Official 2013 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

[Phloston]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I figure now is a good time to jump-start this thread.

Even though some of us who had taken the exam in late-2012 are still awaiting our scores (amid the holiday delays) and could technically still post within last year's thread, it is after all mid-January now, so it's probably apposite that we move forward and hope for a great year.

Cheers to 2013

 

[CDI]

If you could do that I wouldn't have had to almost piss my pants during the second block...

I'd have gladly taken a "testing irregularity" if it meant I could get a 260.

I know some programs would've let me slip through the cracks with that...naughty:

 

[Phange]

Stop being an imbecile, nobody is alluding to wanting to know specific questions on the test. All that is wanted is a succinct write-up that prefereably includes how specific materials prep one for the exam.

Yes. Let the hate flow through you!

 

[grabberrunner]

Does anyone know if scores will be released tomorrow

 

[JP2740]

Jesus how long did it take to get through HY neuro and HY anatomy? I'm looking at them and they're pretty long. Would it be useful to do these in the last 3 weeks or just keep hitting on other points?

 

[Akr]

Dangit, that was no fun!! Not expecting a very high score from that.

I definitely knew maybe 1/3 of the answers, the rest came down to pressured guesses between the last 2 choices that I could narrow down to. There wasn't much that was completely unfamiliar, just tons that I wasn't solid enough on. The neuro questions were easy thankfully... I got some pictures of rashes... Some easy but also some tricky behavioral ones. Biostats were pretty much from FA/UWorld. I had trouble with some of the drug interaction/drug side effect questions.

Anyway, I think you all can do it with the usual study advice seen on these threads etc. Just don't panic, seriously, I think that hurt me more than anything (especially the first block... I marked almost every question...).

Time for a drink... And to try and not think about this until July 10.

 

[carddoc33]

Just got done taking it. Naturally, I feel absolutely awful. First block really came at me hard. Punched me right in the b****, then stomped on my face a few times. Honestly, it was hard. Very hard. More hard than the NBME, much more like UWorld. Had one embryo question. Neuroanatomy was pretty straightforward on it. Some Biochem questions were in depth. I mean like two, not many. Made you look further down the pathway. Anatomy was anatomy. Some tough. Some straightforward. Pharm was mostly straightforward outside of a couple. Micro wasn't bad at all.

Physio and path man, physio and path. I swear I had thirty up or down concentration questions.

I really wouldn't have done much different, there's not much you can do.

My study plan was mostly based on the fact that I worked my ass off in second year. Started UWorld in March.

Dedicated time:

1.5 weeks- First time through FA, two blocks of UWorld each night.
2 weeks-DIT, continuing with UWorld
1.5 weeks- After finishing UWorld and DIT, I went through First Aide one more time. Did around 200 UWorld questions per night for my second go through. I took the last two days mostly off.

Scores:
1.5 weeks in-232 UWSA1
2.5 weeks in 228 NBME 7
3.5 weeks in 247 NBME 11
4 weeks in 260 USWA2
3 days before test: 252 NBME 15

I'm expecting something closer to NBME7 than my last three.

Feel really bad about it. Good luck to all.

 

[blaqmamba]

Dangit, that was no fun!! Not expecting a very high score from that.

I definitely knew maybe 1/3 of the answers, the rest came down to pressured guesses between the last 2 choices that I could narrow down to. There wasn't much that was completely unfamiliar, just tons that I wasn't solid enough on. The neuro questions were easy thankfully... I got some pictures of rashes... Some easy but also some tricky behavioral ones. Biostats were pretty much from FA/UWorld. I had trouble with some of the drug interaction/drug side effect questions.

Anyway, I think you all can do it with the usual study advice seen on these threads etc. Just don't panic, seriously, I think that hurt me more than anything (especially the first block... I marked almost every question...).

Time for a drink... And to try and not think about this until July 10.

Just got done taking it. Naturally, I feel absolutely awful. First block really came at me hard. Punched me right in the b****, then stomped on my face a few times. Honestly, it was hard. Very hard. More hard than the NBME, much more like UWorld. Had one embryo question. Neuroanatomy was pretty straightforward on it. Some Biochem questions were in depth. I mean like two, not many. Made you look further down the pathway. Anatomy was anatomy. Some tough. Some straightforward. Pharm was mostly straightforward outside of a couple. Micro wasn't bad at all.

