Feb 2019 CBSE

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UCSF2021:) said:
Are we expecting scores this Friday?
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Someone earlier said the 4th which would be next monday. AAOMS said they would email us with an exact date for them being released, which of course they haven’t.
 
OMFSer* said:
You have any examples? Did it compare to the newer released NBMEs like NBME 17, 18, 19 in terms of difficulty?
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Give or take, NBMEs are very similar in terms of difficulty. They are releasing 3 new forms in March and leaving only 18 available.

I already forgot 2/3 of everything I studied and we haven’t even gotten our results
 
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Can someone elaborate on how the CBSE for OMFS is different from the current USMLE step 1?
I think someone mentioned that the CBSE for OMFS is a very old version of USMLE step 1 and therefore it is not similar to the current style of USMLE step 1.
 
IOPEU said:
Can someone elaborate on how the CBSE for OMFS is different from the current USMLE step 1?
I think someone mentioned that the CBSE for OMFS is a very old version of USMLE step 1 and therefore it is not similar to the current style of USMLE step 1.
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None of us have taken the actual step 1, but if you look on posts here and on reddit, many medical students report that their actual step 1 was close to the recent NBMEs (18, 19) in terms of question style and difficulty (2nd order and 3rd order questions being common).

I personally felt like the most recent CBSE was definitely challenging.
 
docnick95 said:
I personally felt like the most recent CBSE was definitely challenging.
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I don't think anyone comes out of the CBSE (or Step 1) thinking that it wasn't challenging. Actually, I remember one dude who said "it wasn't too bad" after the CBSE and scored a 44. So I guess that emphasizes that difficulty is relative.

IOPEU said:
Can someone elaborate on how the CBSE for OMFS is different from the current USMLE step 1?
I think someone mentioned that the CBSE for OMFS is a very old version of USMLE step 1 and therefore it is not similar to the current style of USMLE step 1.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that many medical schools recommend, or even require, 2nd year med students to take the CBSE as a preparation tool for the Step 1. The CBSE has been around for a while, long before OMFS required it as a part of the application process.

Vignette-style questions: I wouldn't say its that different in terms of sheer difficulty. You still have the vignette style questions where you have to pick through pertinent information/labs. I'd best describe the Step 1 questions as UWorld on 'roids. I did tend to find myself stuck between two answer options a lot more during the Step 1, but that's probably just recency bias.

Language: I do tend to find a difference between the language used on the NBME (Shelf exams, CBSE), Step1 vs UWorld. Not a game-changer, but just different.

Interface: The computer interface is similar. The Step 1 interface is a bit different than the NBME, but more similar to UW than the NBME. Keep in mind that the Step 1 will have those questions where you have to move a little stethoscope around a chest to identify murmurs. I cant recall if the CBSE had this. UW does not have those types of questions, at least not when I did them.

Length: The biggest difference is the length, obviously. One requires considerable stamina to drudge through those 7 blocks/280q. Totally normal to exit the prometric site and be certain you failed. Drive home safe.

There was a 2.5 year gap between when I took the CBSE and the Step 1. I did worse on the Step 1 comparatively (as I expected), but my CBSE score was still around the same area when you look at the score conversion. Same goes for my co-residents. So I guess its a decent predictor?

Hope that was somewhat useful, but I'm sure most of you already knew the majority of it.
 
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BlackThought said:
I don't think anyone comes out of the CBSE (or Step 1) thinking that it wasn't challenging. Actually, I remember one dude who said "it wasn't too bad" after the CBSE and scored a 44. So I guess that emphasizes that difficulty is relative.



Keep in mind that many medical schools recommend, or even require, 2nd year med students to take the CBSE as a preparation tool for the Step 1. The CBSE has been around for a while, long before OMFS required it as a part of the application process.

Vignette-style questions: I wouldn't say its that different in terms of sheer difficulty. You still have the vignette style questions where you have to pick through pertinent information/labs. I'd best describe the Step 1 questions as UWorld on 'roids. I did tend to find myself stuck between two answer options a lot more during the Step 1, but that's probably just recency bias.

Language: I do tend to find a difference between the language used on the NBME (Shelf exams, CBSE), Step1 vs UWorld. Not a game-changer, but just different.

