Wide Variability Between NBMEs?

[silvermuse]

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I took NBME 15 yesterday - got 43 wrong - which predicts ~220 Step 1 score.
I took NBME 12 today and got 19 wrong - which predicts ~250 Step 1 score.
For reference, I still have to take NBME 13. 6,7, 11 were taken off-line earlier and ranged from ~227-235.

Did anyone else get such wide variability in their NBME right before taking Step 1? I take the exam this Friday and am not sure what to think. Generally the NBMEs seem very predictable, but this variability makes it difficult for me to get an idea of what I should expect.

Thanks!

 

[Zuhal]

Only you can answer this question I think. Why did you get more questions wrong on NBME 15? Was it because the questions were harder? You weren't paying attention as much? Were you tired on that day? etc.
Also, I know you took them off-line (btw, I strongly recommend that you take one online), when you went over your wrongs, were they mostly from a specific organ system/topic? how did they compare to the wrongs from NBME 12? Often times after taking an NBME that, say, highlights cardiology as your weakest area, you start working on cardio and ignore other subjects and now those other subjects that were previously your strongest areas become weakest areas. Repetition is key.

 

[silvermuse]

Thanks for your response. I did take 15 online btw. I felt it was more difficult than 12 by far, lots more questions where you had to interpret the data rather than just knowing which antibiotic to use for which disease. In terms of weakness, the areas are similar between the 2 exams - biochem, anatomy, and cardio. I think the main difference is that 12 just seemed a lot easier in terms of questions. Reading other threads it seems that 15 is more similar to the current exam, so I'm definitely going to try to review a lot this last week. Thanks again!

 

[Zuhal]

Thanks for your response. I did take 15 online btw. I felt it was more difficult than 12 by far, lots more questions where you had to interpret the data rather than just knowing which antibiotic to use for which disease. In terms of weakness, the areas are similar between the 2 exams - biochem, anatomy, and cardio. I think the main difference is that 12 just seemed a lot easier in terms of questions. Reading other threads it seems that 15 is more similar to the current exam, so I'm definitely going to try to review a lot this last week. Thanks again!

I disagree but everyone's test is different. My test was NOTHING like NBME 15 or 12 for that matter. Focus on your weak areas. Anatomy is slowly becoming a big topic on the test as the examiners are starting to realize that this is one of those subjects that can truly distinguish btw a 260 student and a 250 student.
Good luck!