USMLE Official 2020 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

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That's funny because when I take UWorld out of my predictor and just keep my NBMEs, it predicts me exactly where I ended up landing. I guess this just goes to show how variable the predictor can be and why it might be better to not lean too heavily on it. Just go in there and do your absolute best with no regrets and I'm sure you'll end up with a score you're happy with!
Me? Happy with my performance? I've been putting myself down for 24 years straight, I aint going to just end that streak for something as trival as board scores. /s 😆 😆 😆
 
Thats what I got and i was livid. Got a 238 on 24 a week before and then 2 weeks later got a 256 on UWSA1 and my UWorld avg is 77% didnt make any sense. NBME 22 can suck it lol. How have your other practice tests gone? 22 I think is just a really poorly written unrepresentative unpredictive exam. Dont let it get you down
UWSA1 1 week ago was 245. Taking NBME 23 in the next days
 
I just have a hard time believing that taken 6-7 weeks out is gonna predict my score. The general consensus pretty much everywhere is that new NBMEs are horrible predictors. I think you may be an outlier

I imagine most people with 6 week dedicated periods would be taking NBMEs 2-4 weeks out so in terms of predictions I'm sure that would help you out. I'm still a little salty over my score, so I'm admittedly biased against the predictor. However, exams are unique and individual, and trying to have a handful of exams each with different questions and dynamically varying curves to predict the real exam with its own questions (and experimental questions) and curve just seems like chasing the wind to me. Of course people will score near predicted score, but how much of that is due to chance? The 95% CI seems pretty off based off what people are reporting each week. Even the real score report tells us "if we tested repeatedly with different items covering the same content" it would be within a range of 16 points. So a person that scored a 235 could have also potentially scored a 251 on a different exam. There's too much variability that the predictor just can't account for.
 
I imagine most people with 6 week dedicated periods would be taking NBMEs 2-4 weeks out so in terms of predictions I'm sure that would help you out. I'm still a little salty over my score, so I'm admittedly biased against the predictor. However, exams are unique and individual, and trying to have a handful of exams each with different questions and dynamically varying curves to predict the real exam with its own questions (and experimental questions) and curve just seems like chasing the wind to me. Of course people will score near predicted score, but how much of that is due to chance? The 95% CI seems pretty off based off what people are reporting each week. Even the real score report tells us "if we tested repeatedly with different items covering the same content" it would be within a range of 16 points. So a person that scored a 235 could have also potentially scored a 251 on a different exam. There's too much variability that the predictor just can't account for.
Which makes this exam so bogus. Some kid has an off day gets a 235 then could have taken it a week later and got a 251 because of the variability in forms dictates whether he can be an orthopedic surgeon or not for the rest of his life. This exam just sucks haha there really is no way of predicting i guess. I will admit this year in particular has been all over the map as far as predictions aka wayyyy more variable than other years i feel
 
Now to figure out what programs won't screen me out for being DO.

I’m thinking rads, too, if I don’t decide to do critical care. There’s usually somewhere around 3-8 people who match rads every year from my school so I really don’t think it’s a problem for DOs considering how few people I know actually want it. You bet I have all of the programs my people have matched at in the past few years in a list, and some of them are in places I think I would really like to live in.

COMLEX in two hours, and then I’m finally done with everything for real. It’s going to be nice.
 
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Seriously? Doesnt that depend on how close you took it to your exam? Im shooting for 250+ and I got a 238 on 24 6-7 weeks out. Im ****ed if that predicts my score. score predictor has me at 251 and im 3.5 weeks out. feel like all the new ones underpredict

By the time I took 24 I was basically fully prepared and got 250. If you've made progress over the last 6 weeks I think you've got a good shot at 250 on the real test

238 on 24 is a strong score. You are in a good spot
 
I'm fried. I'm not doing my path and phys cards today. Doing cards for 7 hours straight is killing me. I'm taking the morning off and I'll play with the interval so I see all of todays cards before Comlex on Thursday. I'll do my cards for my weak subjects later today but I'm just utterly spent right now. Woke up feeling miserable about the idea of another day parked in front of the computer.

