Actual difficulty of step 1?

[DocKat]

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So I've talked to multiple people who have taken the exam about this and they are seem to have different answers...

Some say that Kaplan Qbank is too easy, therefore USMLEWorld is more like the real exam...

Some say that USMLEWorld is too tough for Step 1, and Kapan Qbank is more like the real exam...

Some even say that USMLERx is a better representation of the test...

I've been doing some Qbank micro questions and it just seems like that they ask some outrageously out-there questions...are these actually going to show up on the test?

For those who you have taken the test, please take a brief moment and help a confused soul! I would be eternally grateful...

 

[RussianJoo]

Every test is different. I have heard of people getting 20-30 identical q's from the nbme forms. I have heard of people getting identical q's from USMLE World, but for the most part the q's you'll get will be complete new and different, they might ask the same concept but again they might not.

there are hundreds of thousands of questions and every test is different, some get easier tests some get harder tests, in the end they're all curved so it doesn't really matter.

 

[UCLAstudent]

The NBME exams are the most realistic. I thought UW was easier than QBank. Both UW and QBank are worth doing as preparation, though.

 

[It'sElectric]

The NBME exams are the most realistic. I thought UW was easier than QBank. Both UW and QBank are worth doing as preparation, though.

That's interesting, because I've never, ever heard this. Has anyone else felt this way?

 

[Spathi]

what are nmbe? Sorry im new to this stuff.

 

[Blesbok]

That's interesting, because I've never, ever heard this. Has anyone else felt this way?

I do. I do about 10-20% better on world than I do on qbank.

 

[RussianJoo]

what are nmbe? Sorry im new to this stuff.

http://www.nbme.org/programs-services/medical-students/sas/index.html

 

[Lee580]

I have always heard that kaplan is harder than UW and have never heard the converse. I have heard, however, that UW is written better and more representative of the actual test.

 

[blz]

Kaplan is harder if you have trouble recalling obscure facts. USMLEworld is harder if you have difficulty reasoning through questions. Doing better on usmleworld probably indicates you are a better test taker.

 

[Blesbok]

Kaplan is harder if you have trouble recalling obscure facts. USMLEworld is harder if you have difficulty reasoning through questions. Doing better on usmleworld probably indicates you are a better test taker.

I feel the same way. Kaplan has way too many random obscure facts that have a one in a million chance of helping you in any way on the real exam. UW questions are much better at requiring basic concepts along with more detailed facts in order to answer the questions.