Did you guys find the MCAT harder than Step I?

[bozz]

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Before you all jump on me and call me crazy... know that I don't know anything about the Step I :-D

I've heard some people saying Step I is harder .. they say: more memorization, so it's harder

I've heard some people saying Step I is easier ... they say: less reasoning even though a lot more studying is required, it's easier

 

[Cards21aceking]

quote from one of our administrators: "Step I is the hardest test you have ever, or will ever take."

Pretty sure the overwhelming response you'll receive on this forum is that Step I is significantly more difficult than the MCAT, though there are apparently some studies that have shown correlations between MCAT scores (I don't recall which section though) and Step I scores.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Step 1 is harder. However, I was better prepared for it and did "better" on it relative to the MCAT, so it's not like it's bone curshingly, hair ripping out, gouge out my eyes difficult.

That said, do not underestimate it. If you pass, you get ONE shot at it, unlike the MCAT and it's importance to your residency is probably greater than the MCAT into getting to med school.

 

[bozz]

Step 1 is harder. However, I was better prepared for it and did "better" on it relative to the MCAT, so it's not like it's bone curshingly, hair ripping out, gouge out my eyes difficult.

That said, do not underestimate it. If you pass, you get ONE shot at it, unlike the MCAT and it's importance to your residency is probably greater than the MCAT into getting to med school.

Ah ic

is it more "preparable" than the MCAT? For example.. you've got MCAT Verbal, which is really hard to improve on.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I liked it more than MCAT since I'm good at bio stuff and that's pretty much all there is on Step I. On mcat theres that annoying physics, gen chem, o chem, essay writing, and verbal passages type stuff.

 

[lankysudanese]

the MCAT and Step 1 are not comparable to each other. the MCAT is a test of critical thinking and one's ability to apply well-established scientific concepts to novel situations. and that is why med schools use it as an indicator of how much potential for clinical/scientific success a prospective student has. Step 1 is mainly a test of basic science knowledge, and that is why it is used as a liscensure test - to make sure that no physician is allowed to practice until they have demonstrated a certain level of mastery of the basic sciences.

if you look through the usmle step 1 score threads, you will find a few posts that show either:
1. someone who did below average in the MCAT (<24) and did very well on Step 1 (>240)
2. someone who did very well on the MCAT (>35) and did barely above average on Step 1 (~220).

...just goes to show you that there is no such thing as a bad (or good) test-taker.