Physio and path man, physio and path. I swear I had thirty up or down concentration questions.

I really wouldn't have done much different, there's not much you can do.

My study plan was mostly based on the fact that I worked my ass off in second year. Started UWorld in March.

Dedicated time:

1.5 weeks- First time through FA, two blocks of UWorld each night.
2 weeks-DIT, continuing with UWorld
1.5 weeks- After finishing UWorld and DIT, I went through First Aide one more time. Did around 200 UWorld questions per night for my second go through. I took the last two days mostly off.

Scores:
1.5 weeks in-232 UWSA1
2.5 weeks in 228 NBME 7
3.5 weeks in 247 NBME 11
4 weeks in 260 USWA2
3 days before test: 252 NBME 15

I'm expecting something closer to NBME7 than my last three.

Feel really bad about it. Good luck to all.

Dude I'm sure you guys rocked it! Go celebrate

 

[dragon529]

so the last 3 recent test feedbacks have been quite depressing... (goes into my closet and freak out)

 

[carddoc33]

so the last 3 recent test feedbacks have been quite depressing... (goes into my closet and freak out)

Nah man, no one really comes out of Step 1 like "ROCKED THAT ****." It's just a tough test.
Everyone else probably got what they were averaging. Just not me.

 

[Phange]

Does anyone know if scores will be released tomorrow

No scores will be released until July 10

 

[carddoc33]

This thread is lackluster compared to the 2012 thread. Can someone do a succinct write up of their experience?! How hard is it to say I had a break down of this amount of questions in these subjects asking about these concepts and I had this amount of CT's and x-rays. At least say what percent of your exam was FA versus qbanks versus having repeats from practice tests.

Hey bro, let's see if you enjoy recalling this **** after you get your ass handed to you.

I didn't keep a question by question tracker of where each question came from.

 

[BP87]

No scores will be released until July 10

Why is that?

 

[dbeast]

I'm sure you guys did great. Keep in mind that if you thought it was hard, so did everybody else, who was not as well prepared. Have faith in the curve, or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Why is that?

because this

USMLE Step 1 Score Reporting
Posted: March 25, 2013
Most score reporting of Step 1 results occurs within four weeks of testing. However, because of necessary modifications to the test item pool, there will be a delay in reporting for some examinees testing beginning the week of May 13th. The target date for reporting Step 1 scores for most examinees testing the week of May 13th through late June will be Wednesday, July 10, 2013. For examinees whose circumstances require that they receive Step 1 scores before July 10, it is recommended that they take Step 1 no later than May 10, 2013.

 

[CDI]

Nah man, no one really comes out of Step 1 like "ROCKED THAT ****." It's just a tough test.
Everyone else probably got what they were averaging. Just not me.

I'm pretty sure Phloston wrote he knew he had broke a 260 walking out.

Did his version of a *drops mic walks off stage*

 

[poetikaal]

Quick review of my experience. We'll call it cathartic...


NBME11: 205 (Pre-hardcore prep, 2/3 way through URx)
UWSA1: 230 (Pre-UWorld)
UWSA2: 257 (Post-UWorld)
NBME12: 247 (5 days out)
NBME13: 250 (3 days out)
Free 150: 94% (2 days out)

URx + UWorld were main resources.
Also used First-Aid (which URx basically churns into question form)
and Pathoma

Exam Experience:


Very similar to what others have been posting.

Very light on biochem/pharm/micro/anatomy/biostats/behavioral

HEAVY Path

HEAVIER Pathophys/Phys


I don't necessarily feel like there was a ton of foundational material that I wasn't at least familiar with, but somehow the way the questions were asked and the kinds of answers that were presented made the questions significantly more difficult. I am not entirely sure that further studying could have helped. There were a few that I know I have missed that were rote knowledge, but the bulk of the difficulty was in the style.


The two NBMEs and Free 150 that I took the week before were on a different level than the test. I would say it was closer to UWorld, and that auto-clicks made up a comparitively small percentage compared to more logic-based problems that really left me feeling not 100% about my answer. I was used to that occasionally on NBMEs and UWorld, but not as frequently as on the real deal.


