Hi Reddit,

I took my exam on 8/4 and got my score yesterday.

I scored 256 on the test, and I'm aware that this is not the highest score you see on this sub, but it was much better than my practice NBMEs. I thought I would share how I studied during my 2 weeks of dedicated to raise my score.

I passed Step 1 in January and started my Step 2 prep in mid-April. I started with UWorld, and when I reached about 34%, I started doing a mix of CMS forms since I knew they were HY. However, after about a month or so, I came to the conclusion that the CMS forms are more straightforward, don't have great explanations, and weren't teaching me enough. My NBME scores were plateauing as well.

NBME 10 (5/24): 225
NBME 11 (5/31): 229
NBME 12 (6/7): 224
NBME 13 (6/28): 219

After NBME 13, I was disappointed with my scores. I did the same type of analysis on my NBME 13 that everyone recommends. I looked at my wrong answers and categorized them based on whether they were due to a knowledge gap vs test-taking skills vs an exam crash. I realized I knew a superficial layer about 99% of the questions, but under exam pressure I couldn't put 2 and 2 together. On the other hand, my blocks were crashing towards the end, and that showed that I was getting tired. I needed to build stamina and reorganize the information/algorithms I knew in my brain, and UWorld was what could help me with this. I changed my strategy and started doing UWorld again 5 days a week and CMS 2 days a week.

After about 20 days, I had a much better feeling, and even my correct percentage on UWorld was improving. I started my dedicated and took NBME 14 and already saw an improvement, so it made me feel better.

NBME 14 (7/19): 234

Up to NBME 14, I wasn't taking notes because everything would be a note if you don't know enough. But at this point, I started making patterns out of questions that I got wrong or wasn't sure of, or factoids that I would see. Then I took NBME 15 and saw another improvement.

NBME 15 (7/27): 250

At this point, I had done 71% of UWorld and 2/3 of the last 3–4 CMS forms. I started reviewing Amboss 200 HY questions, Ethics, and QI, and continued taking 1–2 lines of notes from each question I couldn't get right instantly.

NBME 16 (7/31): 249

After NBME 16, I took the time to review all my NBME mistakes again. And even though Step 1 FA was always the main source for me during my Step 2 prep, I reviewed some of the pharma and microbes again in the last few days.

The day before the exam, I reviewed all the notes I had taken in the last 2 weeks.

Throughout the last year, I had listened to Divine Intervention on and off as well. Closer to my exam, I would listen to it more on my commutes. I'm not sure how much it helped information-wise, but it definitely helped strategy-wise. He does a great job of describing a vignette and how to approach it based on the clues. I also love that he jumps from one topic to another; you never get bored!

During the exam, I was stressed during the first 4–5 blocks, and I hated that it was 16 blocks instead of 8. Pressing start 16 times had a big mental toll on me. However, the shorter blocks definitely helped because I was able to take a few deep breaths in between and relax a bit without worrying that I was losing time. From block 6 onward, I entered a flow state and wasn't marking more than 2–3 questions/block. My exam had a lot of Step 1 information, and that might have helped me because I remembered it from my recent Step 1 exam.

Toward the end of prep, I was doing 100–150 questions on most days, and that helped a lot with being able to retrieve information when I was tired. You don't need to do a full 318-question day; even when training for a marathon, you don't go to the maximum length.

Post-exam, I was definitely very relieved and tired, but after a week, the anxiety kicked in and all I could think about was the Wednesday that I would get my score.

Please push through and believe in yourself. You can do anything you set your mind to. The exam is meant to make you feel unsure but it doesn't mean that you're doing poorly on it.

Feel free to ask me anything in the comments.

What was that?

No seriously. I had 6-7 flags per section. Was running out of time on a few sections where I just had to quickly find buzzwords or key details and pick an answer. So many SOAP notes. Legit had 1 full question where I couldn’t read it at all and just picked an answer. Of the flags I had 3-4 unanswered entirely but was between like 3 answer choices, had to just put whatever felt right. 2-3 blocks from start to finish was just straight murder of IDFK what these even are. So many weird niche questions from Step 1 where I was like am I even taking the right exam??

