qbank scores verses real COMLEX and USMLE

[ER lover]

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Sorry if this has been asked over and over but if I am getting in the 50-54% range in Kaplan Qbank, what do you think that means in terms of the actual COMLEX and the USMLE?? Thanks in advance

 

[Taurus]

Sorry if this has been asked over and over but if I am getting in the 50-54% range in Kaplan Qbank, what do you think that means in terms of the actual COMLEX and the USMLE?? Thanks in advance

According to the speaker from Kaplan who spoke to my class, that's in the high risk of failure category.

 

[godschosenone]

According to the speaker from Kaplan who spoke to my class, that's in the high risk of failure category.

so does that mean that above that, let's say 60%, is in the safe range?

 

[mountainman123]

From what I have heard- you should be in the 69-70% range to be safe. I could be wrong, but from many people who have taken it.

 

[fakin' the funk]

From what I have heard- you should be in the 69-70% range to be safe. I could be wrong, but from many people who have taken it.

Safe from what? Getting the mean? Look at people's QBank percentages and their NBMEs and actual Step1 scores, it looks like 75+% (random, near the end of your studying) correlates to 220+.

This doesn't address the fact that QBank has zebras, eponyms, and just general random facts everywhere. I didn't know amyloidosis was an important aspect of DM! 🙄

 

[guitarguy09]

I really don't think you can generalize a certain percentage. Some people take completely random blocks and some only test themselves on things they've been studying that day (obviously this will give you a higher percentage). That being said, the Kaplan guy that came to our school told us that as a general rule that PASSING is anywhere around 62-65%, but who knows how accurate that is.

 

[AmoryBlaine]

Keep in mind that how you are doing now is not the ultimate predictor. When I started doing random sets my initial scores were in the 40%s, my actual Step1 score was awesome.

I think if you are consistently above 60% in the week leading up to the test you will most likely be ok. Below 50% I would be worried. The actual test is not nearly as far-out as Qbank.

Qbank will EAT YOUR SOUL if you let it!!! Keep in mind that you are allowed to laugh at the almighty King Kaplan! I missed a question once on hypokalemic periodic paralysis, fine, I think I can still be a good doctor. I have never heard of that disease before or since. I guarantee you if some kid presented to the ED with a focal neuro deficit and you dropped "hypokalemic periodic paralysis" on your differential the attending would look at you like you had a horn growing out of your head.

 

[DRtob]

AmoryBlaine,
How long did it take you to raise your score from a 40% in Kaplan Q bank to a passing score?

Thank you

 

[godschosenone]

Keep in mind that how you are doing now is not the ultimate predictor. When I started doing random sets my initial scores were in the 40%s, my actual Step1 score was awesome.

I think if you are consistently above 60% in the week leading up to the test you will most likely be ok. Below 50% I would be worried. The actual test is not nearly as far-out as Qbank.

Qbank will EAT YOUR SOUL if you let it!!! Keep in mind that you are allowed to laugh at the almighty King Kaplan! I missed a question once on hypokalemic periodic paralysis, fine, I think I can still be a good doctor. I have never heard of that disease before or since. I guarantee you if some kid presented to the ED with a focal neuro deficit and you dropped "hypokalemic periodic paralysis" on your differential the attending would look at you like you had a horn growing out of your head.

yeah i cant seem to bump it up past 56% and its been almost 4 weeks of review. i started only 3% lower than where i am now, though i havent yet touched the 3 P's. so how long did it take you to get the scores higher?

 

[AmoryBlaine]

To answer you both: I was in the 40s at the end of my M2 year when I as just putzing around. When I really buckled down and hit my month-long schedule I'd say the climb was pretty steep. W/in two weeks I was probably over 60% everytime and by my last week I was rocking at least 70%* There is a BIG difference on Qbank between 60% and 75%.



*Disclaimer: I don't want to sound boastful, but I do want to help you guys out so it is important for me to mention yet again that I did extremely well on boards so my advice/experience may not translate across the board. If you are consistently at 65% on Qbank you will probably have a good shot at that Ortho residency.

 

[DRtob]

Thanks AmoryBlaine for the reply.
I haven't done kaplan q bank, but i'm doing UW and socring close to 40%, which I think correlates to a 50% for Kaplan. I will do kaplan q bank after i'm done with UW for a second time. I plan to take my exam on March 31 so I hope my scores will greatly increase, and if not, than I will probably extend it for a month..

 

[godschosenone]

Yeah, thanks for the reply. Whereas all advice/info is taken with a grain of salt, knowing how others did on QBANK and the real thing does help to put things into some sort of personal perspective.