I have my fingers crossed that these beasts do have a tasty curve to supplant the pain in my rear.

 

[FIREitUP]

guys, I'm sorry about your testing experience, but I can almost guarantee that you scored in the range of your averages. i remember these kinds of posts from when I was a premed and everyone freaked out and then they ended up with the grade they deserved. just because you didn't feel confident about your answers doesn't mean you didn't do well; i can't tell you how many times I've gone through a block of uworld thinking I got a 50% and then ending up with >80%.

for now, please enjoy the free time you have! thanks for posting your experiences 🙂

 

[CDI]

guys, I'm sorry about your testing experience, but I can almost guarantee that you scored in the range of your averages. i remember these kinds of posts from when I was a premed and everyone freaked out and then they ended up with the grade they deserved. just because you didn't feel confident about your answers doesn't mean you didn't do well; i can't tell you how many times I've gone through a block of uworld thinking I got a 50% and then ending up with >80%.

for now, please enjoy the free time you have! thanks for posting your experiences 🙂

We'll know soon enough how much those May testing pool changes really came into play.

Whatever the changes were, they caused Jonari to go MIA.

 

[JP2740]

Whatever the changes were, they caused Jonari to go MIA.

 

[CDI]

I'm gonna draw him out of his hiding.

I know you're reading this Jonari!

 

[zee620]

Hi all,

This is my first post. Today was the first time I did a simulated 8 hour exam. Did NBME 15 and UWSA 2 back to back (so actually did 8 blocks instead of the normal 7). By the end of UWSA I could tell I was tired and not thinking straight.

I ended up getting a 560/235 on NBME 13 and a 540/228 on USWA2.

I was really happy with the NBME score and then upset to see that I dropped on the UWSA (especially because I've seen lots of people say that the UWSA's overestimate scores).

Anyone have any insight into this? I'm 85% done with DIT and am about to finish Uworld 2nd time through random/timed at 72% (really not remembering many of the answers from my first time through).

I would !love! a 235 so I was just wondering if I should put more weight on my lower UWSA or my higher NBME 15.

Thanks!

 

[dragon529]

Hi all,

This is my first post. Today was the first time I did a simulated 8 hour exam. Did NBME 15 and UWSA 2 back to back (so actually did 8 blocks instead of the normal 7). By the end of UWSA I could tell I was tired and not thinking straight.

I ended up getting a 560/235 on NBME 13 and a 540/228 on USWA2.

I was really happy with the NBME score and then upset to see that I dropped on the UWSA (especially because I've seen lots of people say that the UWSA's overestimate scores).

Anyone have any insight into this? I'm 85% done with DIT and am about to finish Uworld 2nd time through random/timed at 72% (really not remembering many of the answers from my first time through).

I would !love! a 235 so I was just wondering if I should put more weight on my lower UWSA or my higher NBME 15.

Thanks!

Your drop on uwsa2 was probably due to, as you have already stated, fatigue. Go over the in corrects and piece out whether those were careless mistakes or lack of knowledge. Then you will be closer to achieving a more accurate score.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Your drop on uwsa2 was probably due to, as you have already stated, fatigue. Go over the in corrects and piece out whether those were careless mistakes or lack of knowledge. Then you will be closer to achieving a more accurate score.

Yeah, best part about doing the UWSA second is that you can actually go through the explanations of what you got wrong. Then you can figure out why you got it wrong, i.e. content deficiency, misread the question, answered too quickly, didn't read the full stem, etc. You can do a full review and see why you scored the way you did. Yes, the curve on UWSA is typically "easier" than the NBME curves (as well as the questions are harder.)

 

[CrouchingLiger]

Hi all,

This is my first post. Today was the first time I did a simulated 8 hour exam. Did NBME 15 and UWSA 2 back to back (so actually did 8 blocks instead of the normal 7). By the end of UWSA I could tell I was tired and not thinking straight.

I ended up getting a 560/235 on NBME 13 and a 540/228 on USWA2.

I was really happy with the NBME score and then upset to see that I dropped on the UWSA (especially because I've seen lots of people say that the UWSA's overestimate scores).

