New Passing Score

[kaboodle]

Should this matter, or does the scale get adjusted for the increase in required passing score.

From the USMLE Site

"As a result of its review, the Step 2 Committee decided to raise the three-digit score recommended to pass Step 2 CK from 184 to 189. In addition, the Committee decided to closely monitor performance trends in the coming year and to re-examine minimum passing requirements in 2011.

The new minimum passing score will be applied to Step 2 CK examinations for which the first day of testing is on or after July 1, 2010."

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[Knicks]

F**k!

 

[GuzzyRon]

Should this matter, or does the scale get adjusted for the increase in required passing score.

From the USMLE Site

"As a result of its review, the Step 2 Committee decided to raise the three-digit score recommended to pass Step 2 CK from 184 to 189. In addition, the Committee decided to closely monitor performance trends in the coming year and to re-examine minimum passing requirements in 2011.

The new minimum passing score will be applied to Step 2 CK examinations for which the first day of testing is on or after July 1, 2010."

What??? Post a link.

 

[kaboodle]

http://www.usmle.org/

At its June 2010 meeting, the Step 2 Committee conducted a review of minimum passing requirements for Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK). During the meeting, the Step 2 Committee considered information from multiple sources, including: 1) results of content-based standard setting exercises conducted in 2010 with two independent groups of physicians; 2) results of surveys of various groups (e.g., state licensing representatives, medical school faculty, samples of examinees) concerning the appropriateness of current pass/fail standards for Step examinations; 3) trends in examinee performance; and 4) score precision and its effect on the pass/fail decision.

As a result of its review, the Step 2 Committee decided to raise the three-digit score recommended to pass Step 2 CK from 184 to 189. In addition, the Committee decided to closely monitor performance trends in the coming year and to re-examine minimum passing requirements in 2011.

The new minimum passing score will be applied to Step 2 CK examinations for which the first day of testing is on or after July 1, 2010.

 

[kazuma]

If I understand this correctly, this shouldn't affect your score unless you are close to the failure threshold. In other words if you are capable of a 230 now, you should be able to score a 230 after July 1st.

However, if you are sitting just above the fail threshold (high 180's) then you will potentially fail under the new July 1st standards.

In 2011 it sounds like the whole exam will be re-evaluated and this could potentially skew scores across the the whole range. eg. maybe a 230 today might equal a 225 or 220 next year if they require more correct questions for a given score.

 

[Knicks]

so useless

 

[metallo]

If I understand this correctly, this shouldn't affect your score unless you are close to the failure threshold. In other words if you are capable of a 230 now, you should be able to score a 230 after July 1st.

However, if you are sitting just above the fail threshold (high 180's) then you will potentially fail under the new July 1st standards.

In 2011 it sounds like the whole exam will be re-evaluated and this could potentially skew scores across the the whole range. eg. maybe a 230 today might equal a 225 or 220 next year if they require more correct questions for a given score.

I don't think that's entirely correct. It's true that it shouldn't affect you in terms of your 3 digit score unless your score is borderline. However, over the last few months, I have been researching various residency programs, and some of them list 2 digit Step 1 and 2 scores as cutoffs for interviews on their websites. The most common cutoffs I have seen are 85 and 90. Currently, I believe a 90 is around a 215. Since the 2 digit score is based on the minimum passing 3 digit score, and the minimum 2 digit passing sccore is 75, you will now need a 189 instead of a 184 to get a 75. Similarly, if you needed 215 for a 2 digit score of 90 before the change, you would now need a 220. It's not a big difference, but when programs use ERAS filters to screen applicants, one point could be the difference between getting an interview invitation or never even getting a reply from a program.

 

[kazuma]

I don't think that's entirely correct. It's true that it shouldn't affect you in terms of your 3 digit score unless your score is borderline. However, over the last few months, I have been researching various residency programs, and some of them list 2 digit Step 1 and 2 scores as cutoffs for interviews on their websites. The most common cutoffs I have seen are 85 and 90. Currently, I believe a 90 is around a 215. Since the 2 digit score is based on the minimum passing 3 digit score, and the minimum 2 digit passing sccore is 75, you will now need a 189 instead of a 184 to get a 75. Similarly, if you needed 215 for a 2 digit score of 90 before the change, you would now need a 220. It's not a big difference, but when programs use ERAS filters to screen applicants, one point could be the difference between getting an interview invitation or never even getting a reply from a program.

That's a very good point and I could see it definitely making a difference in interview invites and screening with ERAS filters.

 

[psychobob]

Will you people stop scoring so damn high.

 

[GuzzyRon]

Will you people stop scoring so damn high.

lol... my sentiments exactly....

 

[rachmoninov3]

Exactly!!!!

Our own competitiveness as physicians has become our down fall. While by no means am I capable of getting 270 on any of these damn exams, I've certainly been well above passing, so I know I'm partly to blame myself.

I just wish we could be more like nursing. Instead of this 9 hour monster I'm going to face tomorrow, the NCLEX (the nursing boards) is all about competency. If you have answered a certain percentage of questions right, it shuts off at 75 questions! If not, it goes on for another 75 questions or until you get your average needed to pass. Two blocks of questions people! That's like 1-2 hours max! But no-oh. Instead, I'm going to be stuck hating life for 9 hours tomorrow, followed by regret that I passed but only got an average score.

we are sick, sick people!

 

[radiodoc99]

Will the overall curve change? When will residency directors start implementing this?