Been grinding from 7am to 11:30 pm with maybe 3-4 hours of break time. I only know how to work hard not smart lol. Hopefully it pays off but right now it is just too much.
 
True learn questions are so easy I'm considering spending the day before my exam just doing them all day. like one round of call of duty, then 15 true learn, rinse and repeat till bed time
 
I'm done guys.

Will do a better write up later. Overall, there were easy blocks and there were hard blocks. Lots of gimmes, a couple of WTFs. Overall thought it was a super fair exam. Maybe a bit concerned with the curve but I'm not sure. Honestly feel like I could've gotten a 215 or a 250 lol. Just relieved to be done.
 
I'm done guys.

Will do a better write up later. Overall, there were easy blocks and there were hard blocks. Lots of gimmes, a couple of WTFs. Overall thought it was a super fair exam. Maybe a bit concerned with the curve but I'm not sure. Honestly feel like I could've gotten a 215 or a 250 lol. Just relieved to be done.
Wait how are you done this early? Congrats on being done though.
 
Wait how are you done this early? Congrats on being done though.
Took 5 minute breaks between blocks. Only like 25 for lunch cause I just got bored lol (didn't touch my phone the whole day). Finished with extra time on a few blocks so it got added to my total break time. I think I had like 30 mins of break time left at the end? I took a break after every block though, and it for perfect to me.

Side note, someone was taking COMLEX and they left after like 4.5 hours. They're like "I don't take breaks" but like....still, how lol
 
I'm done guys.

Will do a better write up later. Overall, there were easy blocks and there were hard blocks. Lots of gimmes, a couple of WTFs. Overall thought it was a super fair exam. Maybe a bit concerned with the curve but I'm not sure. Honestly feel like I could've gotten a 215 or a 250 lol. Just relieved to be done.

Sounds a lot like my exam. Congrats on finishing!!!
 
Well, I thought I’d give a comlex update after getting some lunch.

Step is definitely the fairer test, and it’s not even close. I thought step was a lot easier for two reasons - as everyone else says, the comlex questions were vague as crap, and then they also hyper-focused on a few subjects. The person who said it felt like all MSK and neuro wasn’t kidding. Anyone who solidly studies neuro and MSK and ignores everything else will score very, very well. And by studying neuro I mean more of the stuff studied in neuroanatomy than the neuro block (separate classes for me).

The survey asked if I thought it was a fair assessment of my medical knowledge and I put “disagree.” There’s just not enough of a spread - way too many repeat subjects tested for it to be a fair assessment of anyone’s overall knowledge. I easily had five or six questions on one disease alone. (fortunately I knew it well LOL)

The biostats was also about 100% worse - more questions, and more difficult than step. Went beyond the biostats reviews I looked at, for sure. I’d never even seen a bunch of those types of analysis mentioned before, and they didn’t have many obvious distractors. I think I did well enough, but I don’t really care to be honest as long as I passed. I’m really glad I felt pretty solid on the neuro questions. :laugh:


I'm done guys.

Will do a better write up later. Overall, there were easy blocks and there were hard blocks. Lots of gimmes, a couple of WTFs. Overall thought it was a super fair exam. Maybe a bit concerned with the curve but I'm not sure. Honestly feel like I could've gotten a 215 or a 250 lol. Just relieved to be done.

That’s how I felt too, down to being concerned about the curve. We’ll see what happens! Congrats on getting it done!!!! 🙂
 
Well, I thought I’d give a comlex update after getting some lunch.

Step is definitely the fairer test, and it’s not even close. I thought step was a lot easier for two reasons - as everyone else says, the comlex questions were vague as crap, and then they also hyper-focused on a few subjects. The person who said it felt like all MSK and neuro wasn’t kidding. Anyone who solidly studies neuro and MSK and ignores everything else will score very, very well. And by studying neuro I mean more of the stuff studied in neuroanatomy than the neuro block (separate classes for me).