Interface: The computer interface is similar. The Step 1 interface is a bit different than the NBME, but more similar to UW than the NBME. Keep in mind that the Step 1 will have those questions where you have to move a little stethoscope around a chest to identify murmurs. I cant recall if the CBSE had this. UW does not have those types of questions, at least not when I did them.

Length: The biggest difference is the length, obviously. One requires considerable stamina to drudge through those 7 blocks/280q. Totally normal to exit the prometric site and be certain you failed. Drive home safe.

There was a 2.5 year gap between when I took the CBSE and the Step 1. I did worse on the Step 1 comparatively (as I expected), but my CBSE score was still around the same area when you look at the score conversion. Same goes for my co-residents. So I guess its a decent predictor?

Hope that was somewhat useful, but I'm sure most of you already knew the majority of it.
Click to expand...

The resident I spoke to said he was crushing the shelf exams but got a significantly lower step 1 score. Still passed which is what matters. Of course this is n=1.
Also from what I looked up on sdn, the consensus was that when they took step 1 they were far better prepared than cramming it during dental school.
 
Likkriue said:
The resident I spoke to said he was crushing the shelf exams but got a significantly lower step 1 score. Still passed which is what matters.
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What do the shelf exams have to do with how he did on Step 1? The the shelf exams are for step 2 prep during clerkship. I'm assuming you meant the practice NBMEs. I never did those, so hard for me to comment on that.

Likkriue said:
Also from what I looked up on sdn, the consensus was that when they took step 1 they were far better prepared than cramming it during dental school.
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This probably varies based on the program. Multiple factors at play: whether you take the Step 1 at the start of residency vs after intern year, when you start medical school and if you do any 1st/2nd year, etc. I'd say that most people that had to take the step 1 right after intern year would agree that they were far less prepared than when they took the CBSE. You're still cramming in that situation. I never knew there was a consensus on this considering how programs are structured in so many different ways.

In the end, your CBSE score is way more important. Just need to pass the Step 1.


Edit: Anecdotally, my CBSE score, if correlated to a Step 1 score, was ~240. 2.5 years later on the actual Step 1, I scored a 224. Definitely different, but not really that big a difference when you look at CBSE scores. I'd say it's likely within or close to the SEM.
 
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BlackThought said:
What do the shelf exams have to do with how he did on Step 1? The the shelf exams are for step 2 prep during clerkship. I'm assuming you meant the practice NMBEs. I never did those, so hard for me to comment on that.



This probably varies based on the program. Multiple factors at play: whether you take the Step 1 at the start of residency vs after intern year, when you start medical school and if you do any 1st/2nd year, etc. I'd say that most people that had to take the step 1 right after intern year would agree that they were far less prepared than when they took the CBSE. I never knew there was a consenus on this considering how programs are structured in so many different ways.
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Yes oops I meant the practice nbmes.

It was in some old threads with residents commenting on the difference between the 2. Most said they scored higher on step 1 than they did on the cbse. Well this thread was only like 4 responses so there’s that lol. I read this on another old thread but with some OGs commenting on it but can’t find it.

CBSE to Step 1 correlation

I’m also surprised some programs make you take it after intern year. Didn’t know they force people to take one of the medical licensing exams before starting the medical education.
 
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Likkriue said:
I’m also surprised some programs make you take it after intern year. Didn’t know they force people to take one of the medical licensing exams before starting the medical education.
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This is common, and honestly, I prefer it this way.
  1. Intern year.
  2. Take Step 1 and pass.
  3. Slide right into clerkship (3rd year medical school). Rounding, delivering babies, closing lap port-sites, and some more rounding.
Having studied for the CBSE already its really not necessary to do the didactic years of medical school. Pathoma + UW will probably prepare you better for the Step 1 than med school lectures.

The core clerkships (medicine, surgery, psych, OB, peds, etc) are what really define the requirement for 6y OMFS programs. To my understanding, programs can fiddle around with all other aspects of the med school years, but the core clerkships must always be there.
 
