NCLEX or MCAT harder?

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I cannot speak to the difficulty of the Step 1, but I have heard from numerous people in medical school and beyond that the MCAT is harder than Step 1 (if you prepare adequately for both) because Step 1 is more straight-forward and content based whereas the MCAT is not. Would you agree with this? I'm just curious because it's rare I hear someone say Step 1 is harder, although they do say it's a difficult exam nonetheless.

Its easier for people who are much better at regurgitation I suppose...but if you are pretty good at problem solving/ critical thinking then the MCAT is wayyy easier.

I think the difference is for the MCAT its harder to increase your score. But I dont remember studying for the MCAT all that much, maybe 2 days a week for a month or two? Step 1 is going to be 9-5 activity for 6 weeks.

I know a few people who just took the MCAT for "fun" without any studying and still got above a 30....needless to say it is impossible to pass STEP 1 w/o studying.

 

[auburnO5]

Sorry to burst your bubble guys.... Step 1 is more difficult than the MCAT.

 

[SpecterGT260]

Sorry to burst your bubble guys.... Step 1 is more difficult than the MCAT.

yeah... I was trying hard to ignore the implications made in here to the opposite effect

I wrote a post in another thread about 3rd order questions vs 1st order. Pre-meds have no idea of the mental abuse they are in store for 👍

 

[auburnO5]

And studying 9-5 for six weeks for Step 1? I wish!

Try more like 8am-10pm...... It's neverending

 

[CarlATHF]

My anatomy professor (orthopaedic surgeon) described USMLE questions as such:

Question: Pick a number 1-8.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5
F. 6
G. 7
H. 8

You chose E? Wrong.

 

[mmmcdowe]

My anatomy professor (orthopaedic surgeon) described USMLE questions as such:

Question: Pick a number 1-8.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5
F. 6
G. 7
H. 8

You chose E? Wrong.

Darn it, I had it down to E and F and they both seemed right so I guessed.

MCAT is easier than the Step 1. I just took the later and I still teach for the former on occassion. Yes, step 1 is a little more content oriented in the sense that the answers require you to know more content than the MCAT passages, but the analytic process of getting to the point where you can pick the correct answer is much more complex than on the MCAT.

 

[auburnO5]

The questions are more like...

A 23 year old women presents to your clinic with dysuria and urgency, with gram negative diplococci present in urine sample. The mechanism for drug resistance to the drug used to treat this condition is:

A. Efflux pump
B. Ribosomal mutation
C. Change in capsular structure
D. Enzymatic mutation
E
F
G



So.... First of all you have to know what the patient has, then you have to know what is used to treat it, then you have to know the specifics on that drug to apply it to other things.

 

[ChanelCinq]

The licensing exam will probably cover more material, but with that aside I would say the MCAT is probably harder. It is more about the critical thinking aspect that makes it difficult..anyone can learn material.

Here is a blurb about the NCLEX questions and Bloom's Taxonomy:

Bloom’s Taxonomy is used as a basis for writing and coding questions for the NCLEX RN. The various levels are Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, and Analysis. These are arranged in a hierarchy from less to more complex. The majority of questions in NCLEX RN are written at the Application or higher levels. This would require more complex thought processing.

If you are getting the knowledge questions and the comprehension questions you are failing the exam. Those two types are not passing level.

And let me tell you EVERYTHING about nursing requires critical thinking.

 

[ChanelCinq]

I don't think many people can really chime in on this topic, not many premeds/medical school students were nurses or nursing students.

You would be surprised. I did an accelerated second degree Bachelors of Science in Nursing and there were about 60 in our class. One is in med school now and 2 more are applying.

 

[chemsmith]

NCLEX
1. If a male client experienced a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) that damaged the hypothalamus, the nurse would anticipate that the client has problems with:

a. body temperature control.
b. balance and equilibrium.
c. visual acuity.
d. thinking and reasoning.

MCAT
In the peripheral nervous system, which cell myelinates and in turn increases the action potential across a nerve axon?

A[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Microglial cell.
B[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Oligodendrocyte
. C[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Astrocyte.
D[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Schwann cel.