The survey asked if I thought it was a fair assessment of my medical knowledge and I put “disagree.” There’s just not enough of a spread - way too many repeat subjects tested for it to be a fair assessment of anyone’s overall knowledge. I easily had five or six questions on one disease alone. (fortunately I knew it well LOL)

The biostats was also about 100% worse - more questions, and more difficult than step. Went beyond the biostats reviews I looked at, for sure. I’d never even seen a bunch of those types of analysis mentioned before, and they didn’t have many obvious distractors. I think I did well enough, but I don’t really care to be honest as long as I passed. I’m really glad I felt pretty solid on the neuro questions. :laugh:




That’s how I felt too, down to being concerned about the curve. We’ll see what happens! Congrats on getting it done!!!! 🙂
Literally I'm so bummed about having to take COMLEX lol. Also, I suck at MSK and neuro so that's fun.
 
Literally I'm so bummed about having to take COMLEX lol. Also, I suck at MSK and neuro so that's fun.

Well, you’ve got time, right?

Know your nerve roots. Know ALL your nerve roots, even for things that aren’t a reflex level... because they’re not just gonna ask you about reflexes, they’re going to give a random-ass muscle dysfunction somewhere in the body and ask you what nerve root, not what nerve, is damaged. And they’re going to give you consecutive roots for your answer options, so don’t count on being able to 50/50 it by knowing what named nerve supplies that muscle. There were a fair few of those kinds of questions.
 
Am I the only one that thinks that Amboss is actually not that bad compared to what people say? A lot of people talk about how hard it is but honestly Im scoring better on Amboss than Uworld which is weird. UWorld is probably just as hard or harder imo
 
Well, I thought I’d give a comlex update after getting some lunch.

Step is definitely the fairer test, and it’s not even close. I thought step was a lot easier for two reasons - as everyone else says, the comlex questions were vague as crap, and then they also hyper-focused on a few subjects. The person who said it felt like all MSK and neuro wasn’t kidding. Anyone who solidly studies neuro and MSK and ignores everything else will score very, very well. And by studying neuro I mean more of the stuff studied in neuroanatomy than the neuro block (separate classes for me).

The survey asked if I thought it was a fair assessment of my medical knowledge and I put “disagree.” There’s just not enough of a spread - way too many repeat subjects tested for it to be a fair assessment of anyone’s overall knowledge. I easily had five or six questions on one disease alone. (fortunately I knew it well LOL)

The biostats was also about 100% worse - more questions, and more difficult than step. Went beyond the biostats reviews I looked at, for sure. I’d never even seen a bunch of those types of analysis mentioned before, and they didn’t have many obvious distractors. I think I did well enough, but I don’t really care to be honest as long as I passed. I’m really glad I felt pretty solid on the neuro questions. :laugh:




That’s how I felt too, down to being concerned about the curve. We’ll see what happens! Congrats on getting it done!!!! 🙂

I completely agree with your COMLEX thoughts. I had so many radiculopathy questions and I had to look at First Aid during breaks since they were getting so wild with it. And the biostatistics were random af. I hate that exam lol.
 
I completely agree with your COMLEX thoughts. I had so many radiculopathy questions and I had to look at First Aid during breaks since they were getting so wild with it. And the biostatistics were random af. I hate that exam lol.

I was getting so mad at the stupid fiddly details that I didn’t dare take a break. I just powered through it in one sitting, because I thought there was a strong chance I’d just say “eff this“ and walk out and not come back during my break. :laugh:
 
I was getting so mad at the stupid fiddly details that I didn’t dare take a break. I just powered through it in one sitting, because I thought there was a strong chance I’d just say “eff this“ and walk out and not come back during my break. :laugh:

I was legit getting mad during the exam because it kept repeating itself and I was so mind numb at the end of it that I was missing silly stuff because I couldn’t focus. They were literally out of control with the MSK anatomy on mine and I didn’t even feel I was that bad at it but damn. I just want to pass and be done with it.
 