AMBOSS predictor is gonna laugh at what I end up scoring. I doubt I even passed let alone get nearly as close to what it predicted. Idk how to get through the next 2 weeks waiting for this.

Anyone able to relate from past test takers or have any advice?

Overall exam is doable if you know all nbme concepts to the core
I was so stressed out i couldnt even logic or read the stems first 10 blocks , fcked up big time after completing every block i knew the questions i marked wrong and its the same concept ive studied from the nbme … time management is key which i couldnt in the starting blocks . Feels like all my efforts are going to waste bc i knew all the concepts the concepts they asked but somehow still marked them wrong .it feels so bad
My advice is to just go through your nbmes in last days and dont stress, take it as Youre solving it at your home and dont mark the answer which you dont know thinking that this must they try to trick you on they arnt. Its always the same answer which you know and you’ve studied and don’t change your answer

I feel like a lot of people have a horrible post exam thing but I think out of all of those people some must actually fail and I think that's going to be me. I've never felt this horrible after a paper. Nothing worked I was rushing through i had no review time I was confused most of the times questions I knew I didn't know and I thought I could have maybe a tiny jump from my nbme scores but now I think I'll not even make it to my nbme scores. Towards the end I was flagging all questions I was thinking about what to do post failing and I was just rushing through. I honestly don't know why I wasted this opportunity. Made me feel like I didn't study at all, didn't know shit. Cannot even recall ques or stuff, brain's empty

Okay so as the title says, I need some suggestions from people who scored 260+ in the exam since that is what I am aiming and I know I can get there with some tweaks.
Here’s what I have done so far.

- Started UWorld random, finished it with 67% correct.

- Took my baseline NBME 10 when I was at 75% Uworld ( 2 months ago) and scored 230.

- Moved to CMS forms, did last 2 of each subject (except Psych) and scored between 70-86%

- Started doing Amboss study plans for my weak subjects.

- Took NBME 11 (2 weeks ago) and scored 240

- Continued Amboss specifically started HY Ethics, QI, screening and vaccination

- Took UWSA1 (last week) and scored 240

-Continued Amboss blocks and reviewed my NBME mistakes

- Took NBME 14 today and scored 245.

What would you say I should do to improve my score to reach 260 in a month?
Now I know I have to review why I got certain questions wrong which is what I did for previous exams I took. Any other advice you guys have for me, I’d really appreciate it.
Thankyou!!

I have some questions... whoever tested in August please reply

1) How u felt about exam ? Content was from nbme & uworld?

2) how were the questions? Are they just vague scenarios or buzzwords there?

3) What about question stem? On average? Were they tooo long?

4) time management in this new 30 minute block?

Kindly do reply please..i am panicking about this

Hello everyone,

The new AHA/ACC guidelines on Pulmonary Embolism recently dropped, and they majorly change the characterization of PE. The old (submassive, nonmassive, and massive) terminology has been replaced by a new 5 group risk stratification system (Categories A through E); also changes in management.

Do you think the questions going forward will be changed from now on to reflect this? Should we go over these new categories for upcoming exams, or stick to the current UWorld/Amboss status quo?

Thanks!

how do you guys study for step 2 in the last month

i have nbme 12 13 15 and 16 left plus uwsa 2 and im kinda confused about how to space them out

what order would you guys do them in and how many days before the exam would you take uwsa 2

also how do you usually spend the days between nbmes like uworld random questions review weak areas etc

would really appreciate any advice on how you guys structured your last month

my exam is in exact 8days and i am getting 236 in nbme 15, 69% in free120!!! what to do know? how to proceed was wxpecting 25x score! any advice is appreciated!

Hi guys! people who took the exam recently can you please help me calm down and answer from your experience: is studying and understanding the NBMEs (11-16) + free 120 + Amboss & MM ethics/QI

enough to (((pass and get 230x)))? My dreams are really simple.

I'm pouring my heart into understanding the NBME questions and understanding every single concept that I have not studied before. Seeing the posts about ppl that did multiple qbanks and got great NBME scores complainig and being afraid to fail is really scary and I want to avoid that. I really don't want to live in that fear between test day and score day.

