Concern about UW average.

[RussianJoo]

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So I am about to take step1 in 4 days and I have a 61% cumulative ave for usmle world. I know that this is a fairly good average and my estimated score is probably about 220. However, I still feel concerned. What if the test is as hard as UW, or what if don't answer the "easy" questions and end up with 61% correct on step one that would mean I barely passed or even possibly failed the test, because I heard you need between 60-70% correct to pass.

What do you guys think of all this?

I know that statistics show otherwise but my parents are a little upset with the fact that i have such a low average, I keep telling them that that's a pretty good average and i'll do fairly well on the test but they don't believe me.


thanks for the comments.

 

[Blesbok]

So I am about to take step1 in 4 days and I have a 61% cumulative ave for usmle world. I know that this is a fairly good average and my estimated score is probably about 220. However, I still feel concerned. What if the test is as hard as UW, or what if don't answer the "easy" questions and end up with 61% correct on step one that would mean I barely passed or even possibly failed the test, because I heard you need between 60-70% correct to pass.

What do you guys think of all this?

I know that statistics show otherwise but my parents are a little upset with the fact that i have such a low average, I keep telling them that that's a pretty good average and i'll do fairly well on the test but they don't believe me.


thanks for the comments.

Have you tried taking an NBME? That will give you a better idea of where you stand than UW will. UW has 3-4 step questions where most of the NBME (and I assume step 1) questions are more 1-2 step questions.

Also, why are your parent's concerned and why do they know what your averages are like? They need to be less concerned and more supportive. Since I doubt your parent's have done UW and taken the step 1, they shouldn't be judging your scores unless they know what they are talking about.

But in the end, with a 60%+ avg overall, I doubt you have much to be concerned about as far as passing.

 

[BabyPsychDoc]

So I am about to take step1 in 4 days and I have a 61% cumulative ave for usmle world. I know that this is a fairly good average and my estimated score is probably about 220. However, I still feel concerned. What if the test is as hard as UW, or what if don't answer the "easy" questions and end up with 61% correct on step one that would mean I barely passed or even possibly failed the test, because I heard you need between 60-70% correct to pass.

What do you guys think of all this?

I know that statistics show otherwise but my parents are a little upset with the fact that i have such a low average, I keep telling them that that's a pretty good average and i'll do fairly well on the test but they don't believe me.


thanks for the comments.

This topic has been beaten to death on this forum. Do NOT use UW to predict your score. It is a crappy score predictor. Shell out 45 greenbacks and take an NMBE form 2, 3 or 4 if you want a score predictor, though if your exam is just in 4 days you may not wish to do so.

Tell your parents not to lose sleep over it.

PS Sorry, could not resist it - too cool a smiley!🙂 My UW average was in high 60s, and I got 238/99 on the real thing.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Also, there is no point in using a cumulative average from any question bank for prognostication, because so much of that reflects your level of knowledge at an earlier stage of preparation.

I would only trust an NBME exam (2, 3, or 4 as suggested above) for predicting your score. With few days left, however, I don't know if it's worth the investment -- unless a particular score would make you postpone the test, or unless you need the confidence.

 

[RussianJoo]

Have you tried taking an NBME? That will give you a better idea of where you stand than UW will. UW has 3-4 step questions where most of the NBME (and I assume step 1) questions are more 1-2 step questions.

Also, why are your parent's concerned and why do they know what your averages are like? They need to be less concerned and more supportive. Since I doubt your parent's have done UW and taken the step 1, they shouldn't be judging your scores unless they know what they are talking about.

But in the end, with a 60%+ avg overall, I doubt you have much to be concerned about as far as passing.

I took nbme5 and got 630/245 and took nbme3 and got 550/230 so i like i said before i know i'll do ok on the test.. My parents are interested how well i am doing they want me to succeed, and besides they're paying for the exam and everything else so sure they have a right to know.

 

[RussianJoo]

If you guys are saying that UW is not a good score predictor then why do all Score Estimators use Kaplan Qbank score to predict your step1 score? this reasoning would make kaplan qbank a poor score predictor as well.

 

[lord_jeebus]

If you guys are saying that UW is not a good score predictor then why do all Score Estimators use Kaplan Qbank score to predict your step1 score? this reasoning would make kaplan qbank a poor score predictor as well.

You can use the question banks as mediocre predictors if you look at your percentage correct for a recent set of about 300 questions. Still, NBME is best.

 

[Blesbok]

I took nbme5 and got 630/245 and took nbme3 and got 550/230 so i like i said before i know i'll do ok on the test.. My parents are interested how well i am doing they want me to succeed, and besides they're paying for the exam and everything else so sure they have a right to know.

And they are worried that you won't succeed with a 230? I am not saying they don't have a right to know, what I am saying is that you need to help give them some perspective since I doubt that they have been in your shoes. A 60% cumulative on UW is not like a 60% on a chemistry test in college.

 

[medhacker]

If you guys are saying that UW is not a good score predictor then why do all Score Estimators use Kaplan Qbank score to predict your step1 score? this reasoning would make kaplan qbank a poor score predictor as well.

Homie

The difference is UW is not a self-assessment but a "learning tool". Reason why they recently launched their own self-assessment exam. They even admit it themselves, UW is not for self-assessment, it is designed to make you learn.

 

[78222]

There is a reason I don't talk to my parents about scores in medschool. If I get a B in a ridiculously hard course they will say "why didnt you get an A???". Whenever they ask about the USMLE they ask how I am going to do, and I want to say "how the hell should I know???".

 

[Ypo.]

My actual score was 3 points higher than my NBME score (for the third test).

