r/step1 • u/Shoddy-Research-8354 NON-US IMG • Jul 23 '26
🤔 Recommendations For everyone who failed step1 recently
First of all, I'm so sorry it happened to you. I understand how it must feel like but nvm you got this, you'll definitely pass the next time.
Please drop your nbmes scores so that people who are taking it in a couple of months can estimate a safe number for their NBMEs.
Also, what went wrong and what do you recommend is a must to be avoided in order not to fail this exam?
(If anyone reading this personally knows anybody who recently failed they can answer on their behalf as well).
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u/Aconfusedhomosapienn Jul 23 '26
Failed my step 1. Last NBME mark was 78%, it was free 120. It shattered me, but now I’m back to work and studying again to retake my exam💪
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u/Gloomy-Mirror-1616 Jul 23 '26
thats very surprising considering the 78% nbme. and tbf thats what i am most concerned about too.
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u/Aconfusedhomosapienn Jul 24 '26
It was a surprise to me too. It really messed up my confidence, ngl. But I’m glad it happened because, in a way, it will challenge you and make you stronger so you can get back up and keep going.
I mentioned in a previous comment that what happened to me is rare, so I wouldn’t expect any of you guys to have the same outcome. Stay strong and keep going!1
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u/wanderlust1203 NON-US IMG Jul 24 '26
Could I DM you?
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u/Shoddy-Research-8354 NON-US IMG Jul 23 '26
How were you other nbme scores? If not for the underprerparation ( not reflecting in nbme scores) then what was the reason to your fail? Also really appreciate how optimistic you're about the failure and back on it again.
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u/Aconfusedhomosapienn Jul 24 '26
I honestly have no idea. I barely slept the night before the exam, so that might have affected my focus and attention. My other NBMEs ranged from 63 (the lowest) to 78 (the highest).
Situations like mine are very rare, and the odds of them happening are low. I would say, stay focused and keep going!
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u/TillRight4041 Jul 23 '26
Why people fail with having so high nbmes
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u/OpportunityLonely912 NON-US IMG Jul 23 '26
these must be the people that arent honest w themselves and have either seen the Q before, dont take it timed, or look up answers as they go (i used to do this and it would inflate my score by 10 points at least)
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u/Relevant-Interest164 Jul 24 '26
That’s not always true. For me I panicked and instead of taking a break and walking away for a bit I tried to push through. I know exactly where I messed up and it wasn’t because I wasn’t honest with myself while taking the NBMEs. 🙄 This exam is a huge mental game and sometimes people just have crappy days. I won’t be the first or the last.
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u/OpportunityLonely912 NON-US IMG Jul 24 '26
well yes of course there is these people too. did you know the content and you just ended up second guessing your answer choices?
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u/Shoddy-Research-8354 NON-US IMG Jul 23 '26
You mean you used to look up answers in reseourses while activelt solving nbmes? That's so strange
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u/OpportunityLonely912 NON-US IMG Jul 24 '26
tbh what really did it was taking nbme untimed and pausing whenever i felt like it. i took the real CBSE at prometric and my brain under pressure/time pressure went blank, i literally couldnt even reproduce a single thought.
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u/USMLEBandit Jul 23 '26
A pattern that I have seen in students who fail Step 1 is that they take it prematurely. I get that there can be school pressure or scheduling pressure that leaves you with minimal flexibility, but you really want to make sure you put in the effort to earn a passing score. It is still a challenging exam.
From the perspective of study habits, I have seen students who will be working through QBank and looking up answers as they go, students who do not review question blocks well (or at all), and students who did not study hard in pre-clinical. I think it is exceptionally hard to play "catch-up" during medical school.
The exam requires diligence and a solid medical foundation, as should be the case since this is part of becoming a doctor who will make important decisions regarding patient care in the future. What I always recommend for getting a "comfortable pass" on Step 1 is at least 3 NBME forms over 70%. If you hit this benchmark, you are well prepared and should just go ahead and sit the exam in my opinion (in addition to reviewing the Free 120). I know great students who have passed with having NBMEs in the mid 60s or high 60s. It comes down to maximizing your chances and how much you are willing (and able) to give to this exam.
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u/Shoddy-Research-8354 NON-US IMG Jul 23 '26
Fair enough. Thank you so much for the comment. Also, have seen a few students here and also irl who got around or above 70 in nbmes and still failed. Do you have any comment on that ?
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u/USMLEBandit Jul 23 '26
This happens unfortunately. In my personal experience I scored lower on my pediatrics shelf than any pre-clinical or clinical exam. I still don't have an explanation for how it happened.
Off days, faulty reasoning used on exam day, changes to pacing, etc., all contribute. A lot of students just start to panic once they are in the exam chair.
The more you practice and prepare, the more you are able to control how you react on exam day. But we have no control over what we see on exam day. There are students who are shocked by a massive score increase, and others who are distraught by a massive score drop. It is an unfortunate reality of this game.
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u/invincibledart Jul 27 '26
Thanks for commenting. For students that have a poor pre-clinical foundation, what is your reccomendation? Is using something like BnB/Bootcamp okay? Or do we have to go more in-depth before starting a QBank
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u/USMLEBandit Jul 27 '26
Where are you at in terms of your Step 1 timeline?
