Need advice!

[sarah007]

I was hoping you can all give me your advice/ "two cents" on my situation... I am taking step 1 for the second time in 2 weeks, and as of now I have a cumulative score of USMLE WORLD of 48%. For the next two weeks , I plan to do medessentials, First Aid and USMLE World, and then do an NBME in a week and see how I do... Is the UW score of 48% too low to be scoring two weeks before the exam? I need to atleast score 85%+ since this is my second attempt.... How were you 90+ers scoring two weeks before the exam...any thoughts/ advice is welcome...

[RussianJoo]

I don't think the UW average really means that much. I know a few people that had a UW average of 60% and scored 245 and 253 on step1. But then again they did very well in their basic science classes and one of those people got hired but First Aid to be a contributing author. the two digit score you're talking about are not percent or percentile or anything like that it's just a two digit score that correlates to the three digit score. so you need a two digit score of 85 that doesn't mean that you need 85% correct on the test.

I would think that 48% average is pretty low just based on what i have seen on these threads. you should take an nbme and see how you do. those are the only things that really correlate to people step1 score. I would suggest you do a harder nbme like 3 or 4 and if you you get above 200 then you'll most likely pass the real test and maybe even get 210 or 215 which is about an 85. Don't wait to take an nbme, take it early and see where you stand, if you take it too late you won't have time to push your test back and will have to pay extra fees.

good luck.

[IMG SURVIVOR]

I agree with russianjo.
In another note, in my experience as a moderator of this forum and for what I have seen with many people. a 48% in UW would be in the 350-380 NBME range. If that is NBME 3 or NBME4.

Some people have barely pass the exam with that UW %. At the end is how much you learn from those questions and how much you kept studying and understanding the concepts behind each question.

Take NBME 4 to see how you do.
GOD Bless and take care

[sarah007]

Thanks guys...for taking the time to give me some advice...I worry that my performance on UW is low and shows that I may need more than 2 weeks to perhaps raise my score....but I'm also wondering if the recent change to scoring (336 qs as opposed to 350 qs), that will start as of May 15 will negatively impact the score? That is why I was thinking of writing it before May 15...I am going to write the NBME in a week and see how Im doing and then make the decision of jumping off the USMLE cliff or extending it to another week.

[RussianJoo]

Thanks guys...for taking the time to give me some advice...I worry that my performance on UW is low and shows that I may need more than 2 weeks to perhaps raise my score....but I'm also wondering if the recent change to scoring (336 qs as opposed to 350 qs), that will start as of May 15 will negatively impact the score? That is why I was thinking of writing it before May 15...I am going to write the NBME in a week and see how Im doing and then make the decision of jumping off the USMLE cliff or extending it to another week.

well they're adding audio and video questions to Step1 that's why they're cutting the number of questions down so that people have more time to watch the video clips or listen to the audio clips more than once. I think what will happen is that it will take longer for your grades to comeback if you take it after may 15th because they'll need to collect more data to normalize the scores. Also I think the first couple of audio/video q's will be pretty easy just because people haven't had a lot of practice with those types of q's. So in conclusion since everything is normalized i don't think your grade will be affected at all by the change.