Official 2009 USMLE Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

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Two days premature, but I thought I would get it started anyway as I just took the exam this morning!!!!!

Overall impressions:
- Path, path, path - been said before and I'll say it again "know it Goljan style"
- Don't forget the biostats. I prob had 10-13 questions here.
- UW is gold... both for content and material presentation. Get comfortable with the interface and it will help you test day as it is very similar.
- FA was very helpful, but I used it for review rather than primary study source.

Today:
- In at 8:30, out at 2:30.Finished each block with 10-15 minutes left.
- Three breaks, one quick trip to the BR, one 10 minute Red bull/ powerbar refresher, and one 20 minute monster/ MetRx "lunch" and walk.
- I didn't find a large difference in content difficulty between the different module. The second-to-last was my most difficult and I was have ing a little difficulty concentrating, but I think my brain was pre-toast.

I'm feeling pretty relieved at the moment as it was not as difficult as I thought it was going to be. In NO WAY was it easy, but certainly doable. I had planned on taking this in July after the COMLEX, but I convinced myself I was not ready for it. Retrospectively, I feel I still would have done well after my COMLEX prep, but the last 6 months has filled in a lot of gaps.

Pre-COMLEX:
- Goljan mp3's 1st and 2nd years commuting to-from school. I did a ton of commuting. Highly valuable.
- Kaplan Biochem DVD(felt it was my weakest) and Micro DVD(lots of content).
- MedEssentials and FA for system-based content review. Big Robbins for reference only.
- CMMRS, know the virus charts, staph and strep algorithms, systemic mycoses, immunocompromised opportunistics.
- Costanza text for physio. Tried to review BRS physio (also Costanza), but I am strong in physio and I felt I was wasting my time.
- Lippincott pharm. Cover-to-cover, but overkill. Easy read though if you know your pharm.
- Kaplan and FA for biostats.
- Flash cards from eBay, both electronic and paper. Great way to review - at least for me - but be aware there are occasional errors. Prob went through 5-7000, really.
- BRS flash cards - Micro, Pharm, Biochem.
- (Savarese for any DO's - know the green book and you are golden.)

COMLEX - 06/08.

Post- COMLEX

UWorld - Thank god I did this. Wish I had done this before the COMLEX. Did tutor mode, took notes, looked each unknown up. I ended up with about 40 pages of topics with key notes written next to each topic. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
HY Histo, Cell Bio, Immuno. By this time it was mostly review, but they all helped tie things together and are quick reads.

One week before test:

Goljan cover-to-cover. Goes quick when it is review.
HY Neuroanat - overkill for my exam. Still good topics if you have the time.
FA cover-to-cover.
Reviewed UW notes/ answers.

UW - 100% completed, overall 68%. Last 450 questions mid 70's. Tutor, random, unused.


That's it. I have been meaning to post this for a while after my COMLEX grade posting, but never got around to doing it... been too damn busy reading. I'll update when result is in.

BTW - anyone know if it takes longer to receive your grade this time of year since fewer people are taking the exam?
 
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To all those that are going to take the step I don't read this thread. I just took my exam today. If you want advice start a new thread asking a specific question. I used the basics that are classic SDN fodder. The NBME are excellent test writers they know how medical students think, and if we have a semi-"fuzzy" understanding of a concept. In my opinion, 75% of this test was basic bread and butter clinical medicine. If you did not just memorize your class syllabus and actively learned in M1 and M2 your golden for this 75%. If you went to a high-powered undergrad and did a Bio related major then you will think the biochem section is fair, but I was surprised the level of detail they asked to a M2. Some of your profs must have told you, when you asked what you need to know for the test...their curt retort "EVERYTHING". It is true to a certain extent. Subconsciously I knew I was confident, but when I read this thread every night to get "advice" on how to approach the Step I and any surprises there might be, I ended up becoming more nervous from some of these horror stories. I did not log on to SDN the final week of my review. Remember that everyone gets a different test, take a practice test and +/- 20 that. That's where you stand along with everyone else. I am just thankful that I have been given an opportunity to become a physician, an opportunity that many struggle to achieve. Always remember your hard work will be rewarded, at a place and time we do not set, but believe and it will come. That's what got me through these last 6 weeks, hopefully it will help you get through your journey as well.
 
