Haven't taken step 1 yet, but was just wondering what residency programs would rather see: barely passing the first time around, or failing the first time and doing great on the second attempt (>230). obviously I know that neither is optimal...
Originally posted by bigdental
What about if you fail on purpose (or just "not finish") just to get a feel for the real test so that you can ace it the next time around? Assuming you started studying with study aids during first year.
Originally posted by keraven
I would absolutely NOT recommend something like this. While you might be able to do this crap with the MCAT, when your residency program asks why you sat for Step I more than once, you CAN NOT answer "so I could get a feel for the test". Do qbank -- you'll get a "feel for the test". Yeesh, I'm VERY afraid for you if you're actually contemplating this.
Originally posted by Kalel
I wouldn't post-pone it if you are just getting cold feet though; if you are scoring >55% in q bank with a gradual improvement in your percentages, and you've gone over everything you wanted to according to your schedule, I'd go ahead and take it.
Good point. My QBank scores were only coming up VERY gradually, and I never understood why classmates of mine were seemingly having an easier times with the questions than I was. (I did end up taking the test on the scheduled day, in mid-June, though I was only averaging around 65-70% on QBank on a VERY good day.) Looking back, it may have been because they were using the Kaplan lectures notes to study from? I guess it's possible that the questions in QBank were more reflective of the material in Kaplan's texts?