Mcat Vr ~ Usmle

[hotdog02]

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I read somewhere online before that there was a study that shows correlation between students' MCAT VR score and the USMLE score. Any insight on this? For those who are studying or have taken the USMLE step 1, please let me know what do think. Is there anyone out there with a crappy MCAT VR score but did amazingly well on the USMLE, perhaps 90 %tile?

 

[ChristianJames1]

I have heard this too from several people. I think there is information about it somewhere on the AAMC website.

 

[Kfire326]

My interviewer at one med school, who said he is one of their deans, said that he has seen people with low verbal scores perform at the very top of their class and end up in competitive residencies (never specifically mentioned USMLE). He said in most of these cases, English was not their first language.

 

[cervenka08]

This is not really related to the question but I really wanted to bring it up. Before I ask I will admit that I do not have a stellar VR so I may be biased. I have a hard time seeing that accuracy of the VR score in predicting your aptitude and ability to perform in medical school. The reason for this is the randomness of the VR section. I found myself, through the 15 or so practice tests that I took, ranging a VR score from 7 to 13. This completely depended on my familiarity with writing style and/or the content, which as we all know, fluctuates wildly test to test. This "familiarity" I feel is different with each student, for example student A could really like reading philosophy and student B is quite comfortable with social science passages. If, on the actual test, there are four philosophy passages and no social science student B may very well recieve a poor score and student A a good one. Does student A really have more potential as a medical student or did he just get lucky that the actual tested reflected his interest/strengths.

The reason that this concept really bothers me because of a personal experience for which I dare to say is "unfair." This situation involved a classmate of mine with whom, during the studying process, I remained in close contact with. This student, like me, had good and bad VR days, a 7, 12, then a 9. On the actual test this friend had a "good" day and got a 12 and in contrast I had a "bad" day and got an 8. This I feel was not reflective of the differences in our abilities but does not matter because now he will be seen as someone very compentent in VR and I someone who will have difficulty with medical school because "I can't read." If someone can possibly resolve these issues that would be great.

Just so you know I am going to be ok considering a got a decent WS score and a 14 on BS and 13 on PS but this definitely will limit my possibilities.

Also note that I am really not trying to start trouble but just want a educated response to this question...
Thanks

 

[TheRealMD]

Correlation does not prove causation, nor show the truth. That's one of the few things that should be learned when trying to analyze statistics.

 

[uhohspaghettio]

The science sections (PS and BS) test analytical and logical cognitive abilities. The Verbal Reasoning section was implemented to test understanding of various subtleties involved in human communication and understanding. The Biological Sciences section most directly correlates to success on the USMLE Step 1 exam, with a correlation coefficient of .553 vs .491 for Physical Sciences and .397 for Verbal Reasoning. [2] Predictably, MCAT composite scores also correlate with USMLE Step 1 success.[3]

 

[uhohspaghettio]

you're only 18 REal MD and you are... hmmm

 

[hotdog02]

Thank you all for your responses. I found responses from cervenka08 and the forumer that posted the link to wikipedia very helpful.

"The Biological Sciences section most directly correlates to success on the USMLE Step 1 exam, with a correlation coefficient of .553 vs .491 for Physical Sciences and .397 for Verbal Reasoning" This correlation seems to make more sense since the USMLE tests your understanding of concepts of basic science after finishing 2nd year. Thus, a stronger correlation between PS & BS and USMLE Step 1 rather than between VR and USMLE Step 1.

However,
RELATIONSHIPS OF READING, MCAT, AND USMLE STEP 1 TEST RESULTS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS by PATRICIA A. HAUGHT and RICHARD T. WALLS (2004) shows that VR has the strongest correlation with the USMLE step 1. They suggest that "Total and MCAT verbal reasoning scores undoubtedly tap into Spearman’s “g” factor of intelligence. Perhaps students who have greater verbal ability should be admitted and retained, and the N-D Vocabulary score seems to be a useful addition to the screening battery and application process."

I totally agree w/ TheRealMD, "Correlation does not prove causation, nor show the truth. That's one of the few things that should be learned when trying to analyze statistics.", so I'm going to bust my butt off and study hard in med school.

 

[TheRealMD]

you're only 18 REal MD and you are... hmmm

And I am... what?

 

[uhohspaghettio]

so I'm going to bust my butt off and study hard in med school.

👍 That was the exact reason I got 2200+ on my SAT II (three) subject tests and 1400+ SAT I

 

[thesauce]

Just thought I'd throw it out there. I got an 8 on verbal and a 236 on the boards. 236 is a good, not necessarily great score.

 

[jjmack]

Just thought I'd throw it out there. I got an 8 on verbal and a 236 on the boards. 236 is a good, not necessarily great score.

don't be modest a 236 is a very strong score.

I do agree though that the is probably a moderate correlation between verbal score and step 1 because the verbal MCAT tests reading comp and that is how you learn most of the first two years of med school.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

RELATIONSHIPS OF READING, MCAT, AND USMLE STEP 1 TEST RESULTS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS by PATRICIA A. HAUGHT and RICHARD T. WALLS (2004) shows that VR has the strongest correlation with the USMLE step 1. They suggest that "Total and MCAT verbal reasoning scores undoubtedly tap into Spearman's "g" factor of intelligence. Perhaps students who have greater verbal ability should be admitted and retained, and the N-D Vocabulary score seems to be a useful addition to the screening battery and application process."

I totally agree w/ TheRealMD, "Correlation does not prove causation, nor show the truth. That's one of the few things that should be learned when trying to analyze statistics.", so I'm going to bust my butt off and study hard in med school.

I have read that study and it's an incredibly convoluted study of the Nelson Denny reading test for predicting the and MCAT and USMLE. It basically tells you nothing about predicting USMLE with MCAT verbal. It also lacks figures and is in a journal with an impact factor so low its as good as zero.

I would place my trust in studies that directly looked at USMLE and MCAT performance, are published in legitimate journals, and have figures, a la the one you cited from wiki.