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mintendo

mintendo

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Has anyone ever tried a rescore and had it work out for them? I'm almost speechless after seeing my score. It's almost 30 points lower than my last practice test. It's really a sincere question and I could really use some advice. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
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mintendo said:
Has anyone ever tried a rescore and had it work out for them? I'm almost speechless after seeing my score. It's almost 30 points lower than my last practice test. It's really a sincere question and I could really use some advice. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
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I think i am in the same situation, I did 100% of usmle world and consistently maintened a certain level on questions and practice tests then today and see my score and think i am dreaming. It was a solid 25 points less than the level i had been at. It was even 10 points lower than my scores on really bad days. It does not make sense.
 
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I also think there was a scoring error. I hate to be that medical student in denial, but I scored a good 20+ points less than all of my practice exams in the week before - Kaplan, USMLE World, and NBME.

Who do we contact or what can we do? I am really shocked.

If there are others, please post. The only way we can get this checked out is if people come forward who feel the same way.
 
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heh^

I got a really terrible score, about 20 points lower than what I was getting. I'd like to think there's a scoring error, but I don't believe it.

I did have a killer headache in the 4th block which I thought was a migraine, but I decided that it was a tension headache because I started getting serotonin syndrome-like symptoms after I took imitrex.

to anyone thinkin I'm a complainer: that's definitely not gonna be my explanation for why I did poorly on the exam to whoever I'll have to explain it to if I manage to get any interviews with a 206.

but crap, I feel so low. this totally overshadows my bike breaking down cause the engine seized 2 days ago.
 
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im sorry to hear, id be really upset too...

I'd go for a rescore beacuse there's nothing to lose really...except maybe a small fee...i believe there is an option for rescoring when you check your scores...
 
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Ihateverbal said:
im sorry to hear, id be really upset too...

I'd go for a rescore beacuse there's nothing to lose really...except maybe a small fee...i believe there is an option for rescoring when you check your scores...
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just curious but how does rescoring work? do they try to find if there were technical errors with the program that might've logged in your answers correctly?
 
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mintendo said:
Has anyone ever tried a rescore and had it work out for them? I'm almost speechless after seeing my score. It's almost 30 points lower than my last practice test. It's really a sincere question and I could really use some advice. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Same boat. I scored lower than any of my practice tests, even lower than when I really started studying. I think I'm going to ask for a rescore for peace of mind-- it was new software, after all.
 
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This thought crossed my mind as well--I did worse than my last practice test and UW scores predicted and I thought I had a really easy form--but easy test might = crappy curve. But at the same time, my computer did shut off at one point, so maybe some of the scores didn't get recorded correctly. I still have a good score that i am content with (~10 pts lower than I thought & a little afraid that matching to a west coast prog. could be difficult), but think I would be more bummed if I spent $55 just to get the same score. If it was a 30 point difference though, I'd probably go for it.
 
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snowflake83 said:
This thought crossed my mind as well--I did worse than my last practice test and UW scores predicted and I thought I had a really easy form--but easy test might = crappy curve. But at the same time, my computer did shut off at one point, so maybe some of the scores didn't get recorded correctly. I still have a good score that i am content with (~10 pts lower than I thought & a little afraid that matching to a west coast prog. could be difficult), but think I would be more bummed if I spent $55 just to get the same score. If it was a 30 point difference though, I'd probably go for it.
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what if you spent 55 bucks, and there was a mistake, but your new score actually went down further?
 
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I think something might be strange with the scoring too. Here are my stats:

UWorld= 69% (48 questions, random, timed, ~70% complete)
NBME 2 (2 months prior)= 216
NBME 4 (1 month prior)= 247
NBME 6 (1 week prior)= 244

Step 1(5/27, V2)= 232

It's obviously a fine score, but I was shocked that it was so much lower than my two prior practice tests. I'm normally a good test taker (scored a 36 on the MCAT). I walked out feeling like it was a fair test and felt the same way I did after I took the practice tests. My performance profile looked completely different than the ones on my practice tests too. It seriously looks like another person took that test.

