I'm sure you folks have heard about the Optima scandal resulting in eventually being sued by the ECFMG for using their pooled questions. All this drama happened on March 11th, 2009. My question is those of us who appeared for the test by end of March or are still appearing now, could it affect our scores? Has ECFMG done anything so that it doesn't happen? No candidate should be disadvantaged for a group of greedy suckers!
Optima scandal can affect your scores!!!!
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have you heard anything to actually indicate that this would affect a person's score or is this just unfounded speculation?
If somebody happens to get the same question on which many people will score correctly due to this unfair advantage, it's bound to affect your score. People writing their exams now will also be affected, if they get a few of those questions. As far as I'm concerned, and as much as I understand about how the exam is scored, a few of those questions can affect your scores hugely.
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What scandal was this?? I do not understand.
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There is no evidence that Step I is scored in a way that is dependent on the performance of others who have taken the test at or around the same time.
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My understanding is that that the NBME has acted to recover any materials that Optima was using.
If there were questions that were leaked and Optima students have access to them, I would assume that they've been pulled from the NBME test bank.
I also agree with lord jeebus, the standardization of the test is likely such that it is not dependent on those testing at your current site or in the same time period.
If there were questions that were leaked and Optima students have access to them, I would assume that they've been pulled from the NBME test bank.
I also agree with lord jeebus, the standardization of the test is likely such that it is not dependent on those testing at your current site or in the same time period.
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There's really no evidence for or against that argument 🙂
I just don't understand where the OP got any of this from. It's pure speculation until I see an official body say something. Because of that, this thread is stupid
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There's really no evidence for or against that argument 🙂
I just don't understand where the OP got any of this from. It's pure speculation until I see an official body say something. Because of that, this thread is stupid
http://www.rfcexpress.com/lawsuit.asp?id=44734
http://www.usmle.org/general_information/Announcements/Optima.html
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A stupid thread may be, but it would be equally stupid (if not more) to assume that 'somebody' would come out on behalf of NBME/ECFMG or whatever to issue public statement or to clarify situation! Even if they do, at best they will try to defend their position or even worse, they will simply try to brush it under the carpet! The moot point is, can we do anything about it?
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Defend their position or brush it under the carpet? The NBME is not the at fault party here...why would they have a conspiracy to "brush it under the carpet" when they are suing someone else for copyright infringement?
Do anything about what? There is no indication from any source that this optima lawsuit deal could have any effect on anyone's test scores.
You are tilting at windmills here...
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This is highly unfair, it affects the students who have been working hard and not only is it unethical but also morally wrong too.
In this field those who conduct such behavior should be considered for BAN from the NBME, but I guess more realistically those individuals should have to atleast rewrite the exam no matter what stage of the game they are at (Resident, Doctor, Jersey) with permanent records of this instance. Why should us honest people have to compete for residency with such people?
This is something the NBME should not take lightly.
I have devoted my life to this, my hard work, and time. I knew this from day 1, and gave medicine the "best years" of my life for my passion of helping people but I don't look back.
I'd like to think NBME is doing something to fix the curve on which our marks are charted against. These people are obviously not competent to serve our population as doctors.
I am sick to my stomach, which I am sure any other hard working, honest student is.
My 2 cents 😉
Honest Student
In this field those who conduct such behavior should be considered for BAN from the NBME, but I guess more realistically those individuals should have to atleast rewrite the exam no matter what stage of the game they are at (Resident, Doctor, Jersey) with permanent records of this instance. Why should us honest people have to compete for residency with such people?
This is something the NBME should not take lightly.
I have devoted my life to this, my hard work, and time. I knew this from day 1, and gave medicine the "best years" of my life for my passion of helping people but I don't look back.
I'd like to think NBME is doing something to fix the curve on which our marks are charted against. These people are obviously not competent to serve our population as doctors.
I am sick to my stomach, which I am sure any other hard working, honest student is.
My 2 cents 😉
Honest Student
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No sarcasm from me but, the text I placed in bold made me want to ask this: how old are you?
(genuine question)
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uhh duh......those kindergarten years were clearly the hardest!!!!!!!!!🙄
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since "best years" are subjective to the individual, or possibly in reference to what supposedly the majority feel are their "best years" - not sure how it matters in context of this thread
maybe a PM would be better? 🙂
Also, OP - you make very little sense.
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I heard about this one dude. He was sitting for his step I. During the middle of his 3rd block of questions, the NBME came in and beat him with a sack full of doorknobs. They were screaming something about the Optima scandal while they did it... I don't think that dude's score was very good.
Probably a true story.
Probably a true story.
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I heard about this one dude. He was sitting for his step I. During the middle of his 3rd block of questions, the NBME came in and beat him with a sack full of doorknobs. They were screaming something about the Optima scandal while they did it... I don't think that dude's score was very good.
Probably a true story.
I still got a 2,987. and here you thought the highest possible score was in the 280s. O'PTIMA rules.
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