Am I the only one that thinks that Amboss is actually not that bad compared to what people say? A lot of people talk about how hard it is but honestly Im scoring better on Amboss than Uworld which is weird. UWorld is probably just as hard or harder imo

I’m thinking about getting amboss for third year. LIke I know people say to just do UWorld, but I really do want to do a better job of studying this year. I haven’t got any excuses to lay there and feel sorry for myself this year and I want to kick some butt. Is it worth it?

I was legit getting mad during the exam because it kept repeating itself and I was so mind numb at the end of it that I was missing silly stuff because I couldn’t focus. They were literally out of control with the MSK anatomy on mine and I didn’t even feel I was that bad at it but damn. I just want to pass and be done with it.

LOL we definitely had the exact same test. I‘d put money on it.
 
Ok guys. Write up time.

Overall: it felt exactly like 7 blocks of UWorld. Mix of easy and hard blocks, but pretty much just UWorld. Every so often you had your couple of sentences NBME style one or two liners. It felt like a mix between gimmes and ones that I was 50/50 on. There were a few that I had no clue what they were going for or what they wanted, but I'm inclined to believe those were my own flaws in knowledge. The test felt extremely fair and well written. Also, it's really comforting that it looks exactly like UWorld lol.

How I felt: honestly I'm conflicted. I felt good on certain blocks and crappier on others, but overall I felt okay? This kind of concerns me because I feel like there must be a catch. I have already thought of several really stupid mistakes I made on stuff I know, but I'm trying not to look anything else up because I don't want to destroy myself over these next 2 weeks.

Subjects: thank GOD I didn't have a heavy biochem emphasis. I mean I still had a handful of questions but nothing crazy and I felt comfortable with it. Same with anatomy-- there was a good chunk, but overall I felt pretty comfortable with it. 100 concepts Anki deck was great. Otherwise the spread felt pretty even between subjects. I didn't feel like anything was heavily skewed, although I do agree with others that I had a couple of questions that basically seemed to be asking the same exact thing just a different way.

I felt like I had seen most of the things before, and I don't feel like there's anything else I could've done to prepare you know? The things I didn't know I probably never would know. The silly mistakes I made are just what it is I guess.

I literally have no idea how I did. Part of me thinks I did well, part of me thinks I failed. I have zero idea. Hoping for 230 still.

I don't know what else to discuss, so please if you have any questions please just ask me because I want to help everyone out. You've all helped me tons.
 
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I just took COMLEX and I am livid. Half of it was Chapman's points and viscerosomatic garbage.

Disgusting. I think I'll be okay with a 230 step but I just hope I passed.

I can also relate to this feeling. Post-COMLEX was overshadowed by my impending Step score but now that I have time to think about it I keep getting more angry lol.
 
Oh! I forgot to talk about how the whole sleep thing played out.

I exercised and spent a lot of time out in the sun so I was actually pretty tired. I went into bed around 8:15 which was super weird because it was still light out lol. I just relaxed on my phone for a bit and then I bed around 9:15. Slept till like 12:30 and then woke up but was able to fall back asleep. Then kept waking up every hour to check the time but was able to fall back asleep pretty easily each time. Woke up to my alarm at 5:50, didn't feel tired really. The sleep situation worked out WAY better than I could've expected.

For breakfast I had my usual cup of coffee except I left out the sugar. Had eggs and plain oatmeal. Brought a bunch of protein bars with me, main one was a Quest bar. Had a huge bottle of water and one unsweetened iced tea to get some caffeine without sugar. I had my breaks planned out ahead of time and knew exactly what I was going to do which I think helped keep me calm, knowing I had a schedule. After every block, I took a ~5 minute break where I would take a couple of bites of the Quest bar and some sips of water. I would also pee at every block. Then I would walk around inside a bit and just take a breather. After the 4th block I took my lunch. I planned for 35 minutes. I grabbed my Quest bar and the unsweetened iced tea and went outside. I walked up and down the sidewalk and just got some fresh air. I didn't touch my phone or any resources the entire day. After like 25 minutes, I felt ready to go back in, so I did. The 6th block fatigue is real and since I had a ton of extra break time left, I took a little bit of a longer break here and finished my iced tea for that caffeine. Before the 7th block, I was so ready to be done that I just did a quick pee and water break and got back to it.

