Generally...where would most docs list these in order of difficulty

[thisplace]

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MCAT
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3

Also, is step 3 always mandatory?

 

[synapse lapse]

Haven't taken step 3 yet, nor have I gotted my step 2 score back, but I would rank them Step 1 > Step 2 > Step 3 > MCAT. Step 3 is mandatory to become licensed as a physician. You can get an MD and go into another career without taking step 3 (or possible step 1/2 depending on school policy).

 

[GoLakers310]

Dude, most med school exams are equivalent to the level of MCAT, plus minus a little easier or harder depending on the subject. It requires understanding, knowledge and application, being able to answer based upon weird questions stems. You can't compare MCAT to the Steps!

 

[lildave2586]

Dude, most med school exams are equivalent to the level of MCAT

This is not the experience I have had. My MCAT was poor but I was able to beat the class average on every exam first year, most of the time by at least 8 points.

Maybe I'm an outlier, but the MCAT was WAY harder for me than anything I did first year. Damn verbal.

 

[FutureDoc4]

I have not taken Step I yet. However, speaking to Multiple 3rd years about it. The consensus I've heard is:

MCAT>>Step I.

Why you ask? Because Step I requires reasoning, but we all have the same information (and basic coursework). Your ability to perform well I think is based much more on how hard you are willing to work (although, I am sure there are exceptions).

If you are an engineer or a physics major, portions of the MCAT are going to feel like a cakewalk. We all take the "basics" but there are WIDE differences between intro bio classes across the country and our exposure to those sciences. So, there may be a knowledge gap (or advantage) to each person. Throw reasoning on TOP of that. It seems to be a challenging exam.

This was explained to me eloquently by a third year with an 29 MCAT, >250 Step I.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I have not taken Step I yet. However, speaking to Multiple 3rd years about it. The consensus I've heard is:

MCAT>>Step I.

I disagree strongly. I would say the majority (maybe vast majority) would say that Step 1 is much harder than the MCAT

 

[synapse lapse]

I have not taken Step I yet. However, speaking to Multiple 3rd years about it. The consensus I've heard is:

MCAT>>Step I.

Not even close. The MCAT was easier than most of my classes exams, and way easier than Step 1.

 

[psipsina]

I disagree strongly. I would say the majority (maybe vast majority) would say that Step 1 is much harder than the MCAT

Agreed. The volume of information covered alone makes it more difficult. The question stems are much longer and more involved. Most of the bio and verbal on the MCAT was just reading comprehension and the chem and physics was a matter of knowing your stuff from a handful of undergrad courses (most of which were 100 level). No comparison. I could see how people who struggled with the verbal section would think that the MCAT was harder because that is a harder skill to teach yourself in a short amount of time. But for most people the volume of information that needs to be retained for the step is a much much bigger obstacle.

 

[Pollux]

IMG (Taiwanese at Australian med school)
MCAT - 38 (10V, 14B, 14P) - 300 hours
Step 1 - 276/99 - 1000 hours
Step 2 - 279/99 - 250 hours

I would rank the difficulty as MCAT verbal > Step 1 > Step 2 > MCAT Bio/Phy. I agree with psipsina that the verbal section on the MCAT is the hardest to improve in a short amount of time. English is not my first language, so that might be a factor too.

 

[lord_jeebus]

My prep time:

MCAT - 100 hrs
Step I - 500 hrs
Step II - 100 hrs
Step III - 10 hrs

Besides Step III I think I did about as well on all of them.

 

[a winner is you]

Just compare the amount of time people use to study for each of them and you have your answer.