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med314 said:
NBME 2: 253-5/1/2009
NBME 4: 266-5/29/2009
NBME 6: 266-6/1/2009

I studied for the USMLE during my classes and took it before our "study period" began because I wanted to have a summer break...probably a bad idea...

I think I got at least 20 questions wrong... 🙁

My test: 6/4/2009

Biochem: 20qs
Micro: 40qs a lot of antibiotic resistance.
Pharm: 60-80qs
Path: 100 qs about 20% was neuro, very little cardio and renal and respiratory
Phys: They loved asking resp and endo, about 50 qs
behavioral: easy, about 20 qs
Oh yeah, my computer shut down in the middle of my 5th section, I lost about 5 minutes of time...sucks, be ready for anything though

Just waiting till July 15 for the score!

If I get a 240 i'll be satisfied
If I get a 250 i'll be happy
If I get a 260 I'll be very happy
If i get a 270 i'll be excited.
Click to expand...

'excited' somehow seems less positive than 'very happy'...
Unless by 'excited' you mean'and I jizzzzz in my pantsssssss' excited! 😀

Those predictive scores are awesome, you'll probably be happy/very happy/left standing in an akward position...
 
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snowflake83 said:
From what I have heard (from a faculty member at our school), they add about 750 questions to the Step 1 bank every year and the experimental questions are just a random selection of the new questions. They do it so they can get an idea of difficulty before they use them for real.... but they should be a random array of difficulty (not all of the new questions are going to be super hard, some will be super easy). And I think I read somewhere that they add 48 questions. On my test, I noticed a few questions with typos (assuming these were experimental) and they were they weren't the hardest or easiest questions on the test (and they were in different blocks). ... FWIW.
Click to expand...

Took my exam on Tuesday, and I had one that better have been experimental. Gave a vignette then asked what region of the adrenal gland would be affected. No problem...but wait. The answer choices were all parts of the freakin thyroid. I looked at it like 10 times then decided it must be experimental so I didn't need to worry about it, but it was a little discouraging that they aren't editing a little better than that.
 
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EMT2DO said:
Took my exam on Tuesday, and I had one that better have been experimental. Gave a vignette then asked what region of the adrenal gland would be affected. No problem...but wait. The answer choices were all parts of the freakin thyroid. I looked at it like 10 times then decided it must be experimental so I didn't need to worry about it, but it was a little discouraging that they aren't editing a little better than that.
Click to expand...

I know someone who had that exact same question. He called USMLE and they're going to review it I think. Kind of a big mistake if you ask me for such an important test...
 
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almost everyone I talked to who took the test about the same time as me (6/20) had 2 questions that were exactly or almost exactly the same. Mine was exactly the same and within the same test section...
 
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bbqbakedlays said:
Anyone with V2 get their scores before 6 weeks? Also, some people keep bringing up July 15th.....is that 6 weeks from your test date or a general time where a lot of scores will be released? I took it on June 12th and I CANT STAND this waiting. ARGH! 🙁 It is driving me mad...i am feeling worse and worse about the exam as time passes...

Im pretty sure I had V2......DANG IT!

Spending all day in the psych ward on my rotation isnt helping...lol.:laugh:
Click to expand...

omg that's exactly what i'm going through! even the psych rotation part too!
i just want the score back!!! hate the wait..
suppression has been my best friend past 3 weeks =P
 
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EMT2DO said:
Took my exam on Tuesday, and I had one that better have been experimental. Gave a vignette then asked what region of the adrenal gland would be affected. No problem...but wait. The answer choices were all parts of the freakin thyroid. I looked at it like 10 times then decided it must be experimental so I didn't need to worry about it, but it was a little discouraging that they aren't editing a little better than that.
Click to expand...


