USMLE Any downside to postponing the Step 1 exam?

[kehlsh]

Hi,

I just realized I have been studying for step 1 very inefficiently after a poor performance in my first NBME exam. My "supposed" exam date is 6/18.
Given that school allows me to postpone and I am not confident at all that I will be prepared in 10 days, I am strongly considering to postpone my exam for about 3-4 weeks.
However, I was wondering if there is any downside to postponing the step 1 exam. For instance, do residencies look unfavorable upon you if you take extra time to take the exam compared to your peers? Does having to reschedule step 1 exam show your lack of professionalism, or can residencies check that at all?

Thanks for answering.

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[NEEDTOPASS123]

What are you scores on NBMEs and Uworld?

 

[kehlsh]

~200 / ~60%

 

[blastoff]

I have heard some people say that this test is all about how much you can cram. That being said people say its bad to delay because you start forgetting a lot of the stuff you have been "cramming". However I have also postponed my test for a similar reason. Ill just keep cramming lol

 

[BruceWilly]

I have heard some people say that this test is all about how much you can cram. That being said people say its bad to delay because you start forgetting a lot of the stuff you have been "cramming". However I have also postponed my test for a similar reason. Ill just keep cramming lol

I don't know what happens if I post pone, but I do know what happens if I take the exam with a low NBME average. Taking time for another lap of Uworld and first aid has to be worth something.

 

[drcrispmd]

It will depend on your clinical rotation. Will this delay you staring them? Will that cut out your few weeks to study for step 2? Will this delay finishing rotations on time?

 

[kehlsh]

It will depend on your clinical rotation. Will this delay you staring them? Will that cut out your few weeks to study for step 2? Will this delay finishing rotations on time?

the rotation schedule will be practically unaffected

 

[PingPongPro]

Having to study for another 3-4 weeks seems like a pretty big downside in itself.

 

[pd1112]

AFAIK changing your exam date wouldn't affect your score report at all, which is what you send to residencies with ERAS. The biggest issue with delaying is when it disrupts your rotation schedule, makes you finish M3 one rotation later than everyone else in your class, then possibly causes you to miss a month for away rotations summer of M4 if going into a competitive field where aways are important.

TLDR: you should be fine but talk to your deans

 

[operaman]

Yeah, for someone in your situation, there is no downside for postponing and I would strongly suggest you do so. With NBMEs around 200, you are in some danger of actually failing this thing. You need to both postpone AND figure out what you can do to get that score up above 210.

The common advice about not delaying is aimed at people who are averaging 220+ after 6 weeks of hard study -- you would just start forgetting things you've recently crammed and may be hitting your plateau. The same thing may be happening at the 200 level, but now you add in a risk of failing and it changes the risk/benefit ratio.

You may run into issues with rotations and time off during 4th year. You will have more problems if you fail. Talk to your deans and put together a game plan.

 

[kehlsh]

Thank you all for answers!