Question about Step 1 Scores

[sykosomatik]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Does a 240 in one year differ in weight from a 240 in another year?

Say the mean increases, will that 240 still hold the same weight?

I only ask because I will be graduating a year after my original expected graduation date, and I wanted to know if my score (which btw is not a 240) will still carry the same weight this year as it will next year.

How does the USMLE report your score to residency programs? Does it say, "The mean was 210 with an SD of 10. Applicant's score is 240, 97" or does it say "Applicant's score is 240, 97"

Sorry if this question has already been asked.

 

[AmoryBlaine]

It definitely varies a bit from year to year. I think that the idea though is that 240 is always going to be approximately equal to the mean + 1 std deviation. That is why it is always held up as a gold standard.

I don't think programs care very much about the year to year variation, I can't see a PD in Ortho saying, "our cutoff this year will be 228 instead of 230."

 

[sykosomatik]

Thanks for the reply.

It's not so much about residency program cutoffs that I'm worried about.

It's more that I'm concerned how my score will hold up when I apply. Kids at my school tend to better each year. So I'm wondering how the score I got this year will hold compared to those kids' ones next year.

I mean, will residency programs compare my score to the other 2006 scores, or to the 2007 scores? Do they just lump all the 230s in and not care what year the score was received (i.e. the mean does not matter)

I am amazingly bad at getting my point across , but I hope someone understands what I'm trying to get at

 

[AmoryBlaine]

Thanks for the reply.

It's not so much about residency program cutoffs that I'm worried about.

It's more that I'm concerned how my score will hold up when I apply. Kids at my school tend to better each year. So I'm wondering how the score I got this year will hold compared to those kids' ones next year.

I mean, will residency programs compare my score to the other 2006 scores, or to the 2007 scores? Do they just lump all the 230s in and not care what year the score was received (i.e. the mean does not matter)

I am amazingly bad at getting my point across , but I hope someone understands what I'm trying to get at

Nah, I think I get it.

People are slowly but surely "doing better" on Step1 as evidence by the fact that the passing grade has increased steadily.

But keep in mind the life of the program director - clinical duties, resident supervision, administrative crap as far as the eye can see, plus whatever family/home life they have. I don't think your average PD is tracking the means and std devs from year to year. Your score will be equal to scores one year away plus or minus just a few points. No one is sitting around looking at residency applications and saying, "ah yes, but 2004 was a good year for students from the Midwest."

It's like having $100,000. Even if someone gave it to you 5 years from now, you'd still be happy even though it technically might be "worth" a little bit less.