I had that exact question too! It has to be experimental.... but I had a bunch of other typo questions too.
 
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snowflake83 said:
I had that exact question too! It has to be experimental.... but I had a bunch of other typo questions too.
Click to expand...

Speaking of exam errors, anyone else get that Cardiac Cycle question with the up/down/unchanged arrow choices, where none of the answer choices were remotely correct?

And don't freak out... I am certain that I had 2+ arrow questions pertaining to the cardiac cycle, just that one was CLEARLY way off.
 
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bluntdissector said:
'excited' somehow seems less positive than 'very happy'...
Unless by 'excited' you mean'and I jizzzzz in my pantsssssss' excited! 😀

Those predictive scores are awesome, you'll probably be happy/very happy/left standing in an akward position...
Click to expand...

jizz.jpg
 
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So, I apologize--I haven't been following this thread. But in case it hasn't been posted yet, I found this nifty score calculator that takes into your account your NBME assessment scores, and USMLE World, and Kaplan, and some other stuff--whatever information you choose to put in--and gives you a score prediction.

I don't know how accurate it is, but it gives me a bit to chew on until the scores are released. (Wednesday...?:xf:)

Edit: Okay, for some reason it won't let me cut & paste or even type in the url. But

1) Google "Clinical Review USMLE score predictor"
2) Choose the heading: "USMLE Score Estimator and Calculator << The USMLE Review
3) Click on 'USMLE score calculator
4) Click on 'ClinicalReview'

Voila!
 
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So for ppl that took the test recently like before July if you look on the exam status page does it have a date under the 'score report date' heading? I know target date is july 15th but I didn't know if it was supposed to say that on the exam status page too. And also my roommate who had some kind of problem with his test where it froze and he had to click the unauthorized break button and get them to come fix his cpu, do you think that will cause his test to be delayed?
 
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Entirecropslost said:
So for ppl that took the test recently like before July if you look on the exam status page does it have a date under the 'score report date' heading? I know target date is july 15th but I didn't know if it was supposed to say that on the exam status page too. And also my roommate who had some kind of problem with his test where it froze and he had to click the unauthorized break button and get them to come fix his cpu, do you think that will cause his test to be delayed?
Click to expand...

I believe that when a date shows up under the Score Report Date it will be right over the link to your score report. So the date won't show up until the day of, hopefully 7/15/09!

I don't think anyone who hasn't been in your roommate's situation themselves could know - he could probably call the NBME and ask, but they will probably also give an unhelpful answer.
 
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Entirecropslost said:
So for ppl that took the test recently like before July if you look on the exam status page does it have a date under the 'score report date' heading? I know target date is july 15th but I didn't know if it was supposed to say that on the exam status page too. And also my roommate who had some kind of problem with his test where it froze and he had to click the unauthorized break button and get them to come fix his cpu, do you think that will cause his test to be delayed?
Click to expand...

I'm also wondering if the exam status page shows the date when your test score will be up, or just shows the date it was first available and doesn't show up until the score is already available.
 
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Did anyone feel dumber and dumber as the test date got closer? I have been studying and finished UWorld, but I feel as if I am forgeting my stuff.
 
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For the people who took the test.
What is the best approach for the lenght questions? should I go first to the last line and then go from there?
any advice will be appreciated. Thanks and good luck everybody in July 15th.
 
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Perudoc said:
For the people who took the test.
What is the best approach for the lenght questions? should I go first to the last line and then go from there?
any advice will be appreciated. Thanks and good luck everybody in July 15th.
Click to expand...

I find it helpful to scan the end of the question if the stem is long. I think the critical thing here is to do a lot of UW blocks in random, timed mode, and make sure you take the test the same way you do your practice questions. If reading the last line didn't work for you during practice, test day is NOT the time to try new things.
 
