Kirst
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 6
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Hi everyone,
I was averaging 50-60% on Kaplan Qbank so I thought I was at least at a passing level- until I took NBME 1 yesterday and was devastated to score 280/157.
My exam is in exactly 3 weeks and I'm at the end of my extended eligibility period. If I cancel and reregister to write the exam later this year, I know matching next March is pretty much out of the question.
Well for some reason I'm convinced that I can pull this off if I really make the most out of the next 3 weeks, but I need your advises as to if I'm being reasonable or just plain delusional.
I was surprised that I scored only 280/157 on NBME1... Well I was lying on my bed yawning away as I mindlessly clicked the mouse, and yes I finished the 4 blocks without a break in 2 hours, but I don't think that had much to do with the score. Maybe I'm a lot stupider than I thought!
Has anyone been in a similar situation? I know that NBME is so accurate of a predictor that it'll miss the actual score by maximum +/- 10 points. So accordingly I'm definitely going to fail this exam, and pretty miserably too at best. I just don't know how I managed to average 58% on Qbank (random block of 50, first time, 60% completed).
God I hope there is someone out there who bombed NMBE relatively close to the exam date, but managed to get by with a decent pass...
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| study_ing
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 180
Posts: 2,511
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the decisision i leave to u but it should be your own...
consider the following factors
u urself pointed out u were not taking the exam seriously....if u cud find some other test, ( and cud we have some advise on that please) properly maybe u wud have a better idea.
where were u wrong...was it factual mistakes, problems in recalling information, the thinking process or simply overlooking details...the latter is a possibility cause u never took a break..if there were facts u didd not know...was it familiar stuff, lack of basic concepts, or the harder detailed stuff...u shud have an apprximate idea about the volume u have to cover IN 2 weeks...if ur exam is in 3..remember hard work can beat anything and the capacity for it increases exponentiallybefore the exam (its human u know) ...keeping ur prior academic experiences in mind judge urself. at this point near the exam it is normal to feel u dont know anything...but is it always that way with u. ( i always feel i cant do it and my mind goes blank but now i know its a habit for me..
PLEASE post some difficult conceptual questions on the forum and ask someone to explain them to u. mean while study the factual stuff. that will also give u an idea of how much u can cover
good luck. i hope this is just a normal stage of panic for u and u take ur exam on time but if u seriously believe cancelling the exam is a better option, its YOUR decision. noone can judge or help u better than urself
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If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least some peace in the world.
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,174
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if you were scoring an average of 50 -60 with qbank PER block of questions ( not overall) you were not scoring up to average. it is possible for you to score over 80% in some and less than 50% in some. you get low scores if you have not read enough. so if you were having 50 -60 per block, hmmm. it appears like you have not mastered the concept well enough. step up your studies and try NBME 2 in a couple weeks and if it is not good enough, you may want to consider cancelling and paying extra. no use not scoring high cos the programme directors like a first time pass.
GL
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| Kirst
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 6
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I completed 61% of the Kaplan Qbank and my average is 58%- I did them in random timed blocks on all subjects of unused questions, scoring as low as 42% and as high as 78% but mostly between 50-60%.
Anyway I just did the USMLE CD and scored 66%...
3 weeks left, with 58% on Qbank, 66% on USMLE CD, and 280/157 on NBME 1... I'm just looking for a pass, I already have a prematch offer in primary care medicine and all I need to do is get by on first attempt. Probably this cushion brought out the worst in me, aiming for the lowest, but regardless now I'm down to the last 3 weeks at the end of my already extended eligibility period and I don't know from these predictors if I'll be able to scrape through or if I'm just walking straight off the cliff!
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,174
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lucky you kirst with a prematch offer!!!! well, i think you will scale through and may even score higher than you expect!
GOOD LUCK.
___________________
It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| Kirst
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 6
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Thank you for your feedbacks,
As far as prematch is concerned, they are quite commonly offered especially in primary care. I'm in Internal Medicine and my program matched about 1/3 of its positions before September, and they say they match about another 1/3 during the interview and only the remaining 1/3 are matched through NRMP in March.
If you're doing a rotation in a hospital with a program you like, it's worthwhile to go that extra mile and make an impression, you'll be surprised how many times you'll be approached. I'm not a USIMG so I needed a visa. My program offered H1B so I signed the papers on the spot!
But I need to pass this damn exam first...
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