I'm going to spend the $55. It may be extremely rare to have a score changed and I doubt they actually re-analyze the scoring with much effort or rigor, but I figure it's worth a try.

By the way, where/when did you guys take the test? I was on 5/27 in NYC. Maybe we can see if there's a trend for scores in a particular region.
 
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I had a script error, maybe that had something to do with my change and score. anyone else have a script eorror or any other error?
 
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Nematode said:
I had a script error, maybe that had something to do with my change and score. anyone else have a script eorror or any other error?
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I had a bunch of script errors as well. I have no idea whether or not this contributed to my score. The other thing that kept happening to me is that my computer kept freezing up on me. I'm pretty sure that I answered all my questions, but still.
 
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It's possible that it did, anyone else have any error? I think I am gonna go for the recheck, worse case scenario I lose $50 but at least I'll have closure
 
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distracted said:
I think something might be strange with the scoring too. Here are my stats:

UWorld= 69% (48 questions, random, timed, ~70% complete)
NBME 2 (2 months prior)= 216
NBME 4 (1 month prior)= 247
NBME 6 (1 week prior)= 244

Step 1(5/27, V2)= 232

It's obviously a fine score, but I was shocked that it was so much lower than my two prior practice tests. I'm normally a good test taker (scored a 36 on the MCAT). I walked out feeling like it was a fair test and felt the same way I did after I took the practice tests. My performance profile looked completely different than the ones on my practice tests too. It seriously looks like another person took that test.

I'm going to spend the $55. It may be extremely rare to have a score changed and I doubt they actually re-analyze the scoring with much effort or rigor, but I figure it's worth a try.

By the way, where/when did you guys take the test? I was on 5/27 in NYC. Maybe we can see if there's a trend for scores in a particular region.
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Do your parents have a bumper sticker on their car reading "My child is a honor student at...."?
 
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Keep us posted on what the outcome is... So far everything I've read on rescores is based on SDN Armchair Experts who've never DONE a rescore, but they knew a guy who heard about a friends cousin's brother's lover who did... It'll be nice to see an ACTUAL case...
 
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I may have figured out Nematodes secret identity but for the rest of you, I would say if it were me, I would probably spend the $50 if I had the script error but not for any other reason. Especially the people who scored 30 points lower than expected and had computer issues. Sounds suspicious. Worth $50 for closure on the biggest test of our lives.
 
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i failed by a few measly points, funny thing is i was scoring 200+ on all NBME's total WTF factor I am speechless and now considering looking into a full time job at burger king.
 
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30 Pts is some what crazy, although I guess possible. In retrospect how likely is it a computer made a mistake. in all honesty they are probably just gonna take our money
 
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I'd go for a rescore..$55 is nothign in the grand scheme of things...it's like an extra NBME exam or something..
 
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I too had a weird distribution......
I'm great at micro and didnt do so well on it..im good at renal and didnt do so well on it..however, i suck at neuro and i scored high on it...

In the end, my score was around what I predicted
 
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distracted said:
I'm not even sure how to respond to that. What is your implication?
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um, i think his implication is that your score is very enviable to many of the people on the boards - a 12 point difference between you last nbme and your actual score and you think there is a scoring error? average your NBME scores and you pretty much have your actual score right on the head. the rest of the posters on this thread are concerned over a 30 point differences in their scores and none of them mentioned how they scored on the MCAT
 
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so did anyone end up biting the bullet and asking for a rescore? I haven't gotten a chance and now am having second thoughts, plus overnight call for surgery twice this week has kept me quite busy.
 
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rock_climber said:
um, i think his implication is that your score is very enviable to many of the people on the boards - a 12 point difference between you last nbme and your actual score and you think there is a scoring error? average your NBME scores and you pretty much have your actual score right on the head. the rest of the posters on this thread are concerned over a 30 point differences in their scores and none of them mentioned how they scored on the MCAT
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If you ignore the numbers, I think most people would wonder if there was a problem if their score regressed back to where it was 4-6 weeks ago if they had been studying & improving steadily during that time.
 