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Took the exam yesterday .... it was very fair and totally doable ... not much surprises and very well distributed over ALL subjects ... I had over 8 graphs/CT or MRI per block
 
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Took my exam this friday and wanted to give my 2 cents about the experience to people waiting to take the exam. I don't know how much "help" it really is seeing how everyone's test is so different but I know I couldn't help but read this thread anyway when I was preparing for the test.

My average was high 60s in USMLE World with 100% complete, with my scores mainly being in the 70s in the last week but fluctuated a little.

USMLE Form 5 227 2 weeks into studying
Form 3 237 week and a half after that
Free 150 87% 1 week before the exam

Let me start off by saying that free 150 is a total joke. The real test is more like USMLE World than that free test, I have no idea why they even use it as a sample, maybe to make you feel better? Anyway, for someone who has not been scoring extraodinarily high on the practice exams like some of the other SDN posters, I still thought the real exam was pretty do-able. It was challenging yes, but there were also quite a number of questions that were straightforward, if not actual buzzword containing then very typical vignettes with straightforward answers.

I had a good number of pharm questions, all except for one of them were drugs that can be found in FA. I really feel this area you can get points in easily if you can memorize as the questions really aren't tricky, more like prototypical side effects, which drugs are teratogens, etc.

There were also quite a few of behavioral science questions as others have already mentioned, not so much epi/stats type although there were a few of them, but what should you say next type of questions. I was worried there would be a lot of epi calculations like NNH type in USMLE World but I didn't get anything like that. Believe it or not I got a couple of questions testing the concept of median, yes, median. So make sure you know that.

Pictures - I got a couple of brain sections, a couple of x-rays, no CTs that I can remember of.

The test was pretty spread out throughout the systems but I didn't get a lot of embryo questions, maybe 2 or 3. Biochem was pretty high yield though for me, I got a whole bunch of errors of metabolism questions, vitamin deficiencies.

Overall, I would say doing questions helped me the most. I mostly followed the Taus schedule but adapted it to my own needs, and got through all of the World questions. Some of the exam questions were exactly like what I had already seen in world so the more questions you do, the better you'll feel when you see the real exam. I didn't have time to do more of the CBSSA forms, for some reason whenever I tried to do them it would stress me out unnecessarily so I wasn't too keen on spending huge chunks of time doing them, especially without having any explanations. Also, timing wise, I always had extra time left in doing USMLE World, and for most of the blocks it wasn't an issue, but my last block I had an audio question as one of my first questions and spent an inordinate amount of time listening to it so I had to catch up the rest of the time. Just be careful and make sure you're keeping an eye on the clock, but in general, there really isn't too much time to mull over things.

Good luck to everyone!
 
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I read that you need to be an expert to answer the murmur questions by listening the sounds. Do you think I can answer those questions by just reading the steam? if not I will just guess 😉
 
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jhu1 said:
Took the exam yesterday .... it was very fair and totally doable ... not much surprises and very well distributed over ALL subjects ... I had over 8 graphs/CT or MRI per block
Click to expand...

thought you were taking it july 13? how come you changed it?
 
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Perudoc said:
I read that you need to be an expert to answer the murmur questions by listening the sounds. Do you think I can answer those questions by just reading the steam? if not I will just guess 😉
Click to expand...

I had three Q's, two of them were the same valve lesion and they gave it away in the stem if you know your clinical signs of the lesions well. The other was a congenital condition, and there is only one that sounds almost like the thing they gave. I'd say you'd have to be a bit of a ****** not to get 2/3 if not 3/3 (at least for my Q's)
 
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If I remember correctly, I think I just based my answer off the stem and whether the murmur was systolic or diastolic (that's all that I THINK I could discern from the audio).
 
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This has probably been answered many times before, but I couldn't find a definitive answer after some searching. Are the NBMEs the same level of difficulty as the actual Step 1 exam? A classmate said that the actual Step 1 is more difficult than the NBMEs.

Thanks.
 
