This is one school’s experience with NBME assessments. Results or outcomes may vary and depend on factors beyond NBME’s control, such as student participation, individual study habits, faculty support and engagement, and/or variations in curriculum, among other things.
Prior to the cohort of students taking Step 1 in 2026, most Creighton students had limited performance data available in INSIGHTS until completing a Comprehensive Basic Science Exam (CBSE) approximately 5-8 weeks before Step 1. This limited opportunities for Learning Specialists to identify knowledge gaps and provide individualized support earlier in the exam timeline. As a result, many students followed a standardized review calendar leading up to dedicated study, with limited differentiation based on individual performance.
To provide students with meaningful data sooner, Creighton supplied students with vouchers to complete a Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) approximately three months before dedicated study. The early assessment generated actionable performance data in INSIGHTS, allowing Learning Specialists to identify strengths, weaknesses, and content areas requiring additional attention. Using this information, students and Learning Specialists developed individualized learning plans and focused their efforts on identified knowledge gaps while spending less time reviewing content in which proficiency had already been demonstrated.
By introducing objective performance data earlier in the process, Creighton enhanced its ability to provide personalized academic support and help students make more informed decisions about their learning. According to the institution, students entered dedicated study with a clearer understanding of their readiness and areas for improvement, contributing to more students taking Step 1 on schedule and fewer students delaying the start of clerkships to extend their study timeline.
INSIGHTS was one of the most useful tools I used during STEP 1 preparation because it helped me study more efficiently and strategically... Overall, INSIGHTS provided the feedback I needed to successfully target areas for improvement for my STEP 1 study.
Kristina Briggs, M3 Creighton University School of Medicine
Beginning the journey toward Step 1 can overwhelm our students. We have implemented NBME vouchers for CBSSAs to establish an early baseline of readiness. Utilizing INSIGHTS after the voucher has helped students focus on high-yield subjects and make progression seem much more manageable. They seem to feel more in control of their learning and decision-making process.
Jeff Lang, Medical Education Learning Specialist, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha Campus
Using NBME INSIGHTS with medical students allows an in-depth review of data to identify patterns across topics, systems, and exams to help create a more focused study plan.
Rachel Jones, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix Campus
NBME Portfolio Parts Used
- NBME® Self-Assessments: Creighton University School of Medicine provides students with a Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) approximately three months before dedicated study. The assessment establishes an early measure of readiness and generates objective performance data that students and Learning Specialists can use to identify strengths, prioritize areas for improvement, and inform individualized learning plans.
- INSIGHTS®: Creighton uses INSIGHTS to analyze assessment performance across content areas and examinations. Learning Specialists use the platform's detailed performance analytics to identify patterns in student outcomes and guide data-informed academic support. Students use INSIGHTS to monitor progress, identify knowledge gaps, and focus their learning efforts on areas with the greatest opportunity for improvement.
Supporting Data
- Peer Reviewed Article: Fan et al., Fan et al., “Revisiting the Utility of the National Board of Medical Examiners Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment to Gauge Readiness for USMLE Step 1,” Medical Science Educator (2024). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11933626/
- Webinar: Using NBME INSIGHTS to Support Student Success
- NBME Academy Course: Using INSIGHTS® to Support Student Success: A Collaboration with the Medical Education Learning Specialists (MELS) Group
- Best Practices: Top Tips for Navigating the NBME INSIGHTS Dashboard from MELS
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