 

[78222]

Homie

The difference is UW is not a self-assessment but a "learning tool". Reason why they recently launched their own self-assessment exam. They even admit it themselves, UW is not for self-assessment, it is designed to make you learn.

Nah, they launched the new Self-Assessment for $$$$$$

 

[medhacker]

Nah, they launched the new Self-Assessment for $$$$$$

Well yeah, they realized people love security, reassurance, gratification, insurance etc

And they know their Qbank is a learning horse not a self-diagnostic, so they were missing out on that side of the market and apparently decided to remediate it $tat.

 

[RussianJoo]

And they are worried that you won't succeed with a 230? I am not saying they don't have a right to know, what I am saying is that you need to help give them some perspective since I doubt that they have been in your shoes. A 60% cumulative on UW is not like a 60% on a chemistry test in college.

yes well i keep telling them,that 60% is pretty good and the q's are hard, but i guess they're hard of hearing.. maybe if i use a lower frequency voice they'll hear me better...(get it, cause old people lose high frequency hearing first) HAHAHAHA!!

 

[DragonWell]

Well yeah, they realized people love security, reassurance, gratification, insurance etc

And they know their Qbank is a learning horse not a self-diagnostic, so they were missing out on that side of the market and apparently decided to remediate it $tat.

Kind of the like the NBOME and the new COMSAE test. It's basically like an NBME, but it also has OMM questions, so they charge an extra $5. 😉

 

[Blesbok]

There is a reason I don't talk to my parents about scores in medschool. If I get a B in a ridiculously hard course they will say "why didnt you get an A???". Whenever they ask about the USMLE they ask how I am going to do, and I want to say "how the hell should I know???".

Are you Asian by chance?

 

[medhacker]

Kind of the like the NBOME and the new COMSAE test. It's basically like an NBME, but it also has OMM questions, so they charge an extra $5. 😉

LOL exactly!

Anyone taken it BTW?

 

[mudphudwannabe]

If it makes you feel any better, my cumulative average was 61% (50% completed) when I took the exam, and I did a lot better than passing. But I definitely would not use USMLE world to attempt to predict your score at all -- I just don't think it is going to be a reliable predictor. If you are truly concerned about not passing, definitely take an NBME..or several.

 

[DragonWell]

LOL exactly!

Anyone taken it BTW?

Since there's only one form available so far, I'm waiting a couple more weeks till I do a little more prep to take it. (I take COMLEX May 22)

Once I take it, I'll post my score, including NBMEs, for comparison.

 

[RussianJoo]

If it makes you feel any better, my cumulative average was 61% (50% completed) when I took the exam, and I did a lot better than passing. But I definitely would not use USMLE world to attempt to predict your score at all -- I just don't think it is going to be a reliable predictor. If you are truly concerned about not passing, definitely take an NBME..or several.

well like i posted above i took nbme 5 and got 630/245 and took nbme 3 the next day and got 550/230... should i be concerned about not passing? I hope not... but I am concerned about not doing well. I just hope I get above 220. Yes I know a few people that had 60% cum ave on UW as well and got in the 250's... but then again I know people got 57% and failed..

everyone i spoke with said that their score was within +/-10points of their last nbme which they took about a week or so before the exam. I hope that's the case for me.


thank you everyone for your comments.

 

[alpha06]

well like i posted above i took nbme 5 and got 630/245 and took nbme 3 the next day and got 550/230... should i be concerned about not passing? I hope not... but I am concerned about not doing well. I just hope I get above 220. Yes I know a few people that had 60% cum ave on UW as well and got in the 250's... but then again I know people got 57% and failed..

everyone i spoke with said that their score was within +/-10points of their last nbme which they took about a week or so before the exam. I hope that's the case for me.


thank you everyone for your comments.

By the looks of your scores on the NBME, I think you should be fine.

Go kill the test! 😉

Good !!

 

[Blesbok]

Well yeah, they realized people love security, reassurance, gratification, insurance etc

And they know their Qbank is a learning horse not a self-diagnostic, so they were missing out on that side of the market and apparently decided to remediate it $tat.

I wish these places would use feedback systems where students reported back with their scores on the actual Step 1 and then used that to make an accurate calculator that is included with the question banks.

 

[RussianJoo]

By the looks of your scores on the NBME, I think you should be fine.

Go kill the test! 😉

Good !!

thanks......

 

[mudphudwannabe]

well like i posted above i took nbme 5 and got 630/245 and took nbme 3 the next day and got 550/230... should i be concerned about not passing? I hope not... but I am concerned about not doing well. I just hope I get above 220. Yes I know a few people that had 60% cum ave on UW as well and got in the 250's... but then again I know people got 57% and failed..

Sorry, I must have missed that post when I was reading through - I didn't know you had taken any NBME's. With those NBME scores, I don't think failing should be an issue. Don't worry about UW scores - just use it for learning and practice. 👍

PS - I don't know a thing about the USMLE World assessment. They didn't have such a feature "back in the day." 😉 I just used the regular UW Qbank.

 

[RussianJoo]

Sorry, I must have missed that post when I was reading through - I didn't know you had taken any NBME's. With those NBME scores, I don't think failing should be an issue. Don't worry about UW scores - just use it for learning and practice. 👍

PS - I don't know a thing about the USMLE World assessment. They didn't have such a feature "back in the day." 😉 I just used the regular UW Qbank.

by back in the day you mean like as of two weeks ago? lol

 

[blz]

I wish these places would use feedback systems where students reported back with their scores on the actual Step 1 and then used that to make an accurate calculator that is included with the question banks.

http://www.medfriends.org/step1_estimator/

 

[Blesbok]

http://www.medfriends.org/step1_estimator/

No, UW ftl