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So i mailed in my $55 "donation" to the nbme on Friday so I will let you all know what they say. I am convinced that something happend with my score, although i doubt I will ever find out if anything happend. Over 6 weeks of studying I progressed from the low 200's to consistently in the high 220's - 230's range. On my NBME subject exams throughout the first 2 years of med school i did consistently well in about the 70% range and i consider myself a good standardized test taker. USMLE world cumulative average was 64% on random tests and the 3 friends that i studied with the whole time (we were all around the same level) all were high 228 -240 range. All of that being said, i scored b/w 200-210, pretty much where i started at 6 weeks before. When trying to think it through, the one thing that jumps out at me is that when i clicked submit for my final section of the day, a javascript error popped up on my screen and the Fred software actually minimized and i could see Windows. I had to maximize the software again and then click submit again. I feel like my last section could have been submitted blank or having me miss 48 straight questions which could acount for the low score. My friends seem to agree with this theory so we shall see if anything happens.
 
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I also bit the bullet and sent in the rescore form. We'll see.
 
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mintendo said:
I also bit the bullet and sent in the rescore form. We'll see.
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I sent in a rescore form too. I have no idea how long it will take. I think it is scored out by hand. I also emailed the NBME and asked them to check out my exam to make sure that no computer errors occurred and to make sure that I answered all my questions because I know I submitted answers to all the questions (i.e. I did not run out of time).
 
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I only took one NBME practice test, which was administered to my entire class before we began our Step 1 prep period. I scored in the top quartile in my class. After 2 months of studying, my actual Step 1 score was 15 points below my baseline. My performance profile was really odd for me too. I did FA and Kaplan Qbank. I figured it was the result of crazy stress in my personal life over the past couple months, but this is making me reconsider. I took it May 26th, so I was in the group that had to wait 7-8 weeks for our scores because of the software switch, and I'm sure they'd be loathe to admit that, with so much time, they still managed to miscalculate our scores.
 
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XildUpNawth said:
I only took one NBME practice test, which was administered to my entire class before we began our Step 1 prep period. I scored in the top quartile in my class. After 2 months of studying, my actual Step 1 score was 15 points below my baseline. My performance profile was really odd for me too. I did FA and Kaplan Qbank. I figured it was the result of crazy stress in my personal life over the past couple months, but this is making me reconsider. I took it May 26th, so I was in the group that had to wait 7-8 weeks for our scores because of the software switch, and I'm sure they'd be loathe to admit that, with so much time, they still managed to miscalculate our scores.
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If it wasn't for the software switch, I'd just accept it and move on with my life. But there were some funny things going on with my computer and I studied my ass off for that test. The other thing was that my score was way off my NBME's.
 
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:luck:
XildUpNawth said:
I only took one NBME practice test, which was administered to my entire class before we began our Step 1 prep period. I scored in the top quartile in my class. After 2 months of studying, my actual Step 1 score was 15 points below my baseline. My performance profile was really odd for me too. I did FA and Kaplan Qbank. I figured it was the result of crazy stress in my personal life over the past couple months, but this is making me reconsider. I took it May 26th, so I was in the group that had to wait 7-8 weeks for our scores because of the software switch, and I'm sure they'd be loathe to admit that, with so much time, they still managed to miscalculate our scores.
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sorry to hear about that. I can understand totally the crazy life stuff going on. I was at 250 and above a month out on several practice tests but after that didn't study much. I also didn't get to sleep a wink the night before so may have made a billion mistakes on easy stuff. I don't have my score yet, but I wanted to say I feel for you. Keep your head up and good luck with the rescore. I always wondered if they even do a really good job with the whole standardization thing, seeing how everyone gets different topics stressed and questions (like luck of the draw that day). Also, there were nbmes where respiratory would be like a superstar over the right side of the page, then the very next one would be borderline. There is no way in a weeks time my knowledge changed that much and I honored that class, so to me it's just silly. anyways good luck:luck::luck:
 
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Used FA, UsmleRX Q Bank (maybe a big mistake?). Here's how I progressed:

UsmleRX QBank cum: 72%
QBank 7-block practice 1: 198
QBank 7-block practice 2: 224
QBank 7-block practice 3: 237
QBank 7-block practice 4: 248
Free 150: 85% (~245-ish)

Real thing: 220.

