How to Recover After a Low NBME Practice Score: A Step-by-Step Strategy
Let’s face it - there are a few things in medical school that will drain your spirit quite like seeing a low score on an NBME Step 1 practice exam. After the days and nights of review, Anki cards, reading First Aid, and watching Pathoma, a disappointing practice test score...
Common NBME Question Traps (and How to Avoid Them)
Why tricky questions aren’t “tricks”, and how to start thinking like the test writers. If you’ve ever left an NBME feeling like the test was out to get you, you’re not alone. Students often describe NBME exams as filled with tricks, traps, or wordplay designed to confuse you. But...
The Ultimate 2026 Shelf Exam Guide: Step-by-Step Strategies for Every Rotation
This blog was originally published in October 2025 by Dylan Eiger and updated in April 2026 by Kala Frye Bourque. NBME shelf exams have evolved. Today’s shelves are longer, more reasoning-focused, and often mirror Step 2 CK in style. They emphasize next-step management, guideline-based care, and outpatient medicine more...
Tracking NBME Knowledge Gaps Over Time
As an MD/PhD student, I am often thinking about data. What are the trends? Are there differences between my groups? How am I going to graph this? Any solid biostatistician will tell you that making something “meaningful” out of data requires three things: a sufficiently large dataset, reliable outputs, and...
NBME Form 33 Review: Step 1’s New Emphasis on Experimental Thinking and Real-World Logic
TL;DR Form 33 feels less like a content exam and more like a reasoning challenge. Expect experiments, mechanisms, and figure interpretation woven into nearly every block. The question style now mirrors real-world medical reasoning - integrating physiology, pharmacology, and behavior rather than isolating them. Use Form 33 as your final...
Adapt Your Step 1 Prep: NBME New Form 32
TL;DR - My Quick Take Form 32 is longer and more figure-heavy than most prior recent forms, signaling Step 1’s continued tilt toward applied reasoning, multi-step interpretation, and research/biostats skills. Expect fewer “buzzword” giveaways and more integration across systems (e.g., pathophysiology → mechanism → data → best next step in...
2025 Guide to Interpreting NBME Practice Exams for Step 1 and Step 2
Almost all students preparing for the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 will take at least one (hopefully more!) practice test leading up to test day. While various practice tests are available to assess your performance, many students will turn directly to the NBME practice tests to estimate their chances...
NBME 26-NBME 31: Which is the Best Predictor for Passing Step 1
This blog was originally published on March 21, 2023, and was updated in September 2025 with new information. There are innumerable resources available for Step 1 preparation. No one study approach will work for everyone or guarantee success. Whatever plan or resources you decide to use, everyone will need to...
Struggling With Step 1 NBME Score Improvements?
When you’re constantly dedicating countless hours to studying and meticulously reviewing high-yield content only to see your NBME scores flatten without improvement, it’s easy to feel stuck and frustrated. However, plateaus are a normal part of the learning process. The key is to use these moments to recalibrate your approach....
What to Do If You Struggle with NBME Shelf Exams
NBME shelf exams can be a major source of stress during medical school. You’re trying to adjust to your 3rd year of medical school, which is basically working a full-time job, and you have to study for these exams in your nearly non-existent free time! If you’ve found yourself struggling...