2008 Average on Step 1

[MyNameIsOtto]

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So...........was 2008 step 1 easier or something? I got my score report back today and it says the average for recent test takers is around a 222 with SD 22. My score was much higher than I was expecting, as well.👍

I thought in recent years the average score was ~215? What's up this year?

 

[lord_jeebus]

People are studying for this test in a more intense way than ever before!

Also the current cohort of med students may be smarter and/or better test takers, considering the rising average MCAT.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Agree with above. Each year, the message about how important Step 1 is gets amplified. I met a premed who mentioned "Step 1 scores" a few months back and that blew me away. I hadn't even heard of the stupid thing before I got into medical school.

 

[Apple55]

I believe 222 is just for US and Canadian students. Did not include Internation students and retaker. If we count those in, the average should be a little bit lower.

 

[UditNarayan]

lord jeebus is def right...it is reflecting this current cohort, which is from what i can gather, for the new exam post-May 16th. many of the top med schools take their step 1 during this period and probably reflects a strong cohort of students. additionally, as you factor in all other test takers (IMG's, etc) the overall mean, etc for the larger cohort will change. we all did a great job this time around, and don't think that your killer score is not as killer...

 

[JeffLebowski]

lord jeebus is def right...it is reflecting this current cohort, which is from what i can gather, for the new exam post-May 16th. many of the top med schools take their step 1 during this period and probably reflects a strong cohort of students. additionally, as you factor in all other test takers (IMG's, etc) the overall mean, etc for the larger cohort will change. we all did a great job this time around, and don't think that your killer score is not as killer...

I disagree, I don't think better schools have their students take it May-June, I think most schools good or bad have their students take it May-June. I see no reason why "better" schools would concentrate themselves in that time period. And as much as I'd like to say the exam average was higher because we're smarter, I think the exam format change is hard to ignore. Probably a combination of several things.

 

[BrisketAttack]

I disagree, I don't think better schools have their students take it May-June, I think most schools good or bad have their students take it May-June. I see no reason why "better" schools would concentrate themselves in that time period. And as much as I'd like to say the exam average was higher because we're smarter, I think the exam format change is hard to ignore. Probably a combination of several things.

my school is a pile of dung and we took it during this period. maybe it's a sign that we're set to topple UCSF in the near future. watch out you coastal bitches!!

 

[Nodelphi]

I believe 222 is just for US and Canadian students. Did not include Internation students and retaker. If we count those in, the average should be a little bit lower.

This is the real answer it's higher, once you factor in those other groups I bet the average will be on par with years past. Plus the average was reported for just one sample and the standard deviation was pretty big, I'd wager by this time next year the average on the new format will be what it is in years past.

 

[TUMED2010]

The question I have is that if the average went up, does that mean the document 'charting outcomes in the match 2007' (release by NBME) does not accurately represent score ranges for certain specialties? (Ie, should we add 5-7 points to each of the scores, such that radiology at 235 average US senior match in 2007 will now be 242 for 2008 cohort test takers?) Do you think residency directors will readjust their scales based on the new exam?

 

[Pioneer Village]

Not sure what you guys are talking about. One of the main points about a standardized exam is that the scores are comparable across years. If you got a 240 now, you really did do better than a person 8 years ago who got a 238.

If the average went up, it's because there were more people who performed well this year. So the result is that more qualified people MAY be competing for the spot you want, although in most specialties these "spots" are also growing.

 

[Twitch]

It appears exceedingly unlikely that an increase in overall scores will not realign the averages upward for the various specialties. Without a corresponding increase in residency spots, now you have more applicants that clear the soft filters and screening criteria some programs may have.

The self selection that may have occurred in the past which trimmed the # applying is likely to grow now that more people feel they are in the playing field. Clearly, in such a case it'd have to be assumed that the charting outcome #'s from last year would see rises perhaps not to the extent as fuel prices have, but there is bound be some re-alignment. Assuming RDs still have the same # of spots they have to fill, now there are more competitive applicants (from a scores perspective) they can pick from.

Anyone know if last year's step takers saw a similar rise (or fall)?

 

[predodoc]

Personally I think its the SDN effect. Many people at my school learned how to study for step 1 from SDN.

 

[yaah]

Agree with above. Each year, the message about how important Step 1 is gets amplified. I met a premed who mentioned "Step 1 scores" a few months back and that blew me away. I hadn't even heard of the stupid thing before I got into medical school.

That's a good point. I was thinking about that and I started med school in 1999 - I didn't hear about Step I until part way through first year of med school. Of course, I wasn't on SDN then.

And maybe it was just a difference between where I went to med school and the school where I am in residency, but it seems like med students these days are far more focused on studying for tests than learning information. The first two questions after every med school lecture or lab are 1) Is this on the test? and 2) Can I get a copy of your handout?

I'm not really criticizing, I'm just saying people get a little more focused on test scores and tests than in the past. Maybe it's because residencies focus more on them and things are getting more competitive, or maybe it's because candidates only perceive that.

The other thing is that in the current age, access to test studying methods is far more than it ever was, so people have more advantages in studying. More review books. More review classes. My step I studying consisted of a couple of books of practice questions, first aid, and my med school class notes.

I mean, when I took the SAT I didn't take any prep courses or anything like that. Very few people did. But it seems like most people do these days.

