Web-based NBME Subject exams and the 2-digit score

[norealname]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey everyone,
I had a question about the 2-digit scoring system on the new web-based subject nbme's. One of the people at the school's admin told me that these web-based subject exams do not offer a 3-digit score anymore and it's only gonna be 2-digits from now on. I happened to get a 73 on a neuro exam here but I have no clue what that means since I wasn't given a 3-digit equivalent. A friend of mine got a 92 so I'm pretty sure the maximum score here is a 100 or something. Does anyone know what the average and standard deviation in this new scoring system are? I've been searching everywhere online and on the nbme's website for info but I can't find any.

Cheers

 

[DrBowtie]

I can't comment exactly on this since I haven't taken these, but the clinical shelf exams are pretty much mean of 70 with std dev of 8. Might be the same scheme.

 

[siliso]

As I understand the ones I've taken, the course director selects some set of customized subject matter to make the exam, so I don't think they are nationally normed. But maybe there is also a different system?

 

[norealname]

Yea, I actually read that thing about 70 being the average on the clinical NBME shelf exams, but I'm not sure if that applies to the basic science subject nbme's.

Siliso, did you also do the exam on standard nbme platform? I don't think the professors really choose what questions to be on the exam. I'm just kind of of frustrated because I tried to ask my professor what my grade means and who wasn't willing to divulge any information except for telling me that I did well.

 

[siliso]

I looked into it a minute and I guess there are both types available - the standard packaged NBME subject exam (we took this in anatomy) and the customized NBME exam used in a couple of our other classes. But, I really don't know about national norms for the standard ones, sorry.

 

[norealname]

No problem, Thanks a lot for your input siliso.