If you need additional help with your Step 1 preparation, consider meeting with a tutor.So you have scheduled Step 3 and created your study plan for the multiple choice. However, all of the CBSSAs and UWSAs are good resources, and taking multiple practice exams will give you a good idea about your likelihood of passing Step 1. If you are struggling to decide which practice exams you should take, read my other article ( NBME 25- NBME 30: Which is the best predictor for passing step 1). However, it is a good idea to give yourself at least a few days between your last practice exam and your test day to avoid extra anxiety and burnout for the exam. You can leave yourself some time to take an additional practice exam early in week 5. Obviously, the more practice exams you can take and pass, the better chance of success you will have on Step 1.įor a 5-week dedicated period, a good basic schedule would be to take one practice exam at the ends of weeks 2, 3, 4, and 5. For most students, your plan should include a minimum of three total practice exams. Check out our 10-week and 5-week study schedules to help you get started. Based on this practice exam, you should now create a study schedule for the rest of your dedicated period. Thoroughly review your first NBME practice exam and understand your score report. Incorporating Practice Exams into Your Study Schedule It can also help you identify whether you might need additional help from a USMLE Step 1 tutor and give you time to arrange one. It will give you an idea of where you stand as well as inform you which subjects you should focus more time studying. It’s perfectly ok if you don’t quite feel “ready” to take a practice exam yet! This exam will give you a baseline of your performance. So how do you decide which exams to take and when? First, you should take one CBBSA at the very beginning of your dedicated study period. Which Practice Exams Should You Take for USMLE Step 1? This leaves you with a total of eight high-quality practice exams that you can use in your Step 1 preparation. In addition to the CBSSAs practice exams offered by the NBME, UWorld also has two self-assessments (UWSAs) that are included with your subscription. I recommend that students use the standard pacing option to simulate real testing conditions. You can choose to take the exam at standard pacing, where you will have one hour and 15 minutes for each section, or self-pacing, where you will have 5 hours for each section. This makes them a great predictor for USMLE Step 1 performance.Įach form has a total of 200 questions split into four sections of 50 questions. These forms are frequently updated and reflect similar question style and content to what you will see on the real exam. But your medical school may provide vouchers to take one or more of these exams. They are called Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessments or CBSSAs. The NBME (National Board of Medical Examiners) currently has six practice exam forms available for purchase for Step 1. Using the Old NBME Exam Forms Before They Are ‘Retired’ What USMLE Step 1 Practice Exams are Available? Before we talk in more detail about when to take the exams, let’s discuss what practice exams are available to you. If you incorporate practice exams early and make them an integral part of your USMLE Step 1 study plan, you can keep yourself on track for success on Step 1. Some students put off taking a practice exam so they can focus on content review. Many students think they need to save all practice exams for the last weeks or days before their test date. There are also many common misconceptions about when to take practice exams during your dedicated period of exam preparation. They can help you assess your own readiness to pass your exam, identify knowledge gaps and areas for further study, and give you exposure to the types of questions you will see in Step 1. Practice NBME exams are undoubtedly one of the most useful and important resources you will use in your Step 1 preparation. Deciding when to take practice exams is a dilemma that many students face when preparing for USMLE Step 1.
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