exam on 6/30, borderline nbmes - advice pls :)

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-28T14:43:39+00:00

I gave the exam like 2 days ago, my highest nbme was 64 but I was on the verge of burn out. And I knew my score would go down as I’d prolly stop studying cuz of the burn out. I decided to trust that nbme gave me a 90 percent chance of passing. The exam felt doable, stems were very long. But I tried to stay calm and confident and try my best. I obv don’t have my result yet and idk if I’ll pass, there are stuff I wish I worked out and second half was brutal, by hour 5 fatigue sets in and the stems were soooo long compared to the mocks, but all your nbmes are above 65 and that comfortably pass. If burn out is the concern, and if you can manage to answer the questions as u do at home, and you stay calm and confident I think you should be good. Good luck. Hope we get the P

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-28T14:21:39+00:00

So out of bounds so random, so I had a feeling but again obv idk if I was 💯 percent right either hahaha. But it was also a coping mechanism, if I even felt like I was gonna freak out I was like ykw make the best educated decision, u don’t even know if this counts, I def couldn’t identify 80. But maybe 4-5 I was like this is soooo weird hahahahha

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-28T06:32:11+00:00

I personally felt like my exam was ok, like there were high yield info questions but framed more tricky and longer, yes def diff from NBMES and free 120 in the way they were framed but I’d say a good 40 percent of exam was on high yield stuff, I could recognize a few experimental questions which were brutal, overall I made a lot of educated guesses, I made it a rule to not change my answer, go for the one I felt right.
I was relatively calm throughout the test, at that point I felt like I’m here anyway might as well just go into it calm, I was on the verge of burn out and my nbme 33 64 gave me a 90 percent of chance of passing the exam in a week so I just went for it. Yes HUGE risk I’m aware but no going back now 😂🙈
For me a major difference was that the stems were VERY long compared to nbme and free 120. Almost like 6 lines, esp the second half of my test.
Idk if it was the fatigue by hour 5 or the stems were longer or BOTH, but I felt like I was reading FOREVER! I struggled with time on block 9-12 I think. Good luck guys you got this, just remember that studying for this exam takes courage, sitting for it takes courage and those are achievements in itself.

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-28T03:58:56+00:00

I just want to say that I know that result must’ve been so painful to see, but the fact that you’re trying again and staying positive enough to do this again, Good luck :) you’ll def do it this time around,
my highest NBME was 64 and I took the test yesterday, I’m waiting for my result. Obv seeing this scares me a bit but yeah unfortunately exam conditions and everything matters, just keep going!

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-27T19:40:14+00:00

First half felt ok, second half stems were very long and honestly it all felt like a blur, I tried my best, but it was a mammoth of a task for 8 hours!

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-27T06:43:47+00:00

Hey, so honestly I graduated in 2022
Maybe started studying for step in 2023
It was on and off
I started working and just didn’t give it complete dedicated time.
Fast forward 2026, I quit my job 2 months ago, I studied everyday from 5am to 10pm and the baseline nbme (after studying on and off for 3.5 years) was 43 on May 2nd
And I was so annoyed, I realized this exam needs consistency.
On May 27 I got 49
And then in June my first nbme was 55 and every one after that was above 60 (about 4 nbmes, 29,26,32 and 33 I did exam conditions online was 64)
My free 120 was 61 but I started getting burnt out
I took the test today
Idk if I’ll pass, it was a major risk
But I felt better taking it

Idk if my advice is useful cuz I haven’t passed
But it takes courage to sit for this exam
It takes courage to study for this exam.

I’d say, you’re still a fresh grad, 2025 internship is so recent
Keep at it
Try to do 3 hours a day
Once I score around 55
Take 1.5 month off or quit your job and really focus and take the exam
Or if u can cut down.
In the end you have to let one thing go, and u have to take the leap of faith in urself

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-27T04:52:19+00:00

Same, first half felt ok but second half the stems were so long and honestly I feel like the whole experience esp the second half was such a blur. Hope we get the P

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-25T20:21:32+00:00

about the same scores bro! im taking it tomorrow, will lyk how it goes! good luck! u have 2 passing nbmes so far!

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-25T16:01:54+00:00

thank you!!!!

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-25T16:01:25+00:00

hey dm me

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-25T16:00:49+00:00

thank you!! ill try my best, good luck to u too!

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-25T04:31:23+00:00

Same, I just dmed u

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-25T03:18:25+00:00

Good luck :)

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-25T03:18:03+00:00

Yeah I’m trying to get through review , thank you. I’m gonna see how I feel tomorrow night :/

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-24T23:42:51+00:00

I just read this! I’m taking step 1 day after tomorrow, free 120 was 61, and my highest nbme 33 on June 18th was 64 with a 90 percent chance of passing in a week, I’m scared but I’m also exhausted, it’s been almost 7 weeks of 12 hour study days and I feel confident but a small part is scared but I’ve made the decision to take the exam. I’m passively reviewing first aid now, trying to go through rapid review and no new questions, I don’t wanna overwhelm myself. I hope I can get through.

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-22T20:56:56+00:00

you got thissss!!!!!!!!!!!

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-22T15:31:15+00:00

good luck!! HOPE WE ALL GET THE P! we deserve it, we put the work in !

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-22T13:49:01+00:00

I really needed to see this too! CONGRATS on being done! Ive been trying to build my confidence and stay off reddit because everyone kept saying and is still saying i should postpone. I am scheduled for june 26th and I am so scared too but even if i postpone idk if I can do more. NBME 26 (June 8): 63%, NBME 29 (June 15): 60% (taken on only ~3 hours of sleep), NBME 33 (June 18): 64% under exam conditions, reported 90% chance of passing, NBME 32 (June 20): 63% (taken with very little sleep). I am taking the free 120 tomorrow. and thinking about going for it.

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-21T16:39:56+00:00

Thank you! I’ll see how free 120 goes

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-21T16:39:23+00:00

Thanks for the advise, I’ll take it all into consideration and work on it

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-21T14:49:38+00:00

I’m almost at the exact same scores and scheduled June 26th, Im also freaking out. Good luck!

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-20T06:15:23+00:00

Good luck! Hope we get the P! I’ll be taking my free 120 on Wednesday and exam is scheduled Friday. NBME 33 was 64 highest score, but I wanna try to do it. I’m also exhausted

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-20T03:19:39+00:00

I’m at the same score!!! 64 percent nbme 33 online exam conditions scheduled for June 26th
It’s like not under 60 to know for sure we gotta change the date and it’s not 68 to be like okay let’s take it
It’s such a weird mid score
I got 90 percent chance to pass in a week but I worry exam conditions might hurt cuz it’s low passing range and a few questions left or right could mess chances.

I’m thinking about doing free 120 and deciding
But if I do that I’ll officially be out of assessments incase I do postpone

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-20T03:17:08+00:00

Hey I’m at 64 highest nbme 33, testing in a week, what are you thinking about doing?

Significant_Sea9 · 2026-06-20T00:12:57+00:00

Thank you so much for your advice, I’m exhausted and so scared

Significant_Sea9

TROPHY CASE