USMLE Increasing step 1 scores

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DrBaby11

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It seems like the average step 1 score has been increasing at a ridiculous rate in the past couple years. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USMLE_Step_1#Scoring the average score has gone:

215 (2009)
218 (2010)
221 (2011)
220 (2012)
227 (2013)... wtf

So, for the 2015 match and beyond is a 230 no longer a "great" score?

In the 2011 charting outcomes for the match (http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf), which should correspond with the 2009 step 1 we find that average step 1 scores for matched applicants were the fist number listed. If we consider that the average step 1 score has gone up 12 points, the second number is the adjusted mean I would expect considering the increase in competition (add 12 points).

Emergency Medicine: 225 (237)
Family Medicine: 206 (218)
Internal medicine: 221 (233)
Neurology: 216 (228)
OB/ gyn: 221 (233)
Pathology: 224 (236)
Pediatrics: 216 (228)
Physical Medicine and Rehab: 223 (235)
Psychiatry: 205 (217)
Radiology: 237 (249)
General Surgery: 227 (239)

Any thoughts?
 
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DrBaby11 said:
It seems like the average step 1 score has been increasing at a ridiculous rate in the past couple years. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USMLE_Step_1#Scoring the average score has gone:

215 (2009)
218 (2010)
221 (2011)
220 (2012)
227 (2013)... wtf

So, for the 2015 match and beyond is a 230 no longer a "great" score?

In the 2011 charting outcomes for the match (http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf), which should correspond with the 2009 step 1 we find that average step 1 scores for matched applicants were the fist number listed. If we consider that the average step 1 score has gone up 12 points, the second number is the adjusted mean I would expect considering the increase in competition (add 12 points).

Emergency Medicine: 225 (237)
Family Medicine: 206 (218)
Internal medicine: 221 (233)
Neurology: 216 (228)
OB/ gyn: 221 (233)
Pathology: 224 (236)
Pediatrics: 216 (228)
Physical Medicine and Rehab: 223 (235)
Psychiatry: 205 (217)
Radiology: 237 (249)
General Surgery: 227 (239)

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

i see what you're getting at, but there are a number of other factors that you have to consider when considering the match. the numbers you provided are just an estimate and if anything, they would apply to the more competitive residencies like ER, rad onc, derm and so forth. The fact that you need a 218 to match into family is absolutely incorrect. Yeah Maybe at UCLA or another well known university program, but besides that then no.Sure, I do agree that it is getting more competitive to match as years go, but not quite sure at the value of a 12 point jump.
 
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The rising scores should bear some correlation with more "dysfunctionality" medical students. Studying all that much and disregarding other aspects of one's personal life ... something has to give.
 
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I think these averages are high. I do know the average EM average has risen by a fair amount. I do not have concrete numbers but I know at my home institution. The average last yr was a 240. I think the overall average is probably at the 230 mark now. I would say 228-232.

That is a large increase from 220 to 227. Weird.
 
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DrBaby11 said:
Emergency Medicine: 225 (237)
Family Medicine: 206 (218)
Internal medicine: 221 (233)
Neurology: 216 (228)
OB/ gyn: 221 (233)
Pathology: 224 (236)
Pediatrics: 216 (228)
Physical Medicine and Rehab: 223 (235)
Psychiatry: 205 (217)
Radiology: 237 (249)
General Surgery: 227 (239)

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

People always forget that roughly half the people that matched scored below whatever figure you listed. It's not all doom and gloom if you "needed" a 237 and got a 235.
 
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DrBaby11 said:
It seems like the average step 1 score has been increasing at a ridiculous rate in the past couple years. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USMLE_Step_1#Scoring the average score has gone:

215 (2009)
218 (2010)
221 (2011)
220 (2012)
227 (2013)... wtf

So, for the 2015 match and beyond is a 230 no longer a "great" score?

In the 2011 charting outcomes for the match (http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf), which should correspond with the 2009 step 1 we find that average step 1 scores for matched applicants were the fist number listed. If we consider that the average step 1 score has gone up 12 points, the second number is the adjusted mean I would expect considering the increase in competition (add 12 points).

Emergency Medicine: 225 (237)
Family Medicine: 206 (218)
Internal medicine: 221 (233)
Neurology: 216 (228)
OB/ gyn: 221 (233)
Pathology: 224 (236)
Pediatrics: 216 (228)
Physical Medicine and Rehab: 223 (235)
Psychiatry: 205 (217)
Radiology: 237 (249)
General Surgery: 227 (239)

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Lots of assumptions made here. Use AAMC's Careers in Medicine for the most up-to-date (2013) Step 1/Match Data.
 
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Matteo said:
If you are an allopathic US student, you should have access via your AAMC account.
Click to expand...

The numbers look old to me. like they were in 2011. I just saw where they had different specialties and under the competitiveness tab they list the Step 1.

For example, I do not believe the Step 1 for EM is around 225. I know too many folks telling me it is higher and my own program telling me it has jumped majorly in the the last couple of yrs.

Maybe I am missing something...............
 
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J DUB said:
The numbers look old to me. like they were in 2011. I just saw where they had different specialties and under the competitiveness tab they list the Step 1.

For example, I do not believe the Step 1 for EM is around 225. I know too many folks telling me it is higher and my own program telling me it has jumped majorly in the the last couple of yrs.

Maybe I am missing something...............
Click to expand...

You'll see the source for the data below, which was published in 2013 for the entering class of 2012-2013 by the AAMC.

To amend a popular quote - "the good thing about [data], is that it's true whether or not you believe it."

cheers!
 
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