Average for Step 2 is 233 now???

[drmedstudent]

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according to my score report the avg is now 233 amongst US and Canadian Medical Students....

is that just for my test? or thats the new avg?
do residencies see this avg. i feel like i got a great score (237/99) but it pales in comparison to the avg

 

[apricotattack]

I saw that was the average on my test, too, and was similarly startled! Seems really high..

 

[PokerDoc]

how does a 237 pale in comparison to a lower 233? I think you're selling yourself a little short there!

 

[geauxtigers82]

I was taken aback by that too. Being an IMG, I wonder what our average was?

 

[SGuttenberg]

One in ten test taker now has greater than 260. Only 270+ impresses anymore.

 

[DoctorPardi]

Step 2 has always been an easier test, whether it is because the questions are easier or students at that stage are just much better prepared. Whatever the case, the test is easier.

However in the past, doing well on the test could be partly explained by the fact that a lot of people didn't take it until much later and it didn't matter. In a way the highest potential scorers for step 2 were being weeded out by their exemplary step 1 scores. This left those with middling scores to do exceedingly well.

I think what is happening more and more frequently is that programs and entire specialties want to see both scores early. I know the medicine program at my school wants every applicant from our school to take it early.

My guess is in several years, most students will take Step 2 "early", the previous hierarchy of scores from Step 1 will come back and doing well (relative to your fellow applicants) will be just as difficult as on Step 1.

All that being said, people see a >240 score on a "step" and think "wow nice score". That's been my impression so far and I think that will continue for some time. So if you made a "good score" if it were step 1, maybe think of it only a little less impressive and everything will be fine. This is especially important if you significantly outscored yourself on step 1. By way of making a huge leap, you show a positive trend, but you'll of course never be able to delete that first attempt.

 

[Salpingo]

My guess is in several years, most students will take Step 2 "early", the previous hierarchy of scores from Step 1 will come back and doing well (relative to your fellow applicants) will be just as difficult as on Step 1.

I believe the plan is to somehow combine Step 1 and 2, and make the final product skewed more towards the clinical end. That's why several school are consolidating the basic science years (ending as early as January) and giving their students early clinical exposure. Schools like Columbia P&S are actually giving students time to study for Step 1 the January of MS3, so I'm guessing that's the anticipated timing for the new combined boards.

Not sure how long this will actually take to enact. I think the original plan was to roll it out in 2012-2013, but that clearly isn't happening. It would remove some of the ambiguity of Step 2, but take away opportunities for students to "redeem" themselves.

 

[Valadi]

Just looked at their website. They used to have a FAQ despelling common myths, one being that the USMLE was NOT going to merge Step 1 + Step 2. They now have a new section stating that they are talking about possibilities of that for the future. http://www.usmle.org/General_Information/FAQs/FAQs-CRU.html

While i was there I check old scores. In 1995, the average step score (1/2) was like 202. I wonder what they would've felt about SDN general score trends now lol.

 

[MilkmanAl]

i feel like i got a great score (237/99) but it pales in comparison to the avg

Uh...it does? You still beat the average, you know.

I agree that more and more people will be taking Step 2 earlier as programs and specialties gradually place more emphasis on it. Average scores increase as people figure out that Step 2 is something that can make a difference in their app.

 

[Mr Cookie Pants]

how does a 237 pale in comparison to a lower 233? I think you're selling yourself a little short there!

It's like getting a 226 on step 1. Nobody would be excited about it. Solid score for most things, but not great. Applying the step 1 mindset (230 good, 240 great, 250 excellent and 260 legendary) to step 2 doesnt work anymore. You have to do ELEVEN points better to keep the same percentile.

 

[SlaveOfTCMC]

the funny thing is, many people in my school are trying to convince other students that Step 2 "does not matter."

at the same time, they are busy studying away.

 

[PokerDoc]

It's like getting a 226 on step 1. Nobody would be excited about it. Solid score for most things, but not great. Applying the step 1 mindset (230 good, 240 great, 250 excellent and 260 legendary) to step 2 doesnt work anymore. You have to do ELEVEN points better to keep the same percentile.

I just thought "pales in comparison" was a little strong, that's all. I don't entirely agree with your thought process, but I also am not concerned enough with it to bother debating.

 

[b-real]

Just looked at their website. They used to have a FAQ despelling common myths, one being that the USMLE was NOT going to merge Step 1 + Step 2. They now have a new section stating that they are talking about possibilities of that for the future. http://www.usmle.org/General_Information/FAQs/FAQs-CRU.html

While i was there I check old scores. In 1995, the average step score (1/2) was like 202. I wonder what they would've felt about SDN general score trends now lol.

You mean this site? http://www.nbme.org/students/Urban-Legends/index.html

 

[Valadi]

You mean this site? http://www.nbme.org/students/Urban-Legends/index.html

Indeed

From USMLE.org

Will Step 1 and 2 CK be combined into one exam?

Over the course of 2011, models of potential changes to the USMLE exam sequence will be reviewed by staff of the ECFMG, FSMB, and NBME; by USMLE governance; and by key stakeholders. Models being considered would maintain approximately the same amount of total testing time across the USMLE exam sequence, and would not increase fees charged to examinees beyond historical trends. Changes under consideration include the following:

The number of examinations;
The content assessed in each individual examination and in the USMLE program as a whole;
The types of assessment challenges, e.g., new item formats described above; and
The way that examinees' performance is scored and reported.
Depending on feedback received during this review, plans presently call for public announcement of changes to the USMLE structure in the first half of 2012. That announcement will address both the nature of changes as well as the timeframe for implementation, including the process for transitioning from the current Step system to a new system of USMLE examinations.

From NBME.org

Step 1 is 'going away' or Step 1 and Step 2 CK are being combined into one exam.

Reality Check: Fiction

Explanation:
This urban legend seems to spring from some misperceptions about the recommendations made by the Committee to Evaluate the USMLE Program (CEUP) with respect to the assessment of basic science. Early feedback from the wide variety of stakeholders surveyed to inform CEUP's work told us that from both a licensing and an educational perspective, the separate design and administration of an examination of the basic sciences seems to create an artificial separation of basic and clinical sciences. This sentiment was frequently expressed by stakeholders, including faculty members from both the basic sciences and clinical sciences. The weight of opinion favored the integration of basic science and clinical science concepts throughout all examination components rather than the current segregation of basic science content in Step 1. This does not mean, however, that Step 1 will be eliminated from the USMLE sequence or that Step 1 and Step 2 CK will be combined.

W/e. I'm glad I got them out of the way.

Regardless, none of this will likely change while we're still in training.

 

[2012mdc]

the funny thing is, many people in my school are trying to convince other students that Step 2 "does not matter."

at the same time, they are busy studying away.

Of course it matters. How much it matters varies wildly depending on the specialty, the program, and the applicant's Step 1 and goals.

If someone is applying to IM and scored a 225 on Step 1 but cracked 260 on Step 2 in August then Step 2 definitely matters.

If someone is applying to Radiology and scored a 255 on Step 1 but cracked 260 on Step 2 in December then it probably matters very little.