this dooms me for boards next year.

I thought NBME exams weren't that bad, especially if you did some practice questions from BRS or First Aid or something. If you are not getting at least 60th percentile, you are not getting the concepts. Know your concepts first before memorizing. Our class had some subject exams that were much above average, so no, not everyone does bad.

 

[HPSPpayissues]

Use these as a guide on what you have to spend a bit of extra review time. Other than that, these scores are not particularly "predictive" of anything. Many schools use these scores as a means to change the content of their coursework in terms of specific subjects. Since Step I is integrated, a specific score in a specific subject is not too helpful other than guiding your review of that subject next year. The manner in which NBME test is different from Step I.

Actually, many of NBME questions have become similar to step 1. I remember one I took last year had various clinical scenarios and some integrations (~40%). Yes, some subject exams have questions are specific to that particular area of study. However, NBME and step 1 both usually test concepts and applications more than straight facts.

 

[Mr hawkings]

I thought NBME exams weren't that bad, especially if you did some practice questions from BRS or First Aid or something. If you are not getting at least 60th percentile, you are not getting the concepts. Know your concepts first before memorizing. Our class had some subject exams that were much above average, so no, not everyone does bad.

i dont know about that

 

[MilkmanAl]

I guess 60% of med students aren't learning anything...? Yes, NBME questions are similar to Step 1 questions because they used to be Step 1 questions. Like njbmd said, unless you're just annihilating all of the exams, I would only use them to guide your studying for Step 1.

 

[MossPoh]

I thought NBME exams weren't that bad, especially if you did some practice questions from BRS or First Aid or something. If you are not getting at least 60th percentile, you are not getting the concepts. Know your concepts first before memorizing. Our class had some subject exams that were much above average, so no, not everyone does bad.

I'm not sure I believe that. It is also depends where you take the course relative to the others. The neuroscience NBME had a great deal of biochem and even pharmacology on it. I didn't take those courses yet when I took it. I found BRS questions much easier than NBME.

Not all the NBME exams are step 1 questions or are applicable to the current version of step 1. Histology is the best example of that. Most of those questions are written by actual histologist and ask rather random things that have no real relation to anything clinical.

Second year NBME exams have a much greater correlation to USMLE than step 1. Our professor actually analyzed our first year NBME percentiles and compared them to our USMLE averages. Not much significance between the two. (for the first year ones that is)

 

[umean2tellme]

Yeah I like NBME questions. My school uses them for some subjects. But at this point these aren't the hardest questions because as a first year, we haven't had all the subjects taught to us yet and the test is integrated, so they have to pick questions that reflect our level, which tend to be easier, at least imo.

I wouldn't worry too much if you're not in the 99th percentile on these exams, just see what stuff in those subjects you need to review and smash the real test when that time comes.

 

[HPSPpayissues]

I'm not sure I believe that. It is also depends where you take the course relative to the others. The neuroscience NBME had a great deal of biochem and even pharmacology on it. I didn't take those courses yet when I took it. I found BRS questions much easier than NBME.

Not all the NBME exams are step 1 questions or are applicable to the current version of step 1. Histology is the best example of that. Most of those questions are written by actual histologist and ask rather random things that have no real relation to anything clinical.

Second year NBME exams have a much greater correlation to USMLE than step 1. Our professor actually analyzed our first year NBME percentiles and compared them to our USMLE averages. Not much significance between the two. (for the first year ones that is)

Neuro, Histo, anatomy and others are not really well represented on USMLE. However, biochem and physio ones are pretty similar and they are still well represented on USMLE.

Plus, don't you learn about diseases, drugs, and physio while learning your neuro, biochem, physio or whtever? Our school had all these integrated, even though we had separate courses for each subject. Therefore, when I was taking path, I recognized 25% diseases and didn't even had to study for them... Kind of similar for pharm too...