MCAT vs Step 1

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Your username... lol

This question is so subjective, and there's no real answer, in my opinion. I'd like to say that STEP 1 should be harder, but they're both standardized tests, and you never really know what you're going to get.
 
image187 said:
what sort of question is this? Both the MCAT and the Step 1 are extremely easy and neither requires any studying at all
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Seriously, it's almost a rite of passage to take these exams both after heavy pregaming. Totes doable.
 
Apparently there is a very small correlation between the two tests. I remember reading something like a .2 to a .38 correlation.
 
Umm.... more than one MS1 has been quoted (during M1 year) saying, "If I had studied like this for the MCAT, I would have had a 40!" MCAT was basically a sprint. MS1 (& 2 from what I hear) is a marathon in slight excess of the speed of your MCAT sprint. From what I hear, Step 1 is even worse. That said, you generally spend less time prepping specifically for it (as in about 4-6 wks from what I hear). That may be largely b/c your MS 1 & 2 curriculum was specifically designed to meet the req'ts of the USMLE Steps, however....
 
theherowedeserv said:
Apparently there is a very small correlation between the two tests. I remember reading something like a .2 to a .38 correlation.
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That's actually a pretty strong correlation considering the sample size.
 
phonyreal98 said:
That's actually a pretty strong correlation considering the sample size.
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I would actually disagree.

Also, I think it's difficult to answer this kind of question for a lot of reasons. One that I think goes unstated is the tendency to distort one's perception of things that occurred in the past. This may mean that someone remembers the MCAT as being way more challenging than it really was, or perhaps asserting that it was much easier than they actually found it at the time.

I also think it's up to interpretation what you mean by "difficulty". Do you mean the complexity of information tested? The skills required to score well (memorization vs 'critical thinking')? The difficulty in scoring a high percentile? The difficulty given your level of preparation/education? The amount of time typically required?

Finally, you'd really need to know the test-takers intentions when taking the test. If my goal on the MCAT was to get a score that could get me accepted to a top 10 school, perhaps I would recall my battle to get a 37 as not that difficult. But if my goal in medical school is to match into some any specialty in any location, the test may not seem as grueling because my "threshold" is much lower. That doesn't necessarily mean the test was less "difficult" though.
 
they are completely different tests. personally i thought the MCAT was a super lame test that assessed whether or not you freaked out in difficult situations as you were presented with incomprehensibly irrelevant and boring passages that have little to nothing to do with medicine.
 
FIREitUP said:
they are completely different tests. personally i thought the MCAT was a super lame test that assessed whether or not you freaked out in difficult situations as you were presented with incomprehensibly irrelevant and boring passages that have little to nothing to do with medicine.
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Hahaha that MCAT assessment is gold. I thought the same thing.
 
music2doc said:
Umm.... more than one MS1 has been quoted (during M1 year) saying, "If I had studied like this for the MCAT, I would have had a 40!" MCAT was basically a sprint. MS1 (& 2 from what I hear) is a marathon in slight excess of the speed of your MCAT sprint. From what I hear, Step 1 is even worse. That said, you generally spend less time prepping specifically for it (as in about 4-6 wks from what I hear). That may be largely b/c your MS 1 & 2 curriculum was specifically designed to meet the req'ts of the USMLE Steps, however....
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..lol
 
Step 1 encompasses a lot more information than the MCAT. From a content perspective it requires a lot more studying. That having been said, I think it is easier to study for than the MCAT because the content is reasonably easy, just huge in volume.
 
Narmerguy said:
I would actually disagree.
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Whoa; totally misread the post that I was referring to originally. A correlation coefficient of .2 is still statistically significant when you have n=thousands (and highly statistically significant at that). However, this correlation coefficient is small enough that it also implies that there are other variables that come into play.
 
mimelim said:
Step 1 encompasses a lot more information than the MCAT. From a content perspective it requires a lot more studying. That having been said, I think it is easier to study for than the MCAT because the content is reasonably easy, just huge in volume.
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NickNaylor said:
MCAT: "eat one Ritz cracker in the next four hours"
Step 1: "eat a pallet of Ritz crackers in the next eight hours"
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+1
The sheer amount of information you need to know on the Step 1 when you walk in for that 8 hour monster is overwhelmingly more than the MCAT. Step 1 tends to ask ridiculously minute detail at times, something that the MCAT does not do. When I was a premed, I thought the MCAT was challenging but when you start preparing for step 1 as a medical student you realize that the MCAT was a joke. The amount of information you need to know when taking the MCAT is so minuscule compared to step 1 that I could probably prepare for the MCAT in a few days if even that :laugh:
 
I'm probably wrong but I always thought that the MCAT is more of a critical thinking/apply your knowledge kind of test while Step 1 is more of a mass memorization test.
 
