Just took the OB-GYN shelf. Basic question about scoring.

[han14tra]

I had my first shelf exam today. Do you need 70/100 correct to pass? Or, is this like Step 1 scoring where it's a national curve and only about 5% of people fail? The consensus in our class was that the exam was really hard. Do a lot of people fail shelf exams?

I tried to search for the answer on here, but all I could find was something about percentages vs. raw scores, and how some schools convert scores. I didn't understand it.

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[drizzt3117]

I had my first shelf exam today. Do you need 70/100 correct to pass? Or, is this like Step 1 scoring where it's a national curve and only about 5% of people fail? The consensus in our class was that the exam was really hard. Do a lot of people fail shelf exams?

I tried to search for the answer on here, but all I could find was something about percentages vs. raw scores, and how some schools convert scores. I didn't understand it.

You get a raw score, which is sort of normalized, and a percentile compared to national #s from a few years ago. For example, 99 on ob was like 97% nationally for this past year's exam. A decent chunk of people fail shelf exams.

 

[ThePursuit]

74 was the average score for our class, I think 70 is the national average (and no, that's not 70/100 or 70th percentile, it's just a standardized score shrouded in mystery like USMLE scores). I think failing a shelf is more in the 50-60% range.

 

[KSDeacon]

I had my first shelf exam today. Do you need 70/100 correct to pass? Or, is this like Step 1 scoring where it's a national curve and only about 5% of people fail? The consensus in our class was that the exam was really hard. Do a lot of people fail shelf exams?

I tried to search for the answer on here, but all I could find was something about percentages vs. raw scores, and how some schools convert scores. I didn't understand it.

yeah i took it a week ago and felt like i got crushed (school hasn't notified us of our scores yet though). I had been told it was a fairly straightforward test, but felt the complete opposite. There were numerous questions where they withheld information that you would have had prior to making a decision on what to do...like effing VITALS! How hard is it to give a blood pressure on a vignette? whatever. i'm not bitter at all...

 

[DrYoda]

I thought what constitutes passing is determined by your school?

 

[han14tra]

I thought what constitutes passing is determined by your school?

I just looked this up. My school says a 70 is passing. If that's the national average, it's sort of ridiculous. That's like making a 220 on Step 1 failing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[2012mdc]

I just looked this up. My school says a 70 is passing. If that's the national average, it's sort of ridiculous. That's like making a 220 on Step 1 failing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Yeah that is a little ridiculous. At my school the mins are usually 60.

70 is always supposed to be the average because the NBME scales it that way

 

[DrYoda]

You guys have it rough then, you have to totally bomb it to fail here. Failing is something like <10th percentile.

 

[iA-MD2013]

When do we get scores back for shelf exams?

 

[viper930]

Was this last shelf exam you guys took on the computer? If so, was this the first computerized one youve taken?

 

[Jolie South]

Was this last shelf exam you guys took on the computer? If so, was this the first computerized one youve taken?

I have never taken a computerized shelf. If it is possible, most schools don't have 100 some-odd computers lying around waiting for people to take shelfs at the same time.

 

[DrYoda]

When do we get scores back for shelf exams?

I took us 10 days to get it back.

Was this last shelf exam you guys took on the computer? If so, was this the first computerized one youve taken?

Yep, we do all ours on computers.

 

[DrBowtie]

I just looked this up. My school says a 70 is passing. If that's the national average, it's sort of ridiculous. That's like making a 220 on Step 1 failing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Your school might curve it some number too. Mine would often add X to our scaled score for it to be added into our percentage grade.

 

[Metfan2987]

Taking mine on Friday.

I hear it is heavily heavily weighed towards OB over gyn...

Is that true?

 

[han14tra]

Taking mine on Friday.

I hear it is heavily heavily weighed towards OB over gyn...

Is that true?

Yes, there was more OB than gyn. Know every possible reason for why a pregnant woman would have vaginal bleeding or discharge.

 

[KSDeacon]

Yes, there was more OB than gyn. Know every possible reason for why a pregnant woman would have vaginal bleeding or discharge.

i second this. also make sure you know how to manage a pregnant woman with abdominal pain