NBME Practice Exams: How Many There Are, Cost & How to Use Them

What are NBME practice exams?

They are the NBME Self-Assessments, practice exams written by NBME, which co-sponsors the USMLE. NBME lists them by exam: the Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment is for students taking Step 1, and the Comprehensive Clinical Science Self-Assessment is for Step 2 CK. NBME says the questions are created “with the same quality and statistical rigor as the USMLE” (NBME, Step 1 self-assessment). After you finish one, the score report gives your estimated probability of passing and an equated percent correct score (ECP) by content area. NBME adds that the estimate “is not a guarantee of your future Step 1 performance”.

How many NBMEs are there for Step 1?

Seven. NBME’s page for the Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment says you can “select one or multiple of seven available” forms (NBME, Step 1 self-assessment).

How many Step 2 CK NBMEs are there?

Also seven. The Comprehensive Clinical Science Self-Assessment page says “select one or multiple of seven available” forms (NBME, Step 2 CK self-assessment).

How long are NBME practice exams?

In standard-paced mode, NBME allows 1 hour and 15 minutes for each of four sections of 50 questions, which is 5 hours of testing time in total (NBME, Step 2 CK self-assessment). The Step 1 page states 1 hour 15 minutes per Comprehensive Basic Science block (NBME, Step 1 self-assessment). If you choose self-paced mode when you order, each section gets 5 hours instead, four times as long.

How do you purchase NBME practice exams?

Through the MyNBME Examinee Portal: each self-assessment page on nbme.org has a “Buy Now” button, and NBME lists the price as starting at $62 (NBME, Step 1; NBME, Step 2 CK). You pick standard-paced or self-paced timing when you order. NBME says you can take them anywhere you have a suitable computer with internet, and after finishing you can review every question, the correct answers and the explanations for 2 years. These are not the same as the practice sessions at Prometric test centers, which can only be booked once you have your USMLE registration permit and use the USMLE sample questions.

What is the free 120?

It is the name students use for the sample test questions USMLE publishes. USMLE says “more than 100 sample” questions are available for each exam, as a PDF and as an interactive testing experience (USMLE, Step 1 sample questions; USMLE, Step 2 CK sample questions). Sean suggests taking it about three days before your exam: “The free 120, you want to take about three days before…”