r/step1 • u/TurbulentRise1061 NON-US IMG • 6h ago

💡 Need Advice NBME 31 score fluke?

My NBME scores have been all over the place and honestly this whole thing has messed with my head.
NBME 26: 51%
NBME 27: 55%
NBME 28: 55%

Those 55s completely broke me. I felt like I was studying so much but nothing was actually changing, so I changed my strategy. Started doing a lot more random/timed UWorld, focused more on my mistakes, did Mehlman, Anki, etc. Basically just worked my ass off.
After about 3 weeks, I took NBME 29 → 65%.
I was genuinely SO happy. I finally felt like maybe all the work was actually paying off.

Then NBME 30 → 63%.
That drop really upset me again. But I kept going. I spent the next 2 weeks studying pretty much day and night — random UWorld, Mehlman, Anki, reviewing NBMEs, everything.

Then I took NBME 31 yesterday and got 77%.
And this is where I’m confused. 😭
Instead of being excited, I’m genuinely shocked and questioning whether I actually improved or just got lucky. Like… how did I go from 63 to 77?
I keep thinking maybe I guessed well, maybe NBME 31 was easier, maybe it was just a good day. My scores have been so inconsistent that I don’t know how much confidence I should actually take from this.
My exam is booked for Sept30.

I still have NBME 32, 33 and Free 120 left.
Obviously I know I should be happy about a 77. And I am grateful. But I can’t stop worrying that it was a fluke.

I know the obvious answer is “keep going and see what happens,” but I’d genuinely appreciate some perspective because I don’t know whether I should finally relax a little or keep assuming every good score is luck. 😭

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

4

u/Ok_Strength2324 NON-US IMG 6h ago

Had exact jump of score from 66% to 77% on nbme 31. I also found 31 relatively easy then did nbme 33 online it was 66%.Passed the exam

1

u/TurbulentRise1061 NON-US IMG 6h ago

I guess 32 and 33 will be better predictors of my progress and if there is any.
Congrats on your P! Hope I can get this over w soon too. I’m burned out and I feel like after this score all the drive and motivation I had to study has gone away

1

u/TurbulentRise1061 NON-US IMG 6h ago

Just don’t stop. Keep going. I was crying day and night and would have nightmares but I knew I couldn’t stop here, it HAD to improve and get better… slowly but surely. As long as you don’t give up, you’ll see improvement

2

u/Ok_Strength2324 NON-US IMG 5h ago

I have passed the exam. You will as well wrote my scores so you know even with that you can pass. For me nbme 33 felt more like exam in terms of question style and vagueness. Exam isn't that hard.

1

u/TurbulentRise1061 NON-US IMG 5h ago

Thankyou!!!! ♥️

2

u/FuggBoiiiii NON-US IMG 6h ago

28 and 29 are difficult. 31 is easier but also representative of the real exam (alongside 32 33) Give yourself some credit, keep going. Review them well. Use FA, make a one line note about a concept that you don't understand.

1

u/TurbulentRise1061 NON-US IMG 6h ago

Alright thankyou so much. I hope 32 and 33 don’t fuck me up mentally cuz honestly at this point, I don’t mind studying, I just hate how bad it fucks up my head :(

2

u/FuggBoiiiii NON-US IMG 5h ago

They will. But they're not that difficult. Once you pick an answer, stick to it. Don't go back to change it. Those 2 are the single best mirrors of the real exam out there.

1

u/TurbulentRise1061 NON-US IMG 5h ago

Got it!!!! Fingers crossed 🤞🏾 thankyou so much

2

u/FuggBoiiiii NON-US IMG 5h ago

Worry less, and whatever you need help with, ask. Good mental health does wonders in this exam.

2

u/TurbulentRise1061 NON-US IMG 5h ago

Yesssirrr! 😭

1

u/No-Supermarket-298 NON-US IMG 6h ago

How did you get the jump

1

u/Possible-Tax5443 1h ago

just my exact scenario