Hope this helps if anyone is nervous about the logistics of the day!
 
Oh! I forgot to talk about how the whole sleep thing played out.

I exercised and spent a lot of time out in the sun so I was actually pretty tired. I went into bed around 8:15 which was super weird because it was still light out lol. I just relaxed on my phone for a bit and then I bed around 9:15. Slept till like 12:30 and then woke up but was able to fall back asleep. Then kept waking up every hour to check the time but was able to fall back asleep pretty easily each time. Woke up to my alarm at 5:50, didn't feel tired really. The sleep situation worked out WAY better than I could've expected.

For breakfast I had my usual cup of coffee except I left out the sugar. Had eggs and plain oatmeal. Brought a bunch of protein bars with me, main one was a Quest bar. Had a huge bottle of water and one unsweetened iced tea to get some caffeine without sugar. I had my breaks planned out ahead of time and knew exactly what I was going to do which I think helped keep me calm, knowing I had a schedule. After every block, I took a ~5 minute break where I would take a couple of bites of the Quest bar and some sips of water. I would also pee at every block. Then I would walk around inside a bit and just take a breather. After the 4th block I took my lunch. I planned for 35 minutes. I grabbed my Quest bar and the unsweetened iced tea and went outside. I walked up and down the sidewalk and just got some fresh air. I didn't touch my phone or any resources the entire day. After like 25 minutes, I felt ready to go back in, so I did. The 6th block fatigue is real and since I had a ton of extra break time left, I took a little bit of a longer break here and finished my iced tea for that caffeine. Before the 7th block, I was so ready to be done that I just did a quick pee and water break and got back to it.

Hope this helps if anyone is nervous about the logistics of the day!
So they let you walk outside of the exam room? How many people were there? Was there enough bathroom space so that you were never waiting in a line for people
 
So they let you walk outside of the exam room? How many people were there? Was there enough bathroom space so that you were never waiting in a line for people
Yes, they give you all of the instructions ahead of time when you go in for your exam the first time. They told me I could access my locker and go outside if I wanted to. My site is at full capacity so I think it was pretty much full. I never had to wait for the bathroom when actually testing, only once when we all checked in and were waiting to go in to the room.
 
Thank God! I was about to cry if it was anything like NBME. Sitting on 229 w/ a NBME 24.

Uword is bae!

edit: I am a very dull person. So, I am very excited.

Edit: Did you feel like reviewing Pathoma chapter 1 - 2 helped?

Ok guys. Write up time.

Overall: it felt exactly like 7 blocks of UWorld. Mix of easy and hard blocks, but pretty much just UWorld. Every so often you had your couple of sentences NBME style one or two liners. It felt like a mix between gimmes and ones that I was 50/50 on. There were a few that I had no clue what they were going for or what they wanted, but I'm inclined to believe those were my own flaws in knowledge. The test felt extremely fair and well written. Also, it's really comforting that it looks exactly like UWorld lol.

How I felt: honestly I'm conflicted. I felt good on certain blocks and crappier on others, but overall I felt okay? This kind of concerns me because I feel like there must be a catch. I have already thought of several really stupid mistakes I made on stuff I know, but I'm trying not to look anything else up because I don't want to destroy myself over these next 2 weeks.

Subjects: thank GOD I didn't have a heavy biochem emphasis. I mean I still had a handful of questions but nothing crazy and I felt comfortable with it. Same with anatomy-- there was a good chunk, but overall I felt pretty comfortable with it. 100 concepts Anki deck was great. Otherwise the spread felt pretty even between subjects. I didn't feel like anything was heavily skewed, although I do agree with others that I had a couple of questions that basically seemed to be asking the same exact thing just a different way.

