The NBME has recently released data showing the relationship between students’ Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) Performance Profile Scores and their performance on the USMLE Step 1. This data is applicable to each of the four NBME forms.

Acad Med. 2004 Oct;79(10 Suppl):S55-7 (Abstract):

Problem Statement and Background. This study examined the extent to which performance on the NBME® Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) and NBME Comprehensive Clinical Science Self-Assessment (CCSSA) can be used to project performance on USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 examinations, respectively.

Method. Subjects were 1,156 U.S./Canadian medical students who took either (1) the CBSSA and Step 1, or (2) the CCSSA and Step 2, between April 2003 and January 2004. Regression analyses examined the relationship between each self-assessment and corresponding USMLE Step as a function of test administration conditions.

Results. The CBSSA explained 62% of the variation in Step 1 scores, while the CCSSA explained 56% of Step 2 score variation. In both samples, Standard-Paced conditions produced better estimates of future Step performance than Self-Paced ones.

Conclusions. Results indicate that self-assessment examinations provide an accurate basis for predicting performance on the associated Step with some variation in predictive accuracy across test administration conditions.

USMLE.org has announced a change to the reporting of student scores.

Beginning in August 2007, examinees will be able to view, download and print their score reports via the Internet. [link]

During the August transition, some students will have online access while others will continue to receive their results via regular mail.  Students whose scores are available will be notified by usmle.org and will have 120 days to access their score report.  After this period, the student’s report will no longer be available online and an official transcript will be mailed.