Anyone have any insight into this? I'm 85% done with DIT and am about to finish Uworld 2nd time through random/timed at 72% (really not remembering many of the answers from my first time through).

I would !love! a 235 so I was just wondering if I should put more weight on my lower UWSA or my higher NBME 15.

Thanks!

Hey, I actually did those same two exams in the same day last week, and like you, I could feel myself not being focused especially on the last two blocks. My predicted score was 6 points higher on UWSA2, but not nearly the 10-20 point overestimation that others have mentioned, so I'm attributing that to my fatigue.

Look at the percentages on your uworld blocks and see if they also went down towards the end like mine did. If so, that means you can attribute part of your lower uworld score to fatigue, in which case you are probably closer to the NBME predicted score. Either way, your score should still improve since you still have studying time, so I'm guessing you're in good shape to be able to hit your 235 target.

I'm hoping that on the real exam we'll have enough pressure to push through to the end with 100% focus. It's going to be one long day though.

 

[Phloston]

If you could break in the middle of a block I would be doing that for every block to grab my cell phone + 4G--> 292

The questions I got wrong on my exam I wouldn't have been able to get right had I had laptop/internet in there with me. To that effect, even if I had had my own research assistant searching through PubMed for me in the adjacent cubicle, it still wouldn't have made a difference. If you study a lot, you'll get the minutiae questions right. It's the moderate-difficulty ambiguous questions you'll end up getting wrong / will vex you during the subsequent weeks. The only way a 292 (perfect score) could be possible would be in a person already destined to get mid-270s who also serendipitously got the 3-5 ambiguous questions right.

The fact of the matter is, there are questions floating around on the Step1 database that the best review sources don't even know exist, so they can't prep anyone for them. Not to mention, some of the Step1 questions are just simply worded poorly (if you do all of the NBME exams, you'll see that for yourself, since those are in fact old [and even current] real USMLE questions). I had a biostats question on my exam that I had no idea what it was asking just because the grammar didn't make sense.

 

[zee620]

Hey, I actually did those same two exams in the same day last week, and like you, I could feel myself not being focused especially on the last two blocks. My predicted score was 6 points higher on UWSA2, but not nearly the 10-20 point overestimation that others have mentioned, so I'm attributing that to my fatigue.

Look at the percentages on your uworld blocks and see if they also went down towards the end like mine did. If so, that means you can attribute part of your lower uworld score to fatigue, in which case you are probably closer to the NBME predicted score. Either way, your score should still improve since you still have studying time, so I'm guessing you're in good shape to be able to hit your 235 target.

I'm hoping that on the real exam we'll have enough pressure to push through to the end with 100% focus. It's going to be one long day though.

Thanks for all of your advice/help! And yes, here's to 100% focus on test day!

 

[Phange]

The questions I got wrong on my exam I wouldn't have been able to get right had I had laptop/internet in there with me. To that effect, even if I had had my own research assistant searching through PubMed for me in the adjacent cubicle, it still wouldn't have made a difference. If you study a lot, you'll get the minutiae questions right. It's the moderate-difficulty ambiguous questions you'll end up getting wrong / will vex you during the subsequent weeks. The only way a 292 (perfect score) could be possible would be in a person already destined to get mid-270s who also serendipitously got the 3-5 ambiguous questions right.

The fact of the matter is, there are questions floating around on the Step1 database that the best review sources don't even know exist, so they can't prep anyone for them. Not to mention, some of the Step1 questions are just simply worded poorly (if you do all of the NBME exams, you'll see that for yourself, since those are in fact old [and even current] real USMLE questions). I had a biostats question on my exam that I had no idea what it was asking just because the grammar didn't make sense.

I had a question that was so grammatically bizarre that I literally could not figure out what it was even trying to ask.

 

[doctorspeed]

There have been a lot of posts on UWSA overestimating actual score. It underestimated me by 10 points or so, and a few of my classmates did a few points better than their UWSAs or right around the same.

 

[Goober11]

There have been a lot of posts on UWSA overestimating actual score. It underestimated me by 10 points or so, and a few of my classmates did a few points better than their UWSAs or right around the same.

This means nothing unless we know the scores of the UWSAs and when they were taken relative to step1. We don't even know what year they took it. Threads back in 2011 widely praise the UWSA predictability which we all know is no longer the truth.