USMLE



A 34-year-old woman presents to the emergency department complaining of a “pins-and-needles” sensation
in her feet and legs, which began yesterday. Initially, this sensation involved only her feet, but it
has gradually moved up to involve her ankles, calves, and thighs. She has had difficulty walking for the
past few hours. She recalls a recent episode of bloody diarrhea, but otherwise she has been in good
health. On examination, there is weakness of the foot and leg muscles in a symmetrical distribution.
Deep tendon reflexes are absent at the knees and ankles. Plantar reflex is flexor. Fasciculations are not
seen. Inconsistent results are obtained on sensory exam. Cranial nerves are intact. The rest of the physical
exam is normal. CSF examination is normal except for an elevated protein level.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis for this patient?
❑ A. Botulism
❑ B. Motor neuron disease
❑ C. GBS
❑ D. Poliomyelitis
❑ E. Acute HIV infection

since this thread has been brought back from its watery grave...

that is a very very poor example of an MCAT question, not at all representative of the key skill tested by the exam: critical thinking. Pure factoid-type questions are rare gems. Also that NCLEX question is a joke (I'm assuming it must be on the easier end of the spectrum?).

 

[SpecterGT260]

And let me tell you EVERYTHING about nursing requires critical thinking.

Every job in this world could benefit from critical thinking. That said, neither nursing nor medicine requires it. It's just that those who are the best at their jobs regularly hone and employ this skill.

 

[SilverCat]

Great. Now that the flame war between DO vs. MD has burned out, let's start a flame war with nursing vs. medicine.

I would assume Step 1 is harder than the MCAT--just the fact that you only have one shot is scary enough.

 

[clutch21]

since this thread has been brought back from its watery grave...

that is a very very poor example of an MCAT question, not at all representative of the key skill tested by the exam: critical thinking. Pure factoid-type questions are rare gems. Also that NCLEX question is a joke (I'm assuming it must be on the easier end of the spectrum?).

Yes that is no doubt an easy NCLEX question.

The MCAT and NCLEX are two very different tests, for people who have gotten a very different education. It would make just as much sense to compare a teaching certification test with the MCAT. I have taken both (graduated from nursing school the last term and am matriculating to med school this fall).

 

[circulus vitios]

Insecure pre-meds, always comparing themselves to other people so they can feel better about themselves.

 

[sinombre]

Insecure pre-meds, always comparing themselves to other people so they can feel better about themselves.

truth.

 

[VisionaryTics]

Insecure pre-meds, always comparing themselves to other people so they can feel better about themselves.

Including medical students now, bizarrely enough.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Including medical students now, bizarrely enough.

Beat me to it. Also, as someone taking Step 1 in a few days, I will punch in the throat any premed who says that the MCAT is harder than Step 1, or more "critical thinking" or more science or whatever. Make no assumptions premeds - it is in fact harder in every way. You may start pre-neurosing about that now if you desire.

 

[Ost3oclast]

Insecure pre-meds, always comparing themselves to other people so they can feel better about themselves.

Hense why we have at least 1 DO vs MD thread a week

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Hense why we have at least 1 DO vs MD thread a week

Which, speaking of the devil, hasn't popped up this week or so. Just give it a minute.

 

[Ost3oclast]

Which, speaking of the devil, hasn't popped up this week or so. Just give it a minute.

Lol its only Tuesday my friend.

 

[acceptmeplease]

I'm going to go with mcat being harder. I have a biology degree and a nursing degree. My GPA was better in biology, but I was working 35 hours a week to pay for nursing school. I have taken both the mcat and nclex.

Nursing isn't harder than biology, but it definitely requires more thought because every question is critical thinking and the consequences of doing something wrong can kill someone in clinical.

With that said, the amount of information required for mcat is more than nclex.

 

[deleted1114150]

In my personal experience, I don't think they can be compared because they test such different things. Both are challenging in their own ways. To score high on the MCAT is obviously hard, but you just have to pass the NCLEX.

 

[Goro]

In my personal experience, I don't think they can be compared because they test such different things. Both are challenging in their own ways. To score high on the MCAT is obviously hard, but you just have to pass the NCLEX.

Nice necrobump

 

[LizzyM]

6. A nurse is covering a pediatric unit and is responsible for a 15 year-old male
patient on the floor. The mother of the child states, I think my son is sexually
interested in girls. The most appropriate course of action of the nurse is to
respond by stating:
A: I will talk to the doctor about it.
B: Has this been going on for a while?
C: How do you know this?
D: Teenagers often exhibit signs of sexual interest in females.

Can anybody come up with an E: ?

E I made that observation myself while giving him a bed bath

 

[gyngyn]

Closing