FRED Software v2

[ZonaRidicularis]

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[fierzer]

Could this.. sort of be seen as an advantage? I mean, let's say you stumble upon one of these sequential questions.. wouldn't it be safe to assume it's experimental and just click and move on?

I also don't see the reasoning behind tougher calculation questions that require an upgraded calculator or whatever. I mean, it's already a given that this exam doesn't exactly predict how great of a doctor you'll be, but how much more irrelevant are they trying to make the exam? Just seems like it's a step in the wrong direction, IMO. Then again, guess we're not in the position to question this type of stuff anyway, as they usually know what they're doing when they're making changes.

 

[Knicks]

Could this.. sort of be seen as an advantage? I mean, let's say you stumble upon one of these sequential questions.. wouldn't it be safe to assume it's experimental and just click and move on?

I also don't see the reasoning behind tougher calculation questions that require an upgraded calculator or whatever. I mean, it's already a given that this exam doesn't exactly predict how great of a doctor you'll be, but how much more irrelevant are they trying to make the exam?

👍

Just seems like it's a step in the wrong direction, IMO. Then again, guess we're not in the position to question this type of stuff anyway,

We, of ALL PEOPLE, are DEFINTITELY in a position to question the Step 1; it's gonna determine our careers.

as they usually know what they're doing when they're making changes.

Kinda contradicts what you side earlier in your post (the part I bolded and underlined).

 

[fierzer]

Just meant that regardless of their absurdity and illogicality.. we still gotta give 'em the benefit of the doubt. They've been doing this for long enough that they should know what they're doing by now.

At the same time, I'm just hoping that all these changes (esp the stupid new calculations they'll inevitably throw at us) will be blatantly obvious experimental questions come test day so we don't have to waste much time on it. Let the worrying and altered studying be the problem of future students, not students who have already begun preparing for this thing.

 

[FutureInternist]

The email that was sent out by the NBME a while back stated that students DO NOT need the calculator to do any Qs. From my own experience & what I have heard from others this is true. Maybe it's just a "what if later on we decide to make this test absurder" kind of thing 😀

As for the sequential Qs, they did not seem to be of any more or less difficulty than the normal ones so skipping may not be a wise option.

 

[Solarium]

The new version of the software is available to download from the USMLE website. It includes an entire extra block of questions that has audio/video media clips and the new "sequential" type questions that they are introducing in 2009. They also added a calculator to use.

I only went through the tutorial but it seems like those sequential questions are not all that bad. You have to answer the first one before you can see the next question. The first question gets locked so you can't go back to change your answer. I think this is because the 2nd question probably gives the first one away. In the tutorial it was set up like this: Stem, Q1 What is the most likely diagnosis?, Q2 Patient ended up having [answer to 1st Q], what would be best treatment?

I bet these will all be experimental at first. They're good types of questions though.

How soon will they introduce these type of questions into the actual test?

 

[ZonaRidicularis]

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[Solarium]

Took the practice test today, and it's still FRED v1. Has anyone taken his test during this year and gotten a FRED v2 one?

 

[hj0517]

Heads up for any London prometric test takers - I took mine on the 16th of Jan and the guys hadn't even heard of an upgrade to FRED - so it will be the old version for the foreseeable future, I also had know 'two question' questions, if you know what I mean.

 

[ZonaRidicularis]

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[g6pddfishnc]

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[Solarium]

Yea, so I checked the USMLE Announcements page and saw a recent post titled, "Migration of Step 3 Examination to New Software for Computer-Based USMLE in March 2009".

I like how they conveniently didn't mention anything about Step 1 in the title yet they included a pathetic little afterthought at the bottom for all the Step 1 folk. Here's what it says:

• Note to Step 1 examinees: Migration of Step 1 to the new test delivery software will occur in May/June 2009. Please monitor the USMLE website announcements section to check for changes in test delivery software, and to access orientation and practice materials.

That's awsome, I'm glad that FRED v1 is still being used, now that we've all practiced so much with the UW format. Thanks for the heads up 😀

 

[DoctaJay]

lol, well it sucks for me cause I"m taking mine in June 2009 🙂