MCAT vs Passing Step 1

[pmarank]

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I know the mcat and step 1 have been compared before on this forum but I believe my question is a bit different. Is simply passing Step 1 more difficult than getting a 30 MCAT?

 

[Brain Bucket]

yes. exponentially.

 

[Psai]

Was the MCAT more difficult than the SAT?

 

[pmarank]

Was the MCAT more difficult than the SAT?

I took the ACT. But yes definitely.

 

[J ROD]

Well, I have not taken Step 1 yet but I am preparing and I never got to that 30 MCAT. But, I think I can pass Step 1.

Physics really ruined the MCAT for me. I know that costed me a 30. Step 1 little to no physics.....some in physio but not nearly as hard to understand. more P = v*r

 

[Psai]

I took the ACT. But yes definitely.

There you go.

 

[DrAcula_MD]

The two exams are pretty different in format and content. Step 1 is really memorization-focused, so if you dedicate the time and effort you can do really well even if you didn't have a great MCAT score.

 

[Psai]

I think a lot of it is understanding the concepts and then putting the details together afterwards.

 

[rodmichael82]

I know the mcat and step 1 have been compared before on this forum but I believe my question is a bit different. Is simply passing Step 1 more difficult than getting a 30 MCAT?

You're comparing a massive diarrhea to a slow stream urination caused by BPH.
You tell me which one is easier to get out of the two?

 

[witzelsucht]

^. This is a dumb question. Is it easier to bench 2x bodyweight or run a sub-4 hour marathon? Is it easier to translate dostoevsky or earn a BS in mathematics? Is it easier to get first chair violin in an all-asian high school orchestra or win a Rube Goldberg machine contest at a mediocre state engineering school?

Most MD schools have average MCATs in the 30s, yet plenty of people still fail every year. Most ****ty carrib schools have MCAT averages in the 20s yet most people pass step 1.

 

[J ROD]

I think the best summary is they are 2 different tests.

But, I still think those that are great standardized test takers will always be.

 

[DermViser]

The two exams are pretty different in format and content. Step 1 is really memorization-focused, so if you dedicate the time and effort you can do really well even if you didn't have a great MCAT score.

Uh, no. Just...no.

 

[DermViser]

I think a lot of it is understanding the concepts and then putting the details together afterwards.

👍👍👍

 

[ChEMD]

As someone who hasn't taken step 1, I will say with 100% confidence I have no authority to comment.

 

[DrAcula_MD]

Uh, no. Just...no.

Just an opinion. Then again, my view may be skewed because I'm about to take Step 2, which doesn't feel as memorization dependent as Step 1 (biochem flashbacks). I only meant that compared to the MCAT, there is more memorization on Step 1. There certainly is a heavy dependence on understanding tough concepts as well. But I just wanted to point out that having a mediocre MCAT score doesn't limit you from doing really well on Step.