I felt like I had seen most of the things before, and I don't feel like there's anything else I could've done to prepare you know? The things I didn't know I probably never would know. The silly mistakes I made are just what it is I guess.

I literally have no idea how I did. Part of me thinks I did well, part of me thinks I failed. I have zero idea. Hoping for 230 still.

I don't know what else to discuss, so please if you have any questions please just ask me because I want to help everyone out. You've all helped me tons.
 
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Thank God! I was about to cry if it was anything like NBME. Sitting on 229 on NBME 24.

Uword is bae!

edit: I am a very dull person. So, I am very excited.

Edit: Did you feel like reviewing Pathoma chapter 1 - 2 helped?
So I did an entire second pass of Pathoma during dedicated. I had planned on doing 2 passes, and then 1-3 two days before my test, but I honestly felt like I just knew it by that point since I did Zanki. I don't regret not forcing myself to do it again, but I can see how it could be helpful if you feel it's a weak spot for you.
 
I'm sorry!! If it helps at all, it seems like everyone who took it today felt horrible about it
Yeah, it was a lot more ridiculous today than I ever expected. I was never pressed for time on my practice tests, today I definitely was. Literally so many more vague questions where it sort of felt like they were actively trying to trick you. Fun stuff. I felt pretty good going in too lol!
 
Do anyone have a good resource, preferably anki, that goes over MRI, CT, Xray questions?

Also holy cow I'm breaking out like a MF. Feels like I am back in high school
 
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This is the worst thing ever why do they make us wait so long for scores. Part of me legit feels like I failed and part of me feels like I did well. This uncertainty is driving me insane lol.

Also, should I be concerned about COMLEX based on what you guys are saying? I'm taking today off and then pretty much just planning on doing the OME vids and some COMBANK questions for 3-3.5 days. I got a 560something on 5b and the COMBANK assessment thing had me predicted at like 670? I legit just want like 500+ to bypass screenings but am fine just passing too.
 
This is the worst thing ever why do they make us wait so long for scores. Part of me legit feels like I failed and part of me feels like I did well. This uncertainty is driving me insane lol.

Also, should I be concerned about COMLEX based on what you guys are saying? I'm taking today off and then pretty much just planning on doing the OME vids and some COMBANK questions for 3-3.5 days. I got a 560something on 5b and the COMBANK assessment thing had me predicted at like 670? I legit just want like 500+ to bypass screenings but am fine just passing too.

Luckily you should only have about 12 days to wait if they keep up with the current timeline. Try to distract yourself as much as you can which I know it’s easier said than done. In terms of COMLEX, make sure you know micro, pharm, MSK anatomy and spinal innervations. For OMM, know viscerosomatics like the back of your hand and know set up based on direct vs indirect. This stuff was by far the highest yield on my exam.
 
This is the worst thing ever why do they make us wait so long for scores. Part of me legit feels like I failed and part of me feels like I did well. This uncertainty is driving me insane lol.

Also, should I be concerned about COMLEX based on what you guys are saying? I'm taking today off and then pretty much just planning on doing the OME vids and some COMBANK questions for 3-3.5 days. I got a 560something on 5b and the COMBANK assessment thing had me predicted at like 670? I legit just want like 500+ to bypass screenings but am fine just passing too.
OMG OMT videos are amazing. its like 3 hrs of literally all you need to know for OMM (1.5 hrs double speed if you like that). Know those vids cold and youre golden. I only studied those the day before my cumulative COMAT at the end of 2nd year and copped a 91%. They are concise and highest of yield. He basically breaks everything down simple like dirtymedicine does
 
OMG OMT videos are amazing. its like 3 hrs of literally all you need to know for OMM (1.5 hrs double speed if you like that). Know those vids cold and youre golden. I only studied those the day before my cumulative COMAT at the end of 2nd year and copped a 91%. They are concise and highest of yield. He basically breaks everything down simple like dirtymedicine does
Online Med Ed OMM videos are good too and they're free to access.
 
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