Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment
Track your progress as you prepare for the USMLE® Step 1
Purchase a Self-Assessment
Select one or multiple of seven available Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment Forms
Price starts at $62
From practice tests to clinical practice
More than just a reliable gauge of readiness for Step 1 of the USMLE, the Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment can help you master the concepts needed to excel in practice and provide effective care for your future patients.
Test your knowledge with questions created with the same quality and statistical rigor as the USMLE
Establish a baseline score to benchmark your progress throughout your learning journey
View longitudinal data across multiple self-assessment forms to track your growth over time
Identify areas of strength and weakness across content areas to create a more focused study plan
View answer rationales for each question to reinforce your understanding of key concepts
Evaluate your readiness at different stages of your preparation for the USMLE Step 1
Unlock actionable performance data with INSIGHTS®
INSIGHTS is an interactive dashboard available to NBME Self-Assessment users through the MyNBME® Examinee Portal.
- View your performance on each self-assessment by content area, so you know where you need to improve
- See question-level feedback, including time spent per question and answer rationales, to better focus your study time
- Review trends across multiple self-assessment forms to track your progress as you get closer to exam day
- Access your self-assessment results alongside other NBME exams in one convenient location
Learn more than your score with answer explanations
After completing your self-assessment, you can view in-depth answer explanations through INSIGHTS.
- See rationales for both correct and incorrect answers to reinforce your knowledge and learn from your mistakes
- Sort and filter questions on the Question Details tab of INSIGHTS to find specific explanations quickly, so you can save time while studying
- Access explanations within an interactive question-by-question view of your self-assessment, which includes a record of your highlights and strikethroughs, so you can better understand how you arrived at your selected answer
Gauge Your Readiness for the USMLE Step 1
After completing your exam, your score report is available through the MyNBME Examinee Portal and INSIGHTS dashboard.
- Learn your estimated probability of passing the USMLE Step 1, so you can gauge your readiness at different stages of your exam preparation*
- View your equated percent correct score (ECP) and see the average comparison group ECP across content categories to learn how your performance compares to other test takers
*Many factors (e.g., changing levels of knowledge) may impact your performance on Step 1, so your estimated probability is not a guarantee of your future Step 1 performance.
Practice at your own pace
The Comprehensive Clinical Science Self-Assessment is available in two formats, each offering a unique benefit based on your study needs.
Take the standard-paced option, which allows 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete each of the four sections of 50 questions and mimics a live testing environment, so you know what to expect on exam day
Select the self-paced option to extend the time per section to 5 hours, allowing you to review each question more thoroughly and integrate your study time within your busy schedule
See what other students are saying
These exams have been a great learning tool and motivator for me throughout various clerkships.
They represent information that [is] actually important to know in practice. I would come across concepts that I probably should know, then get the chance to properly look them up/study them when I am reviewing my answer choices.
Best resource for USMLE exams. I wish I had started sooner. Thank you so much for providing us with this amazing resource!
I really appreciate having a tool like this to study. I find there is a huge value in being able to interact with an interface...that is similar to the actual exam and to have a targeted score report.
Common Questions
Are the Comprehensive Self-Assessments available for purchase through NBME the same as the USMLE® practice sessions available through the Prometric Centers?
No, the self-assessments contain different content and are available at any time to any person who wishes to purchase one via MyNBME® Examinee Portal, and may be taken in any location in which you have a suitable computer with internet connectivity. The self-assessments provide you detailed diagnostic information about your performance upon completion of the test, including areas of strength and weakness, as well as a lookup table for USMLE scores (Comprehensive Basic Science and Comprehensive Clinical Science Self-Assessments only).
The USMLE practice sessions at the Prometric Centers cannot be scheduled or purchased until you receive your USMLE registration permit, and must be taken onsite at a Prometric Center. The Prometric practice sessions uses the same sample test materials provided by the USMLE registration entities and at the USMLE website, and is shorter than the actual corresponding USMLE exam. This option allows you to experience USMLE sample test materials in the same environment as your actual test. The practice sessions provide you limited diagnostic information (percent of items answered correctly in each block) upon completion.
What is the difference between taking a self-assessment in the standard-paced timing mode versus the self-paced timing mode?
You can select your desired pacing when ordering self-assessments:
- Choose the Standard-paced option if you want the timing conditions of your self-assessment to be comparable to USMLE, IFOM, Clinical Science Subject Examinations.
- Choose the Self-paced option for additional time to complete your self-assessment. Self-paced timing offers examinees four times as long to complete questions as standard-paced (e.g. 5 hours to complete a Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment block in self-paced timing, vs. 1 hour, 15 minutes to complete the same block in standard-paced).
Can I review my self-assessment after I have completed it?
Once you have completed the entire self-assessment, you can review all the items, correct answers, and answer explanations under performance feedback in the exam review section. However, you cannot go back and change answers once you have completed the exam. While you are working within each section and before you lock it, you can change answers, mark them for review, or leave them blank. When you exit each section by clicking “End” then “OK”, you lock that section and your answers become final.
You can review and print your performance profile for 2-years after completing the self-assessment. You will also have access to the interactive score report, where you can view the assessment items and answer explanations, for 2-years after completing the self-assessment.
Are answer explanations to the self-assessments items available?
Yes. Immediately following the completion of any of the comprehensive or clinical science mastery series self-assessments, you will be able to review all self-assessment items along with answer explanations for each item. You can also log back into MyNBME® Examinee Portal to view the items and answer explanations in your interactive score report.
You will have access to the interactive score report for 2-years following completion of your self-assessment.
Can I take a break while completing an NBME Self-Assessment?
Yes, you can take a break by pausing your exam to stop the timer and resuming at a later time.
How can I pause and resume while taking an NBME Self-Assessment?
During your self-assessment, select Pause and then select OK/Confirm when prompted. This pauses your assessment, stops the timer, and exits the session (in many cases, the browser window/tab will close). When you’re ready to continue, return to your assessment list/status page and select Resume/Launch/Continue—you’ll return to the same section and question where you left off.
For step-by-step instructions (including tips for taking breaks between blocks), please review the Pausing and Resuming Your NBME Self-Assessment Guide.
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