3 digit score?

[viostorm]

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After taking the USMLE, does anyone know what 3 digit score comes from?

# correct out of 300 + 50 practice problems that don't count?

I know this is complete speculation, but after taking it I could see some of the SDN gunners getting 250/300 right.

 

[mohaven]

After taking the USMLE, does anyone know what 3 digit score comes from?

# correct out of 300 + 50 practice problems that don't count?

I know this is complete speculation, but after taking it I could see some of the SDN gunners getting 250/300 right.

This is what I know. The percent you answer correctly is converted to a three digit and two digit score on a pre-determined scale so as to keep the scores constant over the years and avoid fluctuations. Although it is hard to imagine how this scale really works the First Aid book and Wikipedia mention that in order to pass Step 1 and according to the difficulty of the exam you have taken you need to answer 60 - 70% of the questions correctly. First Aid also mentions that near the lower end of the curve at the margin between pass and fail 1.5 questions answered correctly (or .05 percent nearly) correlates with 1 point on the three digit score. What I took for the above facts is that depending on where in the curve you are the correlation between the number you answer correct and the three digit score changes being least in the middle and greatest at the two ends of the spectrum.
You know I had the same doubt while preparing for the exams and noone on SDN bothered answering that questions. I guess it was too simple a questions for the 'big gunners' around here... Whatever. Hope this helps.

 

[fakin' the funk]

This is what I know. The percent you answer correctly is converted to a three digit and two digit score on a pre-determined scale so as to keep the scores constant over the years and avoid fluctuations. Although it is hard to imagine how this scale really works the First Aid book and Wikipedia mention that in order to pass Step 1 and according to the difficulty of the exam you have taken you need to answer 60 - 70% of the questions correctly. First Aid also mentions that near the lower end of the curve at the margin between pass and fail 1.5 questions answered correctly (or .05 percent nearly) correlates with 1 point on the three digit score. What I took for the above facts is that depending on where in the curve you are the correlation between the number you answer correct and the three digit score changes being least in the middle and greatest at the two ends of the spectrum.
You know I had the same doubt while preparing for the exams and noone on SDN bothered answering that questions. I guess it was too simple a questions for the 'big gunners' around here... Whatever. Hope this helps.

Oh, well, if WIKIPEDIA says it, it must be true.

To the OP- don't bother yourself with this question, no one knows, any info is hearsay. Good luck.

 

[Law2Doc]

no one knows, any info is hearsay.

Agreed. Given that there are experimental questions in there and that not all test "forms" have the same "curves", it almost certainly does not work the way Wiki suggests. I wouldn't spend much time mulling the methodology.

 

[mohaven]

Agreed. Given that there are experimental questions in there and that not all test "forms" have the same "curves", it almost certainly does not work the way Wiki suggests. I wouldn't spend much time mulling the methodology.

There seems to be some contention on that 60-70% in order to pass. I know it hurts to be told that in order to get a 'good' score you have to answer 40 out of 50 questions in each block correctly. Yes that means you can only get ten incorrect in each block. Oooooh... WIKIPEDIA, First Aid, guidance councellors, professors, Kaplan have all told me the same. Sorry if I touched a nerve with the truth. And I think questions on methodology are completely legitimate. If you know the game you can play it and play it well I might add.

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

There seems to be some contention on that 60-70% in order to pass. I know it hurts to be told that in order to get a 'good' score you have to answer 40 out of 50 questions in each block correctly. Yes that means you can only get ten incorrect in each block. Oooooh... WIKIPEDIA, First Aid, guidance councellors, professors, Kaplan have all told me the same. Sorry if I touched a nerve with the truth. And I think questions on methodology are completely legitimate. If you know the game you can play it and play it well I might add.

Who's contending it? I refer the contenders to: http://www.usmle.org/faqs/faqusmlescores.htm. The usmle.org is about the best authority you can get on these matters, and they claim 60-70% is necessary to pass. Questions on methodology may be legitimate QUESTIONS, but they're not going to get legitimate ANSWERS-- neither the bored dude on Wikipedia nor your guidance counselor grade the USMLE, so I'm afraid their opinions on the matter can't really be regarded as fact.

 

[Law2Doc]

And I think questions on methodology are completely legitimate.

While I didn't actually say much that disagreed with your last post in terms of percentages, (other than suggest that Wiki's analysis of methodology is suspect), I would suggest that while questions on methodology are completely "legitimate" they are futile. Nobody on this board knows how they do it. Wiki doesn't either. It is one of life's great mysteries. 🙂

(No idea why you think you touched a nerve from my post. I think you are reading things into it that aren't there? I actually don't care what methodology is actually used, I just don't think your sources nailed it.)

 

[mohaven]

While I didn't actually say much that disagreed with your last post in terms of percentages, (other than suggest that Wiki's analysis of methodology is suspect), I would suggest that while questions on methodology are completely "legitimate" they are futile. Nobody on this board knows how they do it. Wiki doesn't either. It is one of life's great mysteries. 🙂

(No idea why you think you touched a nerve from my post. I think you are reading things into it that aren't there? I actually don't care what methodology is actually used, I just don't think your sources nailed it.)

Hey I was just trying to answer viostorm's questions as accurately as I knew how. I thought I sensed some sarcasm from fakin the funk but hey what do I know? Futile? I don't know if I agree. It helped me focus my preparation and set a target. But maybe that's just me. I am glad your nerves are unscathed and no harm done 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

Hey I was just trying to answer viostorm's questions as accurately as I knew how. I thought I sensed some sarcasm from fakin the funk but hey what do I know? Futile? I don't know if I agree. It helped me focus my preparation and set a target. But maybe that's just me. I am glad your nerves are unscathed and no harm done 🙂

It's all good. However they actually score it, it's out of our control. Show up ready to do your best and it will all work out in the end.

 

[fakin' the funk]

And I think questions on methodology are completely legitimate. If you know the game you can play it and play it well I might add.

There ain't no "game" to "know".

The goal is to get as many questions as possible correct. It's not like you get partial credit for unanswered questions, it's not like you know a priori that you can get 80% and that's good enough for you.

The questions about methodology are legitimate...it's just that the answer is "no one knows."

 

[mohaven]

There ain't no "game" to "know".

The goal is to get as many questions as possible correct. It's not like you get partial credit for unanswered questions, it's not like you know a priori that you can get 80% and that's good enough for you.

The questions about methodology are legitimate...it's just that the answer is "no one knows."

I know you have to get as many right as you can, thanks for the insight. You must be one of the 'big gunners' around here ha, coming up with such a profound statement? What I meant was it is good to have a target while practicing questions and to know how hard one has to work in order to get to that target. I believe an 80% target is good for anyone who wants a good score on this exam. One may never reach it but hey its a target... If you want to keep it vague and arbitrary that's cool. Or you can always take some Gabapentin.