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eulbedoc said:
This has probably been answered many times before, but I couldn't find a definitive answer after some searching. Are the NBMEs the same level of difficulty as the actual Step 1 exam? A classmate said that the actual Step 1 is more difficult than the NBMEs.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You didn't read this thread. The most frequent description I've seen is that the actual Step I questions are in between the difficulty of NBME and UW questions. I felt my exam was mostly comparable to the more difficult NBMEs (like 3 and 6).
 
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I figured the answer would be in this thread, but I didn't want to wade through the nearly 1000 posts. I used the search tool since I infrequently visit this forum.

Thanks for the quick response.
 
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eulbedoc said:
I figured the answer would be in this thread, but I didn't want to wade through the nearly 1000 posts. I used the search tool since I infrequently visit this forum.

Thanks for the quick response.
Click to expand...

I would say it is worthwhile to read through this entire thread before your study time begins. The experiences posts are worth it. Unfortunately there is a lot of crap that should be deleted, like this and the last few posts.
 
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So if I take my exam on July 15 which is a wednesday does that mean I will get my score back on August 5 which is exactly 3 weeks afterwards. I heard that if you take it in July or August it takes no more than 3 weeks to get you score back. Does anyone know if this is true?
 
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docbill said:
Did anyone feel dumber and dumber as the test date got closer? I have been studying and finished UWorld, but I feel as if I am forgeting my stuff.
Click to expand...

It's called Eisenmenger syndrome and I had to battle thatterrible disease during crunch time.You learn now and in two weeks its all gone.Sometime you geta quest right and the next time you try to redo it u like " ...wtf...I think I know this a while ago.." .. thats pure Eisenmenger:laugh::laugh::laugh:
 
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Sislo said:
It's called Eisenmenger syndrome and I had to battle thatterrible disease during crunch time.You learn now and in two weeks its all gone.Sometime you geta quest right and the next time you try to redo it u like " ...wtf...I think I know this a while ago.." .. thats pure Eisenmenger:laugh::laugh::laugh:
Click to expand...

I dont get the analogy 😕
 
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defcon8 said:
I dont get the analogy 😕
Click to expand...

in the beginning of your studying, you get more and more things from wrong to "right", but as you keep on studying, you feel like there's too many things for you to get "right", and suddenly, some of those things go backwards and out of the "right" stuff.

get it now? 😛
 
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NYCGurl said:
........

Let me start off by saying that free 150 is a total joke. The real test is more like USMLE World than that free test, I have no idea why they even use it as a sample, maybe to make you feel better?........
Click to expand...
Interesting.

Can anyone else respond to this?
 
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Yeah free 150 was a joke compared to my real one in terms of difficulty, but i've heard it's a good predictor anyways. We'll see this Wednesday or next.
 
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A large number of score reports will be released on Wednesday, July 15. Examinees may experience some delays in accessing their score reports on this date. If you encounter a delay or an error message, please close the window and try again later that day or night.

:scared:
 
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im telling you the nbme server is gonna tank when thousands of anxious students all hammer it at midnight

i'm gonna sleep in and check my score in the morning
 
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i'm pretty sure that scores are no longer posted during the night. my friends who already have their scores said that they came around 11AM(central time). i guess you can stay up til midnight if you really want to though.
 
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Just a quick reminder to people who are STILL taking the USMLE and still PREPARING that they can share their experiences..... :luck:
 
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pseudoknot said:
EDIT: 252.
Click to expand...

Finally got the score, one point less than my last NBME. I'm definitely happy with it and hopefully it will help me get back to California. I do thank everyone in this forum for the info over the years.

For those yet to take it, just know that there is more than one way to do well and there are many good sources of info. Don't believe people that say you "have to" use FA or any other single resource. Except maybe UW 😀
 
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Score: 262/99 (~96.3 percentile)

NBME1: 220
NBME2: 249
NBME3: 253
UWSA1: 257
NBME4: 253
NBME5: 260
Free 150: 263 (91.95%)
NBME6: 251
UWSA2: 265

Kaplan: 64% (prestudy)
UW: 75%
FA Q&A: ~80%

Money Spent: $1000+
Total # of Questions: 7350
 
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