TheShaker said:
I'm probably wrong but I always thought that the MCAT is more of a critical thinking/apply your knowledge kind of test while Step 1 is more of a mass memorization test.
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I hope so. I have an amazing memory. If thats all you need, Im golden.
 
TheShaker said:
I'm probably wrong but I always thought that the MCAT is more of a critical thinking/apply your knowledge kind of test while Step 1 is more of a mass memorization test.
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No it's not just mass memorization. It's mega memorization on top of critical thinking. The step 1 is not just memorizing things and walking in and just regurgitating material especially not for certain questions revolving physiology, pathology etc...
 
shinbeats said:
No it's not just mass memorization. It's mega memorization on top of critical thinking. The step 1 is not just memorizing things and walking in and just regurgitating material especially not for certain questions revolving physiology, pathology etc...
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Ah, I see. I thought it was a bit weird that such a scary exam will just be a lot of memorization. I thought the MCAT was easy in terms of concepts (the stuff was fairly simple) but the more difficult battle was applying the knowledge to understand stupidly convoluted passages and questions. I guess Step 1 just takes things to a whole new level.
 
I'd take the MCAT every day for a month if it got me out of taking Step 1.
 
my friend told me STEP 1 is 100x harder than the MCAT
 
lolpremed said:
Step 1 is probably more studyable. So is it easier than the MCAT?
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I was wondering how the format of step 1 and mcat compare? Are they both, read a passage and answer questions?
 
How is Step 1 broken down? (i.e. the MCAT has four sections)
 
Gauss44 said:
I was wondering how the format of step 1 and mcat compare? Are they both, read a passage and answer questions?
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Kind of...here's an example of a practice step 1 question.

A 23 year old woman develops the sudden onset of congestive heart failure. Her condition rapidly deteriorates and she dies in heart failure. At autopsy, patchy interstitial infiltrates composed mostly of lymphocytes are found, some of which surround individual myocytes. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's heart failure?

A) Autoimmune reaction (to group A beta-hemolytic streptococci)
B) Bacterial myocarditis (due to S. aureus infection)
C) Hypersensitivity myocarditis (due to an allergic reaction)
D) Nutritional deficiency (due to thiamine deficiency)
E) Viral myocarditis (due to coxsackievirus infection)


So they aren't like long passages like the MCAT. You don't have run into questions with multiple questions on one passage (as far as I can tell). This kind of contributes to the needing to know more information part, as you won't get an entire passage with 4-5 questions on the exact same subject. Also remember that the MCAT contains an entire section (verbal) that is basically "unstudyable" from a memorization perspective...no such luck on Step 1.

Edit: That's one of the shorter questions if anyone was wondering. The intro passage can get quite a bit longer. They can also incorporate pictures, heart sounds, radiology, etc. into questions.
 
Sophocles said:
How is Step 1 broken down? (i.e. the MCAT has four sections)
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EDIT: Wiki says 7 sections, 48 questions each ...point is the questions are random, no specific topic like the mcat

(i don't remember anymore .....suppression is a great defense mechanism lol)
 
calvnandhobbs68 said:
So they aren't like long passages like the MCAT.
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the actual exam has some pretty lengthy questions actually. it's definitely not the length of an mcat passage but they're typically longer than what you find in uworld which typically tries to just get to the point and teach you something.
 
calvnandhobbs68 said:
Kind of...here's an example of a practice step 1 question.

A 23 year old woman develops the sudden onset of congestive heart failure. Her condition rapidly deteriorates and she dies in heart failure. At autopsy, patchy interstitial infiltrates composed mostly of lymphocytes are found, some of which surround individual myocytes. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's heart failure?

