<p>I was wondering if those of you that have already taken Step 1 what the accuracy of your practice tests were compared to your actual score? My daughter took her final NBME (?) and would be satisfied with that score so hopefully it is at least somewhat accurate. All of you that go through this whole thing are nuts!</p>
<p>Deep breaths, mom. This too shall pass.</p>
<p>(And if the deep breathing doesn’t help, consider liberal use of adult beverages.)</p>
<p>average of the NBME scores will be pretty accurate. mine average was off by 0.5</p>
<p>DS once mentioned that one of his practice test scores is close to his real one. But I have no idea which practice test he was talking about.</p>
<p>They are nuts who are greatly greatly rewarded. So, if you perform actual cost/benefit analysis, they may not be as nuts as it may look on a surface.<br>
Unfortunately, although it has been only one year, it seems like ages and I do not remember D. ever mentionning practice test scores. Her final score was in line with her plan. One thin I will never forget, because as you mentioned, it is nuts. She studied for 14 hours every day for 7.5 wekks with few scheduled days off when she did not touch her studying material at all. She said that one additional reason for that was that she had to develop brain stamina to sit thru 8 hours exam.<br>
Also, when they were taking block exams during pre-clinicals, the last exam was always a Step 1 practice test. D. has scored low on these, she said, it was not recorded anywhere, so it was no point to prepare for them, so she did not. I do not know if you meant these. If so, then D’s test scores had absolutely nothing to do with her Step 1 score.</p>
<p>Thank goodness that is done with. Now first rotation, colo-rectal surgery. Yep, fun times.</p>
<p>Except now the waiting for the scores begins! How did your D feel about the test when she finished?</p>
<p>D. always feels really bad after EVERY single test in Medical School. Next week she is taking the last 2 shelf tests (thank goodness!!!). She said that it is normal to feel bad after any tests in Med. school. </p>
<p>Just an update as to accuracy…my daughters score was 1 point off the average of her tests.</p>
<p>Congrats, GA2012MOM! I’m glad the wait is over and that your D is satisfied with her score!</p>
<p>I took the Step 1 in June and just received my score…very, very happy with it…I used the Doctors In Training program and for me it was worth the money I paid for the program–happy to be done with The Test and now enjoying the beginning of MS3 and my clinical rotations</p>
<p>^Sorry to dissapoint but MS3 is more challenging than preparing and taking Step 1, enjoy if you could…</p>
<p>Everyone has a different experience based on their perspectives. I cruised through the first 2 years only to bomb my first 2 rotations. The students who were former PAs and nurses struggled through first 2 years and aced the final 2. </p>
<p>I can’t stress enough that you need to enjoy those last 2 years and seek as many cases as possible. Don’t look for opportunities to go home early. From time to time, those valuable experiences come in handy when you are an attending. I still rely on my MS3/4 years to care for my sarcoidosis, lupus and sickle cell patients.</p>
<p>Well, as you said, everybody is different. D. did not cruised thru anything at Medical school and she did not bomb anything either. She worked extremely hard, I do not think that people outside of medicine have any idea what it is, definitely went way beyond of my expectaion of human brain stamina and capacity. On top, girls (I believe it is female thing) have to get used to everybody screaching at them, deserved or un-deserved, Med. Students are at the bottom of the food chain so to speak, every nurse is sooooo happy to finally have somebody who is below and irrelevant.<br>
One thing is still ahead, we still are to see if the goal is reached, we have to wait untill March 20, 2015 for the “judgement” day.</p>
<p>Well said! I did all of my research about medschool, I thought I was prepared for the rigor, and night one I was crying, yes crying!! But I found the recipe late in my first semester and from that point on was trouble free the first 2 years.</p>
<p>Good luck on Match Day. It is the most important day for med students. </p>
<p>Thanks,frugaldoctor! We already schduled our vacation around this day to be close for support and ready to be at D’s school if invited. </p>
<p>Until recently there was a young woman who set up shop each day at my local coffee bar surrounded by what obviously were her study guides and notes for Step 1. As the weeks went by she became progressively paler from minimal time outside and her eyes had the look of someone who was in front of a computer screen too many hours each day. It wasn’t that long ago that D was going through the pain of preparation so I remembered the look well. A few times a week when I went in to have a bite or to grab my morning coffee I would give the barista a few extra bucks and told them to cover her next drink or snack. She stopped being a regular sometime in June but we overlapped one day last week and she looked like a different human being. I got a big hug and was delighted to hear that she is happy with her score. What a road. </p>
<p>To take the above slightly on topic - D’s actual score was a couple of points lower than what she expected.</p>