USMLE Practice Exam vs. NBME Self Assessments

[MNDOC31]

I was wondering if people have taken both and can provide feedback on them. I've heard alot of great things about the NBME exams and was wondering if they use the same questions as the USMLE practice test? Has anyone done the USMLE practice test and care to comment on what they thought of it? Thanks.

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[ginger60]

Maybe I'm the only one confused here, but what do you mean by USMLE practice test? Are you referring to the 150 released questions, or to the test you can take at a prometric center (which is just an NBME exam I think), or what?

 

[MNDOC31]

Maybe I'm the only one confused here, but what do you mean by USMLE practice test? Are you referring to the 150 released questions, or to the test you can take at a prometric center (which is just an NBME exam I think), or what?

Sorry for the confusion. I meant the one you can take at the prometric center. Is it truly just another NBME exam or is it different? If it is an NBME exam, does anyone know if it's different from the other ones you can purchase?

 

[UTKB]

I think the practice USMLE you take at Prometric is just the 150 released items. From what I hear, the idea behind it is that you go to Prometric to get a feel for what exam day is like. I don't think it's another NBME exam, but I think you can take NBME exams at Prometric also.

 

[ginger60]

I think the practice USMLE you take at Prometric is just the 150 released items. From what I hear, the idea behind it is that you go to Prometric to get a feel for what exam day is like. I don't think it's another NBME exam, but I think you can take NBME exams at Prometric also.

I didn't take the practice test at a prometric center, I'm guessing its either an NBME or the 150 released items as UTKB suggested. You could probably call the center to find that out. Either way, you should do both the released qs and a few NBMEs, on your own time or at the center (which I think would be a waste of money if its just the 150 released questions).

 

[MNDOC31]

Thanks. I looked into it and indeed it is the same as the 150 ? sample test material. I guess it is not a great deal other than just to get familiar with the testing facility.

From their site: "The Practice Sessions use the same sample test materials that are available on the USMLE website or on the USMLE Orientation CD; however, they do not include any multimedia items. NO NEW SAMPLE TEST MATERIALS ARE PRESENTED AT PRACTICE SESSIONS."

 

[Teejay]

So one can't take the NBME's in prometric? That kinda sucks because i just registered for the practice with hopes of taking form 3 over there. Can one specifically request to take any of the forms in prometric?

 

[doctorp82]

So one can't take the NBME's in prometric? That kinda sucks because i just registered for the practice with hopes of taking form 3 over there. Can one specifically request to take any of the forms in prometric?

Classmate of mine was saying he asked about this, and they said the only do the 150 items.

Having done form 2 and the released items, I realize that the NBME forms aren't in the same test-taking format as the CBT interface you use for the released 150. I'm guessing that if they had meant for the NBME's to be taken at Prometric centers, they'd make them compatible with the same testing format.