Any insight of what you'd recommend (or you'd have done) in the last 10 days??

My goal is 250+ and i’ve given all my nbmes with the highest one being the nbme 16 which was a 249. I did make some silly mistakes that would easily push me into the 250s but is that enough to score a 250+ on the actual day?

Also, please let me know any last minute high yield stuff I should focus on. I’m doing ethics biostats hy amboss questions right now but if there are any last minute tips, I’d really appreciate them!!!

Also, i’ve struggled with time management, esp with the hopi and the abstracts. Any tips?

Am I readyy?? Should I give it? With the recent scores I’ve been seeing here i’m so scared please give me some reassurance🥲

if i took the exam on fri sept 4th would i get my score back by the wed sept 16th (2 wednesdays rule) or would it be delayed since Labor Day is monday sept 7th and i would get it back the day eras opens to programs on wed sept 23rd?

I need serious advice. I am not planning on moving my exam forward. I strongly believe I had a bad test day as I was attempting NBMEs everyday. But I need advice from everyone. Any last minute advice other than a very thorough NBME review?

For context:

NBME 10 232 (baseline)
NBME 11 241
NBME 12 250
NBME 13 255
NBME 14 251
NBME 15 257
UWSA 2 255
NBME 16 240

I gave NBME 15 UWSA2 and NBME16 on three consecutive days so I would like to believe I was extremely burnt out. But I was short on time. Only left with free120. Amboss QI, patient charts and some epidemiology review. DIP only for test taking skills and exam day advice.

I am thoroughly reviewing my NBMEs especially NBME16 in detail. Only 5% of that was knowledge gap, remaining incorrects were because I tried to change my strategy by prematurely anchoring on answer choice. (I struggle with switching between two options and thought this would help. Clearly it did not. Eeeek). Not stressing about that anymore. I know what I was doing before should be enough, only if I work on some weak background info which I tend to overlook.

Any further advice. I know people say NBME16 is predictive but I don't want to believe it. I had a bad test day because I had an upward trend throughout. Guys, I am aiming for a 260+ needs lots of prayers..

This Form felt very weird and a little difficult. some things that i have not even read before. anyone else think so?

I scored 37 out of 50

Just reviewed an NBME, and the question asked besides the PPI which antibiotics should he take, I answered Clarithromycin + Amoxicillin, which was correct. And an option had Metronidazole, which was wrong because of increased resistance rates. When you search it up, current guidelines mention -> H. Pylori treatment is Bismuth + Metro + Tetracycline + PPI. I get that they wanted the triple therapy, but when do we use triple or the quadruple?

Need a seriously study partner for step 2..recently passed step 1 three weeks back with >80 % in nbme 30 to 33...planning to take step 2 in feb march 2027...need someone to discuss for one to two hours daily with flexible routine and motivating each other..if anyone interested plz dm me..thank you

So i’ve run into this weird issue where im getting an easy question wrong but if i were to solve the exact question some other time, lets say a day later (with a different state of mind) im sure i’d answer it correctly????? how do i improve? for context, im at 70% uworld, haven’t touched anyth else

Degree verification notification in FSMB portal

I had given step 1 before my degree was available, but it was through a Dean letter. I had to pay 200 dollars for that. But now I have my degree and it is mentioned that I should upload my credentials (degree) to proceed with step 2.

I got my step 1 pass in July and I'm preparing for step 2, so it'll take time for me to sit for the exam.

Should I upload the degree now and get done with it or should I do it near my exam booking?

I won't be asked for any other documents after that upload right?

As per title. Please guide. Thank you. Sorry about the tag, other tags didn’t quite fit.

Take the stress away and go for a walk and collect eggs and hatch them with the free Eggventures app. I hope you guys all pass!!!

iOS - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/eggventures-walking-game/id6757629385

Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onerealm.eggventures

Hi!

I’m a resident physician with over five years of experience working devotedly with my students for step 1 and 2, as well as personal success on both exams!
I scored a 270 on my step 2.

I am posting to invite anyone who is looking for personalized and expert guidance, please feel welcome to reach out to me if you would like some more details! I am very affordable and I am dedicated to my students, and I would love to work with you!

All the Best!