I have a quick question for you guys. I posted on the USMLE forum but got no responses, so I figured I would post here since you guys have been through it and would probably know. Does your three digit step I score totally depend on the percent of questions that you got correct (60% = 180) or is it weighted depending on the performance of all test takers as is done with the MCAT.
Sorry again for posting to this forum, but I figured if anyone would know, it would be those students that have already taken the exam.
Thanks in advance.

Hey DAWG:


Just from some considerations I've made, the 2 digit score probably standardizes the percentages of correct responses for each test, in recognition of the fact that not all tests or test blocks have the same degree of statistical difficulty. That's why passing on one test may require 55% and on another 65%, but the 2 digit score in both cases would be 75. If my theory is correct, the 2 digit score is an absolute score (more so than the percentage or number of correct answers). The three digit score, on the other hand, is probably a relative score based on the 2 digit performances of first time test takers during any one specific year, and it allows you to compare your performance with that of recent test takers. But, then again, I could be completely wrong.

In my post-short call haze (17 hours worth, and long call tomorrow), Vitaliano sounds right. Because year after year can't be compared, that's why they don't give percentiles anymore.