what NBME test is best for diagnostic before studying?

[MyNameIsAlex]

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Hey, im planning to stake the step in June, about to start studying, i want to take a diagnostic test to see where i stand, i went online and signed up at that nbme thing and it gave me 7 different tests as an option to buy,...which one is the best for diagnostic before studying? and which ones are good to do throught studying...?

thanks in advance 😉

 

[kenyaxxx]

bump.

i'm in the same boat. i heard that some are harder than others. any opinions?

 

[gluon999]

I remember reading last year that some of those NBME exams such as 5 and 6 were pretty spot on for people. Personally, I scored the same on both exams one and two weeks prior to the Step 1. And both of them underestimated my score by 18 points. So I guess I can't complain too much.

I'd say use to them (1) to gauge whether you are in your target score, or at least close to it, (2) identify your weak points and focus on them in the last week or so, and if you do that, who knows, your score may jump 18 points too!👍

 

[Instatewaiter]

We're told by our school to take NBME 1 or 2 as a baseline, use NBME #3 mid studying and the Free 150 1 week before the real deal.

 

[rabbitsfeet777]

I actually started with NBME 4 and plan on taking 5 midway through. Then 6 about 1.5 weeks before the real deal.

How do these compare to the actual test?

 

[Mortal_Lessons]

We take form 3 near the end of the school year as a class. We were told that 1 and 2 aren't very reliable, and given that there are 6 total, beginning at 3 and moving up seems reasonable.

 

[kenyaxxx]

So there is no consensus... lol

 

[spospo]

since we don't have class on friday, i am going to take one of the NBMEs. i'm thinking......form 3 or 4. I have 'studied' but not hard core anything. i am still using this as a baseline before my 4.5 weeks of devoted study time

not sure on the form choice. from what i read, it sounds like either of these will approximate my current position relatively well. right? any other opinions out there?

 

[cgscribe]

There's definitely no consensus here so..grain of salt on this. Plus, I haven't gotten my score back yet. But through the grape vine I heard that 3 was very predictive and should be used towards the end, and that 5/6 were also solid.

 

[spospo]

thanks so much. maybe i'll take 5 or 6 tomorrow then. i'll probably only take 1 more NBME after that, and maybe I'll make that one 3. thanks!

 

[MedLover25]

They all correlate. They have to.

Until at least, I don't know, 400-1000 people take Forms 1-6 within a week's time of their exam - and after seeing which one happened to correlate the most, and then matching it to everyone else.........

They all correlate

 

[cgscribe]

I agree with above posted, they should all be fairly solid predictors and doubt you can really go wrong with any (so if you hear differently, I'd just go with whatever you feel best about). My word of mouth was that 3 was really good predictor and 5/6.