A) Autoimmune reaction (to group A beta-hemolytic streptococci)
B) Bacterial myocarditis (due to S. aureus infection)
C) Hypersensitivity myocarditis (due to an allergic reaction)
D) Nutritional deficiency (due to thiamine deficiency)
E) Viral myocarditis (due to coxsackievirus infection)


So they aren't like long passages like the MCAT. You don't have run into questions with multiple questions on one passage (as far as I can tell). This kind of contributes to the needing to know more information part, as you won't get an entire passage with 4-5 questions on the exact same subject. Also remember that the MCAT contains an entire section (verbal) that is basically "unstudyable" from a memorization perspective...no such luck on Step 1.

Edit: That's one of the shorter questions if anyone was wondering. The intro passage can get quite a bit longer. They can also incorporate pictures, heart sounds, radiology, etc. into questions.
Click to expand...

Totally D - lymphocytes make some MAD thiamine.
 
skinMD said:
EDIT: Wiki says 7 sections, 48 questions each ...point is the questions are random, no specific topic like the mcat

(i don't remember anymore .....suppression is a great defense mechanism lol)
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Thank you sir...
 
TheShaker said:
Ah, I see. I thought it was a bit weird that such a scary exam will just be a lot of memorization. I thought the MCAT was easy in terms of concepts (the stuff was fairly simple) but the more difficult battle was applying the knowledge to understand stupidly convoluted passages and questions. I guess Step 1 just takes things to a whole new level.
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Step 1 is just a huge upgrade from the MCAT. Anyone that tries to compare the two is just wasting their time. The MCAT has passages and even if you don't know something you can figure it out by reading the passage and making inferences not always the case but I found it to be most of the time. You don't have to have a strong command of the material on the MCAT to get an "average matriculant score" 30-31. With step 1 if you don't know it lol you're screwed and even if you know stuff you still have to dig deep deep deep into your mind and apply that knowledge. Also the MCAT as i mentioned does not ask detail oriented questions , Step 1 can be brutal in the sense that they can ask you some minute BS that some how you're supposed to know. Scoring average on step 1, 226-227? is no joke! You really have to know your ****. Retaining 2 years worth of medical school education and applying it is honestly the worst experience I've ever had so far. I remember whining about the MCAT when I took it as a premed and then whining about the exams in med school but now looking back at it those were the good days just like my life in high school lol
 
At least when you take the MCAT you can retake it again if you have a bad day. Once you "pass" (a facade IMO) step 1, that is it. You cannot take it again. Yet, both exams are used in very similar ways in their respective application cycles.
 
greg1184 said:
At least when you take the MCAT you can retake it again if you have a bad day. Once you "pass" (a facade IMO) step 1, that is it. You cannot take it again. Yet, both exams are used in very similar ways in their respective application cycles.
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I think this is the part that makes people lose hair over Step 1. If you have a **** day on test day but still "pass" that's it.
 
shinbeats said:
Step 1 is just a huge upgrade from the MCAT. Anyone that tries to compare the two is just wasting their time. The MCAT has passages and even if you don't know something you can figure it out by reading the passage and making inferences not always the case but I found it to be most of the time. You don't have to have a strong command of the material on the MCAT to get an "average matriculant score" 30-31. With step 1 if you don't know it lol you're screwed and even if you know stuff you still have to dig deep deep deep into your mind and apply that knowledge. Also the MCAT as i mentioned does not ask detail oriented questions , Step 1 can be brutal in the sense that they can ask you some minute BS that some how you're supposed to know. Scoring average on step 1, 226-227? is no joke! You really have to know your ****. Retaining 2 years worth of medical school education and applying it is honestly the worst experience I've ever had so far. I remember whining about the MCAT when I took it as a premed and then whining about the exams in med school but now looking back at it those were the good days just like my life in high school lol
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The difficulty of Step exams justifies why medical schools screen out most applicants and choose the best ones... :scared:
 
shinbeats said:
Step 1 is just a huge upgrade from the MCAT. Anyone that tries to compare the two is just wasting their time. The MCAT has passages and even if you don't know something you can figure it out by reading the passage and making inferences not always the case but I found it to be most of the time. You don't have to have a strong command of the material on the MCAT to get an "average matriculant score" 30-31. With step 1 if you don't know it lol you're screwed and even if you know stuff you still have to dig deep deep deep into your mind and apply that knowledge. Also the MCAT as i mentioned does not ask detail oriented questions , Step 1 can be brutal in the sense that they can ask you some minute BS that some how you're supposed to know. Scoring average on step 1, 226-227? is no joke! You really have to know your ****. Retaining 2 years worth of medical school education and applying it is honestly the worst experience I've ever had so far. I remember whining about the MCAT when I took it as a premed and then whining about the exams in med school but now looking back at it those were the good days just like my life in high school lol
Click to expand...

