USMLE Starting May 9th, 2016 - USMLE Step 1 is 28 Questions Less

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Transposony said:
Each question will have more weightage and that's worrying.............
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Well I mean since it is a relative score according to how others do it shouldn't make too much of a difference. I just wonder about the reasoning behind it. As we all know (hopefully), that as we increase n we decrease the standard error of the mean, so it seems like they are adding more 'variability' and 'randomness' to the test. I personally wish I was writing it a bit sooner.
 
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Those taking the new format also have to wait until July 13th for their scores. Gonna be a rough wait
 
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decreasing the no of questions means decreasing the margin of error. each n every Q will be a million $ Question.
 
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voicesinmyhead said:
sorry , where does it say, that question stems are going to be longer?
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It doesn't say so, we are just wondering what are the reasons behind doing so. And those could be: a) Nothing, questions will be the same but now you have more time per question, or b) less questions but they will be longer/more difficult thus requiring more time per question.
 
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I think they're doing this because of how ridiculously common 250+ scores have become, and they just can't allow that to continue or the test will lose all of its value.
I don't think people should start panicking, bigger changes were made to the exam in the past. For example when PD stopped looking at the 2 digit score. Back then a 99/238 would get you a spot in a respectable program, now a 238 will barely get you interviewed for IM at top programs (for IMGs).
It won't necessarily make the exam more difficult, but each mistake is going to cost you more in terms of final grade.
 
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So, I'm looking at both the 2015 and 2016 sample questions and I really don't see any huge differences. Some of the questions in the 2016 PDF are the same ones as in the 2015 PDF. Maybe some of the stems are a little longer?

http://www.usmle.org/practice-materials/index.html

I really don't know what to make of this, but here's what Kaplan had to say about the last time they reduced the number of questions:

http://www.kaptest.com/blog/residency-secrets/2015/03/19/march-2015-the-usmle-test-change/

I guess my biggest worry is that like Kazaki stated they are trying to reel-in the inflated scores, which will shift the curve and reduce everyone's scores... How would a PD even discern this kind of shift in scores, and would a change like that even be on their radar? Ugh, just my luck.
 
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Kazaki said:
I think they're doing this because of how ridiculously common 250+ scores have become, and they just can't allow that to continue or the test will lose all of its value.
I don't think people should start panicking, bigger changes were made to the exam in the past. For example when PD stopped looking at the 2 digit score. Back then a 99/238 would get you a spot in a respectable program, now a 238 will barely get you interviewed for IM at top programs (for IMGs).
It won't necessarily make the exam more difficult, but each mistake is going to cost you more in terms of final grade.
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While this is possible, the NBME is against PD's using Step 1 scores to evaluate applicants for residency spots. They're in the testing business for the money, not value (case in point, step 2 CS). BUT, while they might not be trying to eliminate them because they are common, they might be eliminating them to destroy our psyche 🙁. Also, how is it even fair to compare applicants in the same cycle that way? I feel like it's stupid to do this mid AMG step 1 cycle unless things will be exactly the same in the end.
 
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Ophthoseidon said:
They're in the testing business for the money
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While I do agree with this, it's pretty much all what PDs have to judge IMGs, or AMGs from mid-tier programs. Otherwise, we'd be looking at a world where the ivy league guys get matched first, then mid-tier schools etc...
The simple fact is...the test works. The statisticians behind it know how to make scores comparable. Somewhere on the NBME site it says the step scores obtained within 2 to 3 years of each other are comparable (fair enough, more than 3 years and chances are the test has changed quite a bit) so I wouldn't worry about it being comparable to the guys doing it before the changes set in.
If you really want to be sure that these changes aren't going to affect your score, dig up the stats for the past 6-5 years and look at the means and SD. I reckon they'd be close to each other, maybe an increase in the mean?

MistaDobalina said:
How would a PD even discern this kind of shift in scores, and would a change like that even be on their radar?
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I don't think that they're gonna hold a nation-wide meeting titled "how to evaluate the new step scores" I think what's going to happen is that the number of people scoring 260+ will decrease, prompting PD to start looking at more applicants with above average to average scores.

MistaDobalina said:
Ugh, just my luck.
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On a completely unrelated note
During high school I was at a british school. Long story short, you've got 3 sets of exams to go through in years 10,11,12. They changed every single curriculum the year that I did each exam. The year that I graduated high school, almost all unis in australia decided to abandon undergrad medicine (MBBS) and switched to postgrad MD. Fast forward to med school....I was thinking about applying to england for residency, BUT GUESS WHAT? the year that I graduate med school, england is changing their exam from the current PLAB to what they're gonna call the UKNLE (UK national licensing