Options if having to cancel STEP 1?

[Calizboosted76]

Hey everyone,

I was curious as to watch my options are if I fail to pass any NBMEs by my test date (7-14) ? Do I just push the test back more? I start rotations (7-24) so I dont know how attainable this will be to study for Step while on rotations.

My scores are as follows this far:
UWSA1 - 156 (before content review)
UWSA2 - 168
NBME25 - 178
NBME30 - 182
NBME28 - 179 (Today, has me pretty upset because I have been grinding hard core)

I have 57% of UWORLD done and still have to finish renal, derm, biochem content review.


Any help is greatly appreciated. I am starting to stress out big time because I am 4 weeks out from my test date and havent broken into the 200s.

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[gyngyn]

Are you working with the Learning Specialist at your school?

 

[Calizboosted76]

I am at a DO school so its not Step that they are worried about it is Comlex, which I have passed 4 practice exams. I know that I am lacking in content which I am going to do my best to tidy up before my next practice exam. I just did not know if students sometimes take STEP during rotations or if it is too much to continue studying during.

 

[gyngyn]

I just did not know if students sometimes take STEP during rotations or if it is too much to continue studying during.

Because it's a high-stakes exam, students are allotted dedicated study time. It's not taken while they are focused on acquiring clinical skills.
The Learning Specialist would presumably be able to help you with tools to shore up your content acquisition (even if it is for USMLE).

 

[Calizboosted76]

Because it's a high-stakes exam, students are allotted dedicated study time. It's not taken while they are focused on acquiring clinical skills.
The Learning Specialist would presumably be able to help you with tools to shore up your content acquisition (even if it is for USMLE).

I will reach out to them and see what they say. Thank you!

 

[Goro]

Can you pull an elective as your first rotation and use it for study time?

Given your issues, I can't recommend taking Step I.

 

[Calizboosted76]

Can you pull an elective as your first rotation and use it for study time?

Given your issues, I can't recommend taking Step I.

Thats what I was thinking. My school gives us 8 weeks of "vacation time" to study for step 2 if we want and I am wondering If I just take half of that to study. It would give me another 4 weeks to really iron out all the details that I purged through the school year.

 

[Calizboosted76]

Update took NBME 27 a week after posting this and got a 190. Then I took NBME 29 a week after 27 (which is today) and got a 203 (68% correct with a 93-95% chance of passing Step 1 today.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Update took NBME 27 a week after posting this and got a 190. Then I took NBME 29 a week after 27 (which is today) and got a 203 (68% correct with a 93-95% chance of passing Step 1 today.

You're pretty borderline. Personally, I would suggest you cut your losses and take COMLEX 1 only since these are P/NP tests. All it takes is a bad test day or bad representative sample on the real test and end up failing. I would take USMLE step 2 alongside COMLEX 2 when the time comes. The only way I'd say you really need USMLE 1 is if you're really gunning for something competitive, but if you're scoring 203 on step 1, you are unlikely to magically get 260 on USMLE 2 and match into something very competitive

 

[DrStephenStrange]

You're pretty borderline. Personally, I would suggest you cut your losses and take COMLEX 1 only since these are P/NP tests. All it takes is a bad test day or bad representative sample on the real test and end up failing. I would take USMLE step 2 alongside COMLEX 2 when the time comes. The only way I'd say you really need USMLE 1 is if you're really gunning for something competitive, but if you're scoring 203 on step 1, you are unlikely to magically get 260 on USMLE 2 and match into something very competitive

Even a barely passing score has been proven to be better than not having USMLE at all (although now it is pass/fail). When I took step 1, I never had a passing score on any NBMEs. I ended up passing with a 204, and I am very convinced that it has helped me pretty significantly for residency interviews.

 

[Calizboosted76]

Yea I just took another NBME today and got a 97% chance of passing so I am going to go ahead and stick with my date. I appreciate both of your feedback!

 

[Calizboosted76]

Update for those following along. I took the new free 120 today and got a 67% correct