USMLE world % for an average student

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hi everyone,

my first post here.
i am about to crap my pants because i take my step I in 4 days.
i am super amazed at all those who are scoring 70s in usmle world.

but for an average student like me, i am now just beginning to hit between 55 - 60%. i am doing them timed and random. the last 5 blocks are 56, 64, 60, 50 (blah) and 60.
does anyone know if that is good enough to pass?

i am NOT looking for 240 or anything.
passing over 200 will be good enough for me at this point.

any pointers/advice would be very much appreciated.

ps i think i am developing an ulcer from this stress. ugh...

Use the percentile in USMLE. If you score above 50th percentile, then you will likely pass because I'm sure only the bottom 10% fail it.

Have you done any NBME?

Please, please...do not try to use USMLE World to gauge your score. I just don't think it is reliable. 55-60% seems to be reasonable for getting a passing score, but if you really want to know where you stand as far as numbers, take an NBME (or two).

Originally Posted by mudphudwannabe

Please, please...do not try to use USMLE World to gauge your score. I just don't think it is reliable. 55-60% seems to be reasonable for getting a passing score, but if you really want to know where you stand as far as numbers, take an NBME (or two).

No, USMLE is not reliable for estimating your score. But if you score around 60%, I say you are much more likely to pass than fail.

Originally Posted by steponeisabeast

hi everyone,

my first post here.
i am about to crap my pants because i take my step I in 4 days.
i am super amazed at all those who are scoring 70s in usmle world.

but for an average student like me, i am now just beginning to hit between 55 - 60%. i am doing them timed and random. the last 5 blocks are 56, 64, 60, 50 (blah) and 60.
does anyone know if that is good enough to pass?

i am NOT looking for 240 or anything.
passing over 200 will be good enough for me at this point.

any pointers/advice would be very much appreciated.

ps i think i am developing an ulcer from this stress. ugh...

I wouldn't worry about it, USMLE world's percentages, both on their software and reported here, are grossly overinflated.

- The only people who buy UWorld are those who are gunnerish enough to be unsatisfied with "normal" qbanks and those who have talked to other gunners about what the best Qbank is.
- A lot of people go through questions on only a specific section after having studied it. While you can debate whether that's the right way to study, it is pretty clear cut that it's easier to get higher percentages that way.
- People on SDN only report their scores/grades/self in a way that makes them feel good. For every toolshed who makes 50 posts about their awesome UWorld/NBME scores, there are a bunch more who are doing average and don't.

GL and don't worry, you'll be fine.

Originally Posted by R_C_Hutchinson

I wouldn't worry about it, USMLE world's percentages, both on their software and reported here, are grossly overinflated.

- The only people who buy UWorld are those who are gunnerish enough to be unsatisfied with "normal" qbanks and those who have talked to other gunners about what the best Qbank is.
- A lot of people go through questions on only a specific section after having studied it. While you can debate whether that's the right way to study, it is pretty clear cut that it's easier to get higher percentages that way.
- People on SDN only report their scores/grades/self in a way that makes them feel good. For every toolshed who makes 50 posts about their awesome UWorld/NBME scores, there are a bunch more who are doing average and don't.

GL and don't worry, you'll be fine.

1. UW scores don't mean anything. UW is a learning tool, not something that you need to do well on.

2. As for the people that come on here to ask, "I'm getting around 75% right on UW and I just got a 250 on NBME Form 4, will I pass?" Let me make this very clear to you all. Yes, you will most likely pass, but will you ever get laid? Probably not.

You are my new hero RC

Originally Posted by GynGuy1983

1. UW scores don't mean anything. UW is a learning tool, not something that you need to do well on.

2. As for the people that come on here to ask, "I'm getting around 75% right on UW and I just got a 250 on NBME Form 4, will I pass?" Let me make this very clear to you all. Yes, you will most likely pass, but will you ever get laid? Probably not.

You are my new hero RC <a href="http://img .studentdoctor.net /images/smilies/wink.gif " border="0" alt="" title="Wink" smilieid="5" class="inlineimg" />

i love the people that think that just because someone is smart that they are an antisocial nerd.

thanks everyone for the reply.
hopefully, i will pass this monster of an exam on thursday.

i just need to stop reading these posts about people scoring in the 240s and 250s. i realize that people who do well are the ones who post their scores up. and since the national avg is around 217, not everyone scores in the top 1%.

sigh...just breathe...

Originally Posted by Blesbok

i love the people that think that just because someone is smart that they are an antisocial nerd.

I'm guilty of posting some of my scores, and it was definitely self serving. i think the point is that people who post their scores are less likely to get laid, not because they're a dork, but because they're a douche. both begin with D, so I can see how that would get confusing. i posted my scores because i'm insecure and tho I was doing well, had no real confidence in myself to duplicate my magical feats on test day. we'll see in july if i even came close.

For the thread starter - if you're scoring above average, how would you think that you're not going to pass? I had a 62% cumulative and was in the 65th percentile - that's ABOVE AVERAGE. Almost all of even the below-average med students will pass their boards, so if you're above average, you should be in fairly good shape.

Originally Posted by GynGuy1983

1. UW scores don't mean anything. UW is a learning tool, not something that you need to do well on.

2. As for the people that come on here to ask, "I'm getting around 75% right on UW and I just got a 250 on NBME Form 4, will I pass?" Let me make this very clear to you all. Yes, you will most likely pass, but will you ever get laid? Probably not.
You are my new hero RC

Classic.

Originally Posted by R_C_Hutchinson

I wouldn't worry about it, USMLE world's percentages, both on their software and reported here, are grossly overinflated.

- The only people who buy UWorld are those who are gunnerish enough to be unsatisfied with "normal" qbanks and those who have talked to other gunners about what the best Qbank is.
- A lot of people go through questions on only a specific section after having studied it. While you can debate whether that's the right way to study, it is pretty clear cut that it's easier to get higher percentages that way.
- People on SDN only report their scores/grades/self in a way that makes them feel good. For every toolshed who makes 50 posts about their awesome UWorld/NBME scores, there are a bunch more who are doing average and don't.

In addition, I think UW is counting retakes of used questions in the cumulative "national" average. It certainly does for your personal percentage and percentile vs. the average, so I don't know why it wouldn't for the average as well. If so, then you can probably subtract 5%, perhaps more, from UWorld's reported "average."