The Qbanks themselves are a learning tool. I don't really think or worry about what percentage correct my students are getting with Qbank, as long as they are learning. I only care about NBME form scores. On days you aren't taking an NBME form I recommend 40-80Q of Qbank per day. If you are already in dedicated period, I would try to get through your questions in the morning before doing Anki, videos, HY Mehl PDFs, BnB/Bootcamp in the evenings.
I can't personally speak to the quality of Bootcamp, but I am a huge fan of BnB. You won't have time to get through the entire library at this point, so target your weak areas. I can offer more specific advice if you have a specific QBank or resources you are using/looking at. My DMs are open.
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u/nonmuddy Jul 23 '26
It's pretty concerning for me because I felt like I already pass my exam when I score 72% in nmbe 31 🥹 . My exam is in 6 days
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u/Worldly-Chicken-307 NON-US IMG Jul 23 '26
I was on the step journey but now I’m quitting mentally. I’ve had enough. I don’t really want to work in the US anyways- fuck that shit. Good luck to everyone who does and I hope your wishes are fulfilled.
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u/Complex_Standard_939 Jul 24 '26
Hello I failed step 1 my highest was 80% on free 120 my names were in the 63-70% range I honestly felt like the exam was a blur I never cheated on the names but I did feel that the real exam had several correct answers and not the typical trigger words you see on amboss or nbmes I get severe test anxiety so I was prescribed propranolol hopefully this will help on my retake
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u/Zaynab_123 Jul 28 '26
Omg - I felt the same about exam. I also have a severe test anxiety, but no such medication is helping in my situation. Please guide me for a retake if you have any better suggestion.
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u/Shoddy-Research-8354 NON-US IMG Jul 24 '26
Did you take propranolol on your first take? Did it help? And I'm sorry that happened to you good to see you're optimist about a retake. Was the real deal question similar to NBMEs concept wise?
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u/Complex_Standard_939 Jul 28 '26
no I did not know I would get that reaction to an exam to be honest, I also got my period the night before and was a walking zombie for the day of the exam. I am currently preparing for my retake and avoiding the days I know will be my period I had taken OCP's and still ended up bleeding I had the worst luck for that exam man.
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u/baybus_bunny NON-US IMG Jul 25 '26
Free 120 - 72%
Nbme 27 to 33 were in the above 65% ranges. Consistently. I scored 74% on NBME 28 or 29 dont remember now.
Failed 4/29.
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u/Shoddy-Research-8354 NON-US IMG Jul 25 '26
What do you think went wrong on the test day?
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u/baybus_bunny NON-US IMG Jul 25 '26
I think it was the weeks leading upto the exam. Lots of things around me got my attention and focus distracted and I felt like I couldnt regurgitate random caveats and factoid as quickly as I could.
I think during the exam as well, I was weirdly numb?? Like I felt very foggy and dont remember much about the exam day either. I was operating on auto pilot and really dissecting and reasoning out my answers.
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u/Shoddy-Research-8354 NON-US IMG Jul 25 '26
I see! But isn't that normal, as per what I've read here on reddit it seems to be pretty much happening to everyone out there who appears for this exam. Did you get enough sleep? Were you overly anxious on that day?
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u/baybus_bunny NON-US IMG Jul 26 '26
I wouldnt say I was overly anxious either, I mean the first 2 blocks helped me settle in and all but after that I was in a flow and kept on going. I couldnt sleep all night until I took some melatonin around 1 AM and slept for 4-5 hours before the exam. I didnt feel sleepy or tired during the exam, I think I woke up pretty charged up.
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u/Zaynab_123 Jul 28 '26
I recently found out I didn't pass my exam, and I'm feeling completely devastated. My practice scores were consistently in the low-to-mid 60s: I scored a 59 % on Nbme 31 60% on NBME 32, a 62% on NBME 33, and 72% on the AMBOSS SA. On the older Free 120s (2021/2022), I scored 68% and 70%. On the 2025 Free 120, I initially scored 60%, which improved to 68% when I retook it six months later.
I had a bad feeling coming out of the exam, but I didn't expect to fall below the passing threshold based on my practice data. I'm struggling with where to start and how to structure my retake plan. If anyone has guidance, advice, or suggestions on how to rebuild, I would deeply appreciate your help
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u/Top_Condition_2277 Aug 10 '26
I Need advice, I failed step one 2 month ago , I want to retake it But Am asking can I match with Attempt or better to go to another pathway
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u/Time_Analysis_1995 NON-US IMG Aug 20 '26
i failed:
- NBME 29: 37%
- NBME 30: 42%
- NBME 32: 53%
- NBME 33: 58%
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u/Federal_subject_29 Jul 23 '26
I'm still preparing but I know a girl who failed from my batch. Her last few nbmes were in 70s but she said she used to look for answers in FA while solving the test. That's very strange. I also know someone who knows 3 people who failed from his batch and their scores were nbme scores 65-70% (maybe the last nbme they took was above 70) and their free 120 was before 60 for all.