Is step 1 more of a knowledge rather than critical thinking based test?

[SchroedingrsCat]

Is step 1 more similar to an anatomy test where if you put in time memorizing you will do well or is it more like the ACT and MCAT in that your score is determined by reading comprehension and critical thinking ability?

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[Megatron81]

Both

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Is step 1 more similar to an anatomy test where if you put in time memorizing you will do well or is it more like the ACT and MCAT in that your score is determined by reading comprehension and critical thinking ability?

Understand what Step 1 is.

Its all about the hinge question. You get a vignette that gives you a diagnosis, an infection, something. The question you are asked cannot be answered unless you read the and understand the vignette. Watch this:

here's the question you get:
What is the most common cause of death in 24 hours?
1) Arrythmia
2) Respiratory Failure
3) Acidosis
4) Renal Failure
5) Hemorrhage

Pretty hard to answer, right? But if the vignette said:
The patient has crushing substernal chestpain that radiates down the arm and up the jaw who is pale cool and diaphoretic.

Well, what's that? Its probably an MI. Duh. So now the question becomes "what is the most common cause of death in 24 hours of an MI. Now you have to know that's Arrythmia.

But see how you couldn't do that if you didn't interpret the vignette.

Both

So yes, it is both. You have to be able to use knowledge AND reason to get the diagnosis, then use memorized knowledge about that diagnosis to get the hinge correct. It actually is a fairly potent tool for evaluating knowledge and reasoning. Except for the buzzwords (which have been replaced with buzz phrases). It used to be strictly memory, but now it is becoming more and more reasoning based.

 

[Phyozo]

Is step 1 more similar to an anatomy test where if you put in time memorizing you will do well or is it more like the ACT and MCAT in that your score is determined by reading comprehension and critical thinking ability?

If you do enough practice questions, it becomes pattern recognition (or more accurately, recalling previously memorized patterns of reading comprehension and critical thinking).

 

[OveractiveBrain]

If you do enough practice questions, it becomes pattern recognition (or more accurately, recalling previously memorized patterns of reading comprehension and critical thinking).

"Buzz phrases"

 

[Phyozo]

"Buzz phrases"

👍

Learn all the buzz phrases, you'll be fine

 

[VisionaryTics]

"Buzz phrases"

I've always likened the pre-clinical years to "buzzword bingo".

 

[FIREitUP]

sounds like my kind of test. i'm oddly looking forward to slaying the beast.

 

[Mortal_Lessons]

Is step 1 more similar to an anatomy test where if you put in time memorizing you will do well or is it more like the ACT and MCAT in that your score is determined by reading comprehension and critical thinking ability?

The way I think about it is there's a continuum between pure aptitude and pure knowledge. The SAT/ACT is closest to pure aptitude, the MCAT ventures a step towards the pure knowledge pole but still largely aptitude derived, and the licensing exams (Step 1, etc.) are closest to knowledge. For me, who's not as good on-the-fly but knows how to prepare well, I've seen increases in standardized exams as I've moved up the chain of education. My Step 1/2 scores were well above my respective percentiles on the MCAT and SAT/ACT.

 

[da8s0859q]

Is step 1 more similar to an anatomy test where if you put in time memorizing you will do well or is it more like the ACT and MCAT in that your score is determined by reading comprehension and critical thinking ability?

Both.

You cannot use reasoning / logic to know that macrolides are 50S protein synthesis inhibitors.

But there will be lots of questions where, if you know the physio/pharm/path principle behind the question, you could deduce and reason your way to the correct answer without "just knowing it."