This post is the kind of anecdotal stuff that gets people's hopes up for no reason with their 240+ UWSA only to get butt plugged with a 220 on test day. Sorry, I just feel strongly about the terribleness of the UWSAs three digit score.

 

[CDI]

There have been a lot of posts on UWSA overestimating actual score. It underestimated me by 10 points or so, and a few of my classmates did a few points better than their UWSAs or right around the same.

Of course that depends on when you take the UWSA.

Edit: Goober beat me to it...

 

[doctorspeed]

This means nothing unless we know the scores of the UWSAs and when they were taken relative to step1. We don't even know what year they took it. Threads back in 2011 widely praise the UWSA predictability which we all know is no longer the truth.

This post is the kind of anecdotal stuff that gets people's hopes up for no reason with their 240+ UWSA only to get butt plugged with a 220 on test day. Sorry, I just feel strongly about the terribleness of the UWSAs three digit score.

True 🙁 I took my last UWSA about 2 weeks before the big day. I see what you're saying though

 

[normtheniner]

This means nothing unless we know the scores of the UWSAs and when they were taken relative to step1. We don't even know what year they took it. Threads back in 2011 widely praise the UWSA predictability which we all know is no longer the truth.

This post is the kind of anecdotal stuff that gets people's hopes up for no reason with their 240+ UWSA only to get butt plugged with a 220 on test day. Sorry, I just feel strongly about the terribleness of the UWSAs three digit score.

I actually hate the "NBME 7 is the most predicitive" rumor that gets spread around as well. I try to avoid the forum that propagated that mess like crazy.

 

[Goober11]

I actually hate the "NBME 7 is the most predicitive" rumor that gets spread around as well. I try to avoid the forum that propagated that mess like crazy.

Yeah, it's almost embarassing for those who reference that survey. It makes you wonder how many biostats/study design questions they have been missing . Sorry, that was mean, but really...

 

[blaqmamba]

The questions I got wrong on my exam I wouldn't have been able to get right had I had laptop/internet in there with me. To that effect, even if I had had my own research assistant searching through PubMed for me in the adjacent cubicle, it still wouldn't have made a difference. If you study a lot, you'll get the minutiae questions right. It's the moderate-difficulty ambiguous questions you'll end up getting wrong / will vex you during the subsequent weeks. The only way a 292 (perfect score) could be possible would be in a person already destined to get mid-270s who also serendipitously got the 3-5 ambiguous questions right.

The fact of the matter is, there are questions floating around on the Step1 database that the best review sources don't even know exist, so they can't prep anyone for them. Not to mention, some of the Step1 questions are just simply worded poorly (if you do all of the NBME exams, you'll see that for yourself, since those are in fact old [and even current] real USMLE questions). I had a biostats question on my exam that I had no idea what it was asking just because the grammar didn't make sense.

Totally agree with you dude was just making it clear that we can't take breaks in the middle of a block

Your grammar seems pretty on point in a public forum though, so if you were having a problem then it's gonna be a long 7 hours for me

 

[SLC]

Just finished COMLEX-1, not too bad I have to say. Tons of straight recall, lots of micro but most of it very clinically oriented, not too much Biochem but a TON of pharmacology.

There are a number of questions I know I missed, but there are many more questions I know I got right, hopefully people missed a similar number of questions.

I don't want to say I got a great score or anything, but I feel confident that I passed comfortably! To those about to take the test, know your pharm, FA is not enough, I got into 3rd and 4th line drugs and their adverse effects a couple of times, but also know that when taken as a whole, it was a pretty fair test.

Thank goodness it's over. Now on to USMLE!

 

[BP87]

Can someone pls comment on when you think is the best time to start taking NBMEs before the test? Our school made us take nbme6 and itwas bad and i have been studying since but i habent finished going thru everything in FA yet. When is a good time to take my first real assessment? Is 9 days out too risky? Too late?

 

[Goober11]

Can someone pls comment on when you think is the best time to start taking NBMEs before the test? Our school made us take nbme6 and itwas bad and i have been studying since but i habent finished going thru everything in FA yet. When is a good time to take my first real assessment? Is 9 days out too risky? Too late?