 

[UditNarayan]

great points above...these standardized tests are also changing all the time and keep the new test takers on their toes. the SAT is definitely not what it used to be, even the MCAT has changed, now the Step 1, and soon the combined step 1 and 2. access to information has changed the way students do things now and its tough then to compare us to student from a decade ago for example. for me, if i didnt have assured access to the lecturers online slides, online recordings, etc med school would have been a different experience.

 

[goodboyof19]

average are based only on how US students do. IMGs are not used to build the curve. This is why scoring in June takes a while because they need to recalculate everything when almost all US students take the test.

the nbme always boasts of how a 230 now is same as a 230 10 years ago. I am not sure if it will still hold true with the average going up.

 

[mtDNA]

I think the average going up a little is not anything new, but part of a trend. I was looking at "charting outcomes in the match" from 2007 and comparing it to 2005, and I don't remember specifics off hand, but it seemed that the trend was that average step 1 for most specialities was higher in 2007. It varied from one specialty to the next though. you guys should check it out for yourselves, you can find them on google.

 

[mtDNA]

I think the average going up a little is not anything new, but part of a trend. I was looking at "charting outcomes in the match" from 2007 and comparing it to 2005, and I don't remember specifics off hand, but it seemed that the trend was that average step 1 for most specialities was higher in 2007. It varied from one specialty to the next though. you guys should check it out for yourselves, you can find them on google.

I take it back...just took a look at those reports again and I actually think the differences are fairly big...It will be interesting to see what the results are for next time though, I mean, you would think that the increase would have to level off.

 

[AlanAlan]

What was the average for people getting their scores back this most recent wednesday?

 

[Raydeus]

What was the average for people getting their scores back this most recent wednesday?

Since its been a few weeks, I'm just curious if the average is still holding steady at 222. Anyone have any info?

-Raydeus

 

[oreosandsake]

i don't think they bother publishing avg's from test to test...

that would cause more confusion than be productive.

that is why they say "the mean of recent test takers is XXX"

 

[nowai]

Got my score today and the average/stdv is still 222/22

 

[plainfacts]

Got my score today and the average/stdv is still 222/22

Still well below the SDN-e-peepee average/stdv of 255/3

 

[Danny Noonan]

I am on an LCME subcommittee at my medical school (reputable US MD school) and just saw the data for USMLE average nationwide last week. This is accurate, recent information given to subcommittee members in order to assess our own students and how we compare. It's probably also available publicly. For 2007 the mean was exactly 222 nationally. Thus the hype about averages being "up" this year are false. If you read your score report, it says that a "recent" mean has been "222". It is referring to the 07' mean. The 2008 mean has not even been processed yet obviously since we are only in early September. My guess is that it will come back down to earth since one of the major criteria for a standardized exam is that its mean be relatively consistent through time. Thus, a 240 now is just as killer as it was 5 years ago. This rumor about more students busting through residency screening for competitive programs is false and is pure SDN speculation at best.

 

[Knicks]

^^ I love it when people who know what they're talking about bust out the truth and clarify all these superfluous and groundless speculations.

Very satisfying.


(no sarcasm)

 

[jake2]

To add to the reassurance, one can calculate the average for all US participants in the match in 2007 to be ~220 from the charting outcomes of the match report. Assuming that most participants of the 2007 match took the exam in 2005, that means scores haven't gone up much in the past two years.

If you add in the international grads though, the mean drops to ~215. I'm assuming national mean is defined as scores for US schools only though. Can anyone confirm?

Man I have way too much time on my hands fourth year...

 

[nowai]

I think they lump 1st time US and Canadian takers together.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

I am on an LCME subcommittee at my medical school (reputable US MD school) and just saw the data for USMLE average nationwide last week. This is accurate, recent information given to subcommittee members in order to assess our own students and how we compare. It's probably also available publicly. For 2007 the mean was exactly 222 nationally. Thus the hype about averages being "up" this year are false. If you read your score report, it says that a "recent" mean has been "222". It is referring to the 07' mean. The 2008 mean has not even been processed yet obviously since we are only in early September. My guess is that it will come back down to earth since one of the major criteria for a standardized exam is that its mean be relatively consistent through time. Thus, a 240 now is just as killer as it was 5 years ago. This rumor about more students busting through residency screening for competitive programs is false and is pure SDN speculation at best.

So wait, that means it was 2007 test takes that had the high average? Sweet, in your face 2008ers!

 

[JeffLebowski]

So wait, that means it was 2007 test takes that had the high average? Sweet, in your face 2008ers!

Originally Posted by Danny Noonan
I am on an LCME subcommittee at my medical school (reputable US MD school) and just saw the data for USMLE average nationwide last week. This is accurate, recent information given to subcommittee members in order to assess our own students and how we compare. It's probably also available publicly. For 2007 the mean was exactly 222 nationally. Thus the hype about averages being "up" this year are false. If you read your score report, it says that a "recent" mean has been "222". It is referring to the 07' mean. The 2008 mean has not even been processed yet obviously since we are only in early September. My guess is that it will come back down to earth since one of the major criteria for a standardized exam is that its mean be relatively consistent through time. Thus, a 240 now is just as killer as it was 5 years ago. This rumor about more students busting through residency screening for competitive programs is false and is pure SDN speculation at best.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Ah, I'm just playin'. Would be kinda funny if the 2008 average came back 245 or something crazy 🙂