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BlackThought said:
I don't think anyone comes out of the CBSE (or Step 1) thinking that it wasn't challenging. Actually, I remember one dude who said "it wasn't too bad" after the CBSE and scored a 44. So I guess that emphasizes that difficulty is relative.



Keep in mind that many medical schools recommend, or even require, 2nd year med students to take the CBSE as a preparation tool for the Step 1. The CBSE has been around for a while, long before OMFS required it as a part of the application process.

Vignette-style questions: I wouldn't say its that different in terms of sheer difficulty. You still have the vignette style questions where you have to pick through pertinent information/labs. I'd best describe the Step 1 questions as UWorld on 'roids. I did tend to find myself stuck between two answer options a lot more during the Step 1, but that's probably just recency bias.

Language: I do tend to find a difference between the language used on the NBME (Shelf exams, CBSE), Step1 vs UWorld. Not a game-changer, but just different.

Interface: The computer interface is similar. The Step 1 interface is a bit different than the NBME, but more similar to UW than the NBME. Keep in mind that the Step 1 will have those questions where you have to move a little stethoscope around a chest to identify murmurs. I cant recall if the CBSE had this. UW does not have those types of questions, at least not when I did them.

Length: The biggest difference is the length, obviously. One requires considerable stamina to drudge through those 7 blocks/280q. Totally normal to exit the prometric site and be certain you failed. Drive home safe.

There was a 2.5 year gap between when I took the CBSE and the Step 1. I did worse on the Step 1 comparatively (as I expected), but my CBSE score was still around the same area when you look at the score conversion. Same goes for my co-residents. So I guess its a decent predictor?

Hope that was somewhat useful, but I'm sure most of you already knew the majority of it.
Click to expand...


Thank you so much for your detailed explanation.

The reason why I asked this question was because I thought that the actual CBSE gave out less number of Vignette-style questions (unlike uworld). I'm just wondering if I have to focus more on memorizing cues (V.cholera - raw shellfish).
 
I spoke to John London today at AAOMS; while he said that there is no official release date, he expects results to be released on Monday the 4th.

I recognize that someone posted this same information earlier in the thread, but I wanted to confirm and update everyone. I am not exactly sure why they have not announced a new release date or why they are waiting to Monday, but at least there is some unofficial light at the end of the tunnel.
 
Confirmed it is out.
*i didn’t take it, my friends did*
 
No score yet

Last time some came in junk mail btw, still not there either though:
 
I’m also pretty early in the alphabet, not sure if it makes a difference. Good luck to everyone! I’ll definitely be retaking in August though
 
Didn't get my email, so I went to the one I got from the last test in August and that link worked!
 
OMFS_BLUEFACE said:
How do you know someone got a 99, I realize that the highest score gets assigned the 99, but do you know them personally?
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Person prefers to keep it lowkey, I just have a big mouth. Also it’s not always he highest gets a 99, last year the highest was a 96.
 
Mr.Scalpel said:
Scored a 79


My score was in range of what I thought it was going to be. Took UWSAs only and was in the upper 80s in both of them, so as some people have stated before they significantly overestimate.
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Did you have a medical school based curriculum? Do you mind briefly sharing your methods? Congrats on the score.
 
wedelstaedt said:
Did you have a medical school based curriculum? Do you mind briefly sharing your methods? Congrats on the score.
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I did not. This exam is a function of how much time you put in, medical school just shortens that time.
 
Mr.Scalpel said:
Scored a 79


My score was in range of what I thought it was going to be. Took UWSAs only and was in the upper 80s in both of them, so as some people have stated before they significantly overestimate.
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Are you going to take it again? I am wondering whether I should myself, got a 76, but got a lot of questions wrong simply because I didn't review
 
If you have the wallet you can take it as many times as you want before applications. Can’t hurt if you have the time. But it might interfere with your grades depending on what school you are attending. That score is still excellent so might not be worth it if you have to sacrifice your grades.
 
Likkriue said:
If you have the wallet you can take it as many times as you want before applications. Can’t hurt if you have the time. But it might interfere with your grades depending on what school you are attending. That score is still excellent so might not be worth it if you have to sacrifice your grades.
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I have a lot of time off before the next Aug test date, though, so I will probably just take it again-have 7 weeks off right before the test.
 
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