But isn't this all dependent on the type of person taking the test? Me for example...the mcat kicked my butt numerous times because even if you know all the science info, you can still do terribly because of having to speed-read through long passages and due to how tricky the test is. And don't get me started on the verbal section. Yes Step 1 has a ridiculous amount of volume, but being in a SMP right now taking first year classes with exam questions that are like Step 1 questions (they purposely do this to get their students accustomed to Step 1-like questions starting in M1), it is so much easier for me because if I know my stuff (which takes a ridiculous amount of studying, of course) and can apply it, I have no problems. And thankfully I am lucky enough to be doing considerably better than the first year medical student average on every exam. I do better with lots of volume and having to apply it than a significantly smaller volume (MCAT) with long passages and questions that are meant to trick me. My fiance had the same experience since she is like me in what we prefer for standardized tests and she killed Step 1 despite not having a stellar MCAT score. I feel like if you do better with speed-reading and tricky questions based off information that is completely uninteresting for the most part, then the MCAT is for you. If you like to memorize and understand a ridiculous amount of material you are truly interested in to the level in which you can apply it well, then I feel like Step 1 is for you.
 
I only managed a 31 on the MCAT, but was able to score a 272 (>98%) on step 1. They are very different tests.
 
No verbal reasoning or writing section? Bring it on step 1
Not srs
 
weezynation said:
But isn't this all dependent on the type of person taking the test? Me for example...the mcat kicked my butt numerous times because even if you know all the science info, you can still do terribly because of having to speed-read through long passages and due to how tricky the test is. And don't get me started on the verbal section. Yes Step 1 has a ridiculous amount of volume, but being in a SMP right now taking first year classes with exam questions that are like Step 1 questions (they purposely do this to get their students accustomed to Step 1-like questions starting in M1), it is so much easier for me because if I know my stuff (which takes a ridiculous amount of studying, of course) and can apply it, I have no problems. And thankfully I am lucky enough to be doing considerably better than the first year medical student average on every exam. I do better with lots of volume and having to apply it than a significantly smaller volume (MCAT) with long passages and questions that are meant to trick me. My fiance had the same experience since she is like me in what we prefer for standardized tests and she killed Step 1 despite not having a stellar MCAT score. I feel like if you do better with speed-reading and tricky questions based off information that is completely uninteresting for the most part, then the MCAT is for you. If you like to memorize and understand a ridiculous amount of material you are truly interested in to the level in which you can apply it well, then I feel like Step 1 is for you.
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Like I stated before comparing the two exams is pointless. They are two exams with two different styles and attack different strengths but I can give you hundreds of reasons why I personally would rather take the MCAT 100 times than take the step 1. Step 1 is a lot more stressful than the MCAT because of the content, the length of the damn exam, the fact that you can't retake it. I mean this 1 exam defines whether you will go into a competitive field or family practice? lol that idea alone is stressful add that on top of test anxiety that day. I agree with you though the MCAT is more about reading comprehension with slight critical thinking. In the end though everyone has different personalities and some are strong in certain things while others not so much but for anyone to say that the MCAT is harder than the Step 1 is like saying chugging 1 glass of water is harder than chugging 30 glasses of juice to each their own. All I can say for sure is that preparing for the Step 1 is a lot more brutal than the MCAT which is understandable you know how much hard work it takes to prepare for a single medical school exam and now imagine putting all those exams 150+ (according to my school) all in 1 exam and taking it with your life (also 150k+ in loans) all dependent on that single attempt assuming you pass.
 
Last edited:
CALLR001 said:
I only managed a 31 on the MCAT, but was able to score a 272 (>98%) on step 1. They are very different tests.
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Concur. Someone I know got a 27/257.
 
And this thread has probably made some pre-meds start studying for step 1. :laugh:
 
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