Try to take one once you go through FA. 9 days out isn't risky, my last NBME is slated for this Friday 1 week before my real deal and that is nothing unique. Having said that I have taken NBME 6-13 previously so our situations are a bit different. Maybe we go to the same school seeing as we were both forced to endure NBME 6, ha.

 

[JTster]

I took step 1 today and I felt that it was quite difficult in comparison to the NBME I took. I marked way too many questions.
I'm freaking out right now 🙁
Anyone took the test today? Any thoughts??

My NBME scores were:
NBME 5: 200
NBME 12: 226
NBME 11: 233
NBME 7: 242

 

[normtheniner]

I took step 1 today and I felt that it was quite difficult in comparison to the NBME I took. I marked way too many questions.
I'm freaking out right now 🙁
Anyone took the test today? Any thoughts??

My NBME scores were:
NBME 5: 200
NBME 12: 226
NBME 11: 233
NBME 7: 242

I think most people come out feeling like that. I wouldn't worry. I'm sure you did fine. I talked to my friend on the phone who took it two months ago and he said he walked out feeling the same way. I guess its just the nature of the beast....

 

[USCTrojan11]

Did anyone use the goljan 36 and comment on how useful it was?

 

[Akr]

Did anyone use the goljan 36 and comment on how useful it was?

That's what I looked over on the day before. It's a bit tedious to do in one day so I wouldn't recommend that... There were things in my test from it, but nothing that hadn't already been covered elsewhere eg in UWorld.

 

[Phange]

I actually hate the "NBME 7 is the most predicitive" rumor that gets spread around as well. I try to avoid the forum that propagated that mess like crazy.

Ugh I made that mistake.

 

[Akr]

so the last 3 recent test feedbacks have been quite depressing... (goes into my closet and freak out)

Good luck... Tomorrow right? Just find your zen... I think this is all a big head-game sometimes. You know enough to score brilliantly even if it won't feel like it at the time... I've looked up some of the questions that I can remember struggling on yesterday - most of those I got right. (hopefully that was a trend...) One I chose wrong specifically because I thought the right answer was too easy/obvious to be true!!

Anyway, if I can do possibly-ok on it, then you can knock it out of the park 😉

 

[nvpkim]

I started out average - spent 5 weeks studying and ended 1 point higher- cancelled my test date.
My issues.
1) memorization is not my proven way of learning
2) I usually need to learn it well- enough to discuss it /teach it
3) So basically first 2 years was difficult for because - there is no time for learning everything well
4) During my dedicated study time I jumped around a lot. FA-uworld-Kaplan notes/lectures- some text books. It was basically a mess -
5) I am gonna do imed (2mths) and start another 4 weeks dedicated study time.
6) I think minus textbook- I had the resources- but not confidence to make a plan and stick with it to see outcome.

So asking for advice on how to make a doable plan- starting now with Imed- then 4 weeks of dedicate. Kaplan 1st or last? Continue uworld switch to FA qbank?

 

[CDI]

Did anyone use the goljan 36 and comment on how useful it was?

The rest of your prep covers whats in that. Not crucial.

 

[change77]

So for those of you who have already taken Step 1, was the pharm mostly mechanisms and side effects? Or did you get a lot of calculations like loading dose, half life, etc?

 

[skyblue2000]

hmmm anyone bother with the 100pg goljan pdf? overkill? lol

 

[Akr]

So for those of you who have already taken Step 1, was the pharm mostly mechanisms and side effects? Or did you get a lot of calculations like loading dose, half life, etc?

One half-life calculation for my entire test. Other than that, yeah, mechanisms and side effects... I'd say possibly heavier on the side effects. And a decent amount of the question stems would name the multiple drugs a patient was on, either as a distractor or as a lead-in to asking about the drug interactions.

 

[normtheniner]

My test is Monday and I can slowly feel myself starting to slow down. Anybody else starting to feel restless? I'm just ready to get it over with.

 

[Phange]

So for those of you who have already taken Step 1, was the pharm mostly mechanisms and side effects? Or did you get a lot of calculations like loading dose, half life, etc?

It's pretty much the same as Uworld's pharm, though far fewer rare side effects.