[Zein]

Guys, I think I need as much opinions as I can get..

My exam is 1 week away, I am cramming through FA and a few weak spots. It all started one week ago when I decided to take UWSA-1 to test my status now that Qbanks were nearly done..it came 540/229..so I felt good and decided to take an NBME...
The next day I took NBME-7 and I was really disappointed, 490/220..I decided to take another one 3 days later while reviewing FA, and I was punished by NBME-5 480/218..
So I decided to take a break from questions and review heavily, I reviewed only the spots defined as "weak" by all 3 tests..
Then I decided to take the next UWSA-2, it came 640/247! I felt great and decided to take NBME-4 today, but I was punished again by a 510/225..
I need all the opinions I can get guys, I am really worried and its only 7 days to go!
Thanks to everyone in advance & all the best.

 

[Haisook]

Looks like NBMEs are more accurate. After all, they're more reflective of the actual questions in the exam.

So NBME roughly predicts 500. My advice is to keep doing questions (like 1-2 blocks a day), not for gaining any new info, but to accustom your mind to it. The rest of the day read FA or your notes. Don't read new stuff. Most importantly, relax; this is a very strong weapon that you should wield.

 

[Zein]

Looks like NBMEs are more accurate....
.....So NBME roughly predicts 500.

This is really scary, 500 makes about 223...Does this mean that UWSA are worthless? Or is that my final score??

 

[Zein]

Oh I wanted to add another point, Dunno if it's relevant or not:
NBME 4 & 7 were done without reviewing, just depending upon experience from Qbanks..

 

[ashishkabir]

Wow, that is a big difference between the uwsa and nbme scores... I wonder why... when you have time later, I'd email USMLEWorld and ask them. That being said, 225 is a pretty good score too... over 95 I'd say. Still if you want to be sure, I'd take the lowest score and try to improve that...

Maybe you forgot some easy memorization things from FA, as Haisook says? Memorizing that book perfectly is the key...

 

[Haisook]

This is a confusing situation. I'm not sure, but it seems you took 2 NBMEs immediately the next day after you had taken UWSAs. May be you were exhausted?

What are your scores in the qbanks (timed, random, 1st pass)?

Can you take another NBME? If so, take NBME 6. This should provide a definite prediction since it will be the closest to the exam.

Anyway, don't panic. Your current predicted score is good.

 

[Zein]

Wow, that is a big difference between the uwsa and nbme scores... I wonder why... when you have time later, I'd email USMLEWorld and ask them. That being said, 225 is a pretty good score too... over 95 I'd say. Still if you want to be sure, I'd take the lowest score and try to improve that...

Maybe you forgot some easy memorization things from FA, as Haisook says? Memorizing that book perfectly is the key...

I think that rushing to NBMEs without any reviewing was wrong, I hope harder reviews can improve things..

This is a confusing situation. I'm not sure, but it seems you took 2 NBMEs immediately the next day after you had taken UWSAs. May be you were exhausted?

What are your scores in the qbanks (timed, random, 1st pass)?

Can you take another NBME? If so, take NBME 6. This should provide a definite prediction since it will be the closest to the exam.

Anyway, don't panic. Your current predicted score is good.

- The urge to do an NBME after I saw acceptable scores on UWSA was unbearable! I really wanted to see a good score on NBMEs to feel secure enough to continue the week, but perhaps it was really wrong to rush..
- You can't rely on my Qbanks' scores..because I was studying along with solving, I only started paying attention to scores at the last 10-15 blocks in UW , they were around 60s-70s..

So what do we deduct? Tell me what you think..

 

[Haisook]

I think that rushing to NBMEs without any reviewing was wrong, I hope harder reviews can improve things..

- The urge to do an NBME after I saw acceptable scores on UWSA was unbearable! I really wanted to see a good score on NBMEs to feel secure enough to continue the week, but perhaps it was really wrong to rush..
- You can't rely on my Qbanks' scores..because I was studying along with solving, I only started paying attention to scores at the last 10-15 blocks in UW , they were around 60s-70s..

So what do we deduct? Tell me what you think..

I'd say read FA and/or your high-yield notes till 3 days before your exam, and then take NBME 6 (keep a calculator and a sketchpad around). Still, do at least 1 block of questions everyday until then.

Good luck.

 

[Zein]

I'd say read FA and/or your high-yield notes till 3 days before your exam, and then take NBME 6 (keep a calculator and a sketchpad around). Still, do at least 1 block of questions everyday until then.

Good luck.

Tell me honestly, does it look hopeful?

 

[Haisook]

Tell me honestly, does it look hopeful?

Well, it all depends on your expectations. You seem to be unhappy with your current NBME predictions. Honestly, I can't tell if your score may rise after these 4 days of reading, but your UWSA scores were really good, so I'm thinking, why not..? May be your score will rise.

If you think your NBME scores were negatively affected by not reviewing enough or by any other cause, you should review as much as you can and take another NBME. But if you think you need more prep time, you may consider postponing your exam (given that you are NOT happy with the NBME predictions). If you're OK with those predictions, take the exam.

So in short, it all depends on what score you are looking forward to.

 

[Zein]

Well, it all depends on your expectations. You seem to be unhappy with your current NBME predictions. Honestly, I can't tell if your score may rise after these 4 days of reading, but your UWSA scores were really good, so I'm thinking, why not..? May be your score will rise.

If you think your NBME scores were negatively affected by not reviewing enough or by any other cause, you should review as much as you can and take another NBME. But if you think you need more prep time, you may consider postponing your exam (given that you are NOT happy with the NBME predictions). If you're OK with those predictions, take the exam.

So in short, it all depends on what score you are looking forward to.

My current scores don't make a 99, and between you and me, I am starting to adopt your idea of losing confidence in UWSA, you said before they were nothing like the exam, and that the exam was same difficulty (same or harder?) as NBMEs, that's why I am scared..

 

[Haisook]

My current scores don't make a 99, and between you and me, I am starting to adopt your idea of losing confidence in UWSA, you said before they were nothing like the exam, and that the exam was same difficulty (same or harder?) as NBMEs, that's why I am scared..

Hmm... so you're opting for a 99. If this is the case, I think you'll have to postpone your exam, although in general I don't recommend that. Postponing usually harms more than it helps. You'll likely forget more than you retain. Besides, you've worked hard already and have done many Qbanks and have taken many assessment tests. It's important to think logically and understand that everybody has their own limits. Not everybody can get a 99. Sometimes it gets to the point that you feel no more work can help. Do you feel this way or do you feel that if you studied more you can improve your score? Only you can decide.

P.S. The exam felt like an NBME-7 in a UW interface (FRED v2). Difficulty was more or less like it. I only took NBME-7.

 

[whocares13]

It's important to think logically and understand that everybody has their own limits. Not everybody can get a 99. Sometimes it gets to the point that you feel no more work can help. Do you feel this way or do you feel that if you studied more you can improve your score? Only you can decide.

Inspiring for me and all average students who cannot target 99 but runs in the race for high numbers.

 

[tunde michael]

@zein
I urge you to keep on.You will ace it.
Though, the golden advice is to postpone if ur NBME is not showing 99,
It seems reviewing FA improved your NBMES.
You need to keep reading FA at this point till ur exam
I will not advice postponing your exam.
all the best.