So, I'm pretty bummed and watching this thread intently. My test site had some problems with the building and the rooms were about 90 degrees -- not exactly standardized testing conditions. Or, maybe I'm just stupid and in denial.
 
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PuppyKicker16 said:
Sounds like denial isn't just a river in Egypt.
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Denial FTW!

Not everyone on SDN can score 250+ guys, and anyone can have a bad day.



And for the guy who went from practicing in the 220-230s and scored 200-210...a drop of 48 questions (you say maybe your last section went blank) would account for much more than a 10-30 point drop.
 
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agree that it's probably simply a donation to get a rescore, but i have been seriously considering it, too. i was looking at the high 230s/low 240s range based on practice exams and ended up on the real thing in the high 210s. pretty disappointed, especially considering i'm trying to match in ophtho, but figured i simply had a bad test day (even though i felt like the exam went really well). but who knows with the recent software change, tech glitches, etc.

i did a search to see if there are a group of us "denial folk" each year but didn't find any similar threads in the past. for those who have sent in a rescore request, please let us know how it turns out. i also considered calling nbme to see if they have received an unusual number of rescore requests but haven't done so yet.
 
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clayito said:
agree that it's probably simply a donation to get a rescore, but i have been seriously considering it, too. i was looking at the high 230s/low 240s range based on practice exams and ended up on the real thing in the high 210s. pretty disappointed, especially considering i'm trying to match in ophtho, but figured i simply had a bad test day (even though i felt like the exam went really well). but who knows with the recent software change, tech glitches, etc.

i did a search to see if there are a group of us "denial folk" each year but didn't find any similar threads in the past. for those who have sent in a rescore request, please let us know how it turns out. i also considered calling nbme to see if they have received an unusual number of rescore requests but haven't done so yet.
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Yeah, I'd just do it. I mean, we're already in so much debt anyway, what's another $55 in the grand scheme of things?

I definitely don't remember a thread like this in previous years.
 
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Those of you guys who sent in a form for rescoring, please let us know the result. I am also in the same boat with many of the posters here. 25 points discrepancy between USMLE and NBME practice tests just do not add up.

btw I just read this on the request form and does not sound promising: "For all USMLE Steps, standard procedures ensure that the scores reported for you accurately reflect your performance. A change in score based on a recheck is an extremely remote possibility. However, a recheck will be done if you submit the request form and fee to the NBME."
 
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gildas said:
Those of you guys who sent in a form for rescoring, please let us know the result. I am also in the same boat with many of the posters here. 25 points discrepancy between USMLE and NBME practice tests just do not add up.

btw I just read this on the request form and does not sound promising: "For all USMLE Steps, standard procedures ensure that the scores reported for you accurately reflect your performance. A change in score based on a recheck is an extremely remote possibility. However, a recheck will be done if you submit the request form and fee to the NBME."
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True, and to be perfectly honest I'm not very hopeful. However, this was also most likely written when Fred v1 was being used. Who knows if there are any glitches with Fred v2 that may have interfered with the scoring?
 
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FutureChiDoc said:
Denial FTW!

Not everyone on SDN can score 250+ guys, and anyone can have a bad day.



And for the guy who went from practicing in the 220-230s and scored 200-210...a drop of 48 questions (you say maybe your last section went blank) would account for much more than a 10-30 point drop.
Click to expand...

How do you know? 15% difference --> 30 points seems about right. Isn't that about right for the NBMEs? The conversion is all speculation and certainly test dependent.
 
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