Two part answer.
So, in terms of scores, here is an excerpt from a study by Dougherty in CORR 2010 about the correlation:
"We found a correlation between the USMLE Step 1 scores and the ABOS Part I percentile rank scores. In comparing USMLE Step 1 scores with ABOS Part I scores (Fig. 2), 33% of those who scored 209 or less on Step 1 failed the ABOS Part I. For a threshold of 223 or less, 16% failed the ABOS Part I. All candidates who scored above 227 on the Step 1 passed the ABOS Part I examination."
(Source:
Do Scores of the USMLE Step 1 and OITE Correlate with the ABOS Part I Certifying Examination?: A Multicenter Study)
This, and other studies, seem to have 220-230 as the cutoff score for passing the ortho boards.
The second part to the answer is this: most Ortho residents don't even match with those scores anymore. The median is now in the 240s. So theoretically, they all should be passing the boards right? Nope. Some residents still fail. Those whom I've seen who failed had severe professionalism issues and had other problems, or they slacked and stopped reading/studying the moment they matched. The USMLE gets you in the door, but after you match, it's the OITE that matters more, so you still need to study once you're a resident.
Hope that makes sense.
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