I wondered the same thing. However, having just taken one of the $45 tests after taking the free 150 question one I can say that the free one is too easy. For the life of me I cannot fathom why the USMLE people would distribute a practice examination designed to give its test takers a false sense of security. My opinion, however, is that is precisely what they have done. The 150 free question test is about 1 step less "detailed" than the $45 tests are (which are, themselves, about 1 step to 1.5 steps less detailed than the Q-bank questions).
My biggest problem at this point is not knowing what else to study. I still have about 2.5 weeks before my examination. The general pattern has been that a concerted week of studying between practice tests raises scores about 20 points (which would put me just a bit above my goal), but I feel like none of the resources I have contain the information to get me the rest of the way. I don't feel like any of the questions I missed on NBME #1 (the first $45 test) were addressed in either FA or BRS Path. Maybe I'm wrong about that, I hope so.
So here's the question: For those of you who posted improvements between practice tests, what did you use to study to make those improvements?
Judd
