Well, I got my results this weekend. This is the second time I took the step 1. First time I got a 162. This time I got a 181. Should I try this thing again? My parents are telling me to give up and move on. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I took the NBME 1 and 2, and I got a 410 and 450 respectively. Which is why I thought I was ready to take the real thing but apparently I wasn't. I'm really depressed!

your NBME scores are good. did you ever ans NBME questions posted on the forum or anywhere else that may have been part of the NBME 1 or 2 prior to taking the NBME. b/c that may have given you a false indicator by increasing your NBME score. I have noticed people post them on the site and work through them but that is not good for those who want to take the NBME. its great for those who already took it.
did you do qbank? if not u should do that this time for sure. if u did do the qbank where ur scores high on that as well b/c then that just shows that u had a really hard exam. i would not give up, u need to just review one more time, do questions, questions, questions and write it soon.
good luck

Don't give up! you were so close to passing this time. I say keep reviewing,do tons and tons of questions and take it soon! Because the information is still fresh in your brain. I'm very surprised that you failed with good nbme scores..did you ever see the questions before on these forums and go over the answers before you took the exam? Because that could be a false prediction then. Let me know...
But DON'T GIVE UP! You are so close to your TARGET!!!!!
GOOD LUCK STUDYING!!!!
"There might be obstacles in life..but always keep your Faith In God and you will ALWAYS overcome the obstacles!"

Thanks for your words of encouragement. I did not look at NBME questions before. I took NBME 1 before my first step 1 exam, and back then I received 350 I think ( i don't remember exactly). I did a review course for my second step 1 exam, and then took the NBMEs (Took NBME 1 at the end of the course, and took NBME 2 after four weeks of studying myself). I had not seen the questions before on NBME 2. I did do qbank. My average after all the questions were done was 71%. I did random 50 question tests all the way through. I worked so hard, and I just don't know if I can work that hard. Plus the negative atmosphere at home is not helping!

I took the exam 1.5 weeks after my second NBME. Naturally I thought my score would go up on the exam itself not down!

But thanks for the encouragement.

Dont be discouraged. I also got 181 on my second try. I found the second time that the exam was a lot more clinically based. So using Clinical Qs may be the way to prepare. Also if I could do it all over again I would do a review course with Falcon Review (www.falconreviews.com). As well as the books and instruction, they provide a lot of tutoring opportunities, over 15,000 questions and room and board to boot all for $4000. Check them out.

As for pressure from your family. They really dont understand how this exam is becoming more difficulty. So keep your chin up and try it at least one more time now focusing on lots of clinical questions.

My dear friend

you are saying that the first time you fail with 162, then you prepare your self and took the test and you got a 181 that is a 74 in 2 digit score and for only one point you failed, that means that next time you will pass, as you can see you where very close and improve a lot your grade.

So keep it up, I know you will feel down and your family may not understand because this is not the same test people took in the late 90 now is very very very hard and you improve. so take a little break relax and you willsee you will

SURVIVE

__________________
Moderator: USMLE AND Residency Forums.

Your best friend will die, we can go to war tomorrow, don't care about those things anymore just study.

Some day I will be the next Goljan/Daugherty/fissher for IMG's all over the world.

I am still an undergrad so those scores your got... I don't know if its passing or not. But please don't give up. You have gone a long way and I am sure that if you don't give up. You will pass it.

__________________
CYL, Compassion MD
"Study til my eye bleeds"


ValueMD Member [11.21.2005]
Sint Eustatius Forum Moderator [10.4.2008]

Please don't give up!

You will surely make it next time.

__________________
Something that bothers you, just flush it off and wipe the remaining patiently. RS-Stanislas

don't give up....keep trying!!!
wishing you all the best!!!

Wow, thanks so much for all the support. I really do hear you guys. It's just that the task is just so overwhelming. I was trying to look at my notes and stuff and the thing is I know this pooh pooh so well. I've gone through these notes like 50 times. I know them by heart. It's just so disheartening to do it all over again.

How could I have gotten a hard test you know when all the tests are of equal difficulty? I don't know, and what are the chances of me not getting a hard test again? One stupid question and I wouldn't be in this situation again. It's just so darn discouraging.