How do MDs perform on COMLEX?

[Peach Newport]

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Has anyone ever done a study or something of how MD students might perform on the non-OMM sections of the COMLEX?

Had an MD ever actually taken COMLEX, in any situation?

I ask because it would be really interesting to gauge how schools teach to different tests. The USMLE is a “hard” test, and COMLEX is a “confusing” test - but would MDs do better on both tests, or would the type of teaching at DO schools better prepare a DO to score better on the basic sciences component?

 

[t5Nitro]

I'd assume they would rock it because most DOs study for step 1 in order to take comlex 1.

 

[Jinxapotato]

n=1 here, but I didn't find COMLEX confusing at all, most of them are straight recall questions. the USMLE however, is definitely harder.

 

[Peach Newport]

I'd assume they would rock it because most DOs study for step 1 in order to take comlex 1.

Yes but the DOs also had 2 years of COMLEX prep, so the idea is to remove that confounding variable.

 

[Goro]

Has anyone ever done a study or something of how MD students might perform on the non-OMM sections of the COMLEX?

Had an MD ever actually taken COMLEX, in any situation?

I ask because it would be really interesting to gauge how schools teach to different tests. The USMLE is a “hard” test, and COMLEX is a “confusing” test - but would MDs do better on both tests, or would the type of teaching at DO schools better prepare a DO to score better on the basic sciences component?

At least one of my MD colleagues sat for the same exam we faculty had....and he thought it was quite straightforward.

 

[deleted407021]

At least one of my MD colleagues sat for the same exam we faculty had....and he thought it was quite straightforward.

Good straightforward or bad straightforward?

 

[BorntobeDO?]

I am sure that 90+% would pass Comlex also if they studied.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Yes but the DOs also had 2 years of COMLEX prep, so the idea is to remove that confounding variable.

The hell is COMLEX prep?

 

[Mad Jack]

Yes but the DOs also had 2 years of COMLEX prep, so the idea is to remove that confounding variable.

I only studied for the USMLE from day 1. It was a challenging exam, while the COMLEX was much more straightforward. However, the grading curve of the COMLEX is a bit more wonky and unpredictable, so I really feel like it's hard to compare the two.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

The hell is COMLEX prep?

At my school its any activity that all the students are certain is 'lowering board scores.'

 

[Goro]

Good straightforward or bad straightforward?

Good.

 

[Peach Newport]

The hell is COMLEX prep?

2 years of basic sciences geared toward the subjects and emphases that comlex likes to test. I was under the impression that DO curricula were tailored slightly to comlex and comlex-style questions.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

2 years of basic sciences geared toward the subjects and emphases that comlex likes to test. I was under the impression that DO curricula were tailored slightly to comlex and comlex-style questions.

There's nothing on COMLEX that isn't explicitly emphasized in far more detail on Uworld or the USMLE.

 

[Peach Newport]

There's nothing on COMLEX that isn't explicitly emphasized in far more detail on Uworld or the USMLE.

Our teachers would have us believe that even though the material covered is the same, the emphasis on board testing is different. For example, they’re constantly telling us that COMLEX tests things like “best initial test,” “best initial treatment,” “most accurate test” which, while covered on USMLE, is more extensively tested on comlex and emphasized in the curricula accordingly. They throw out many more examples but those are what stick in my mind. Is this untrue?

 

[libertyyne]

I would say they will probably miss all the OMM questions. Are we adjusting for testing taking abilities in this hypothetical senario ?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I would say they will probably miss all the OMM questions. Are we adjusting for testing taking abilities in this hypothetical senario ?

I'm not sure how you'd do that unless you stratify based on mcat score.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Our teachers would have us believe that even though the material covered is the same, the emphasis on board testing is different. For example, they’re constantly telling us that COMLEX tests things like “best initial test,” “best initial treatment,” “most accurate test” which, while covered on USMLE, is more extensively tested on comlex and emphasized in the curricula accordingly. They throw out many more examples but those are what stick in my mind. Is this untrue?

That's what step 2 and level 2 test on tbh. Step 1 and level 1 are entirely built around path, pathophysiology, and diagnosis. They don't care whether you need to do a FNA or US for a thyroid nodule.

 

[libertyyne]

I'm not sure how you'd do that unless you stratify based on mcat score.

Thats what I was implying. Any sort of apples to apples comparison would require stratification by MCAT.

 

[IslandStyle808]

That's what step 2 and level 2 test on tbh. Step 1 and level 1 are entirely built around path, pathophysiology, and diagnosis. They don't care whether you need to do a FNA or US for a thyroid nodule.

And that right there is the problem I'm facing at my school. Too much step 2 focus from the clinicians.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Thats what I was implying. Any sort of apples to apples comparison would require stratification by MCAT.

I suspect that the averages would still likely be higher at an MD school due to no time spent on OMM which can be used on either studying or frankly being more rested for step.

 

[getfat]

I suspect that the averages would still likely be higher at an MD school due to no time spent on OMM which can be used on either studying or frankly being more rested for step.

Thats assuming most MD students are going to use that time to study. I'm sure every MD/DO student is working hard but the extra time is probably for other things not related to med school.

Professor at my school (who is an MD) took COMLEX I. Said the same thing as @Goro's colleague and added that it was a more of buzzwords and recall based facts compared to the USMLE.

MD schools select applicants with usually higher objective stats (GPA, MCAT) compared to DO students but I don't see them doing better on a test that focuses on buzzwords.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Thats assuming most MD students are going to use that time to study. I'm sure every MD/DO student is working hard but the extra time is probably for other things not related to med school.

Professor at my school (who is an MD) took COMLEX I. Said the same thing as @Goro's colleague and added that it was a more of buzzwords and recall based facts compared to the USMLE.

MD schools select applicants with usually higher objective stats (GPA, MCAT) compared to DO students but I don't see them doing better on a test that focuses on buzzwords.

The time not spent on OMM amounts to why MDs usually have an extra month off. That's enormous for mental and physical health.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

COMLEX makes questions hard by testing to recall rare minutiae and adding answer choices you never heard of. USMLE makes questions harder by making you think and testing your ability to understand why the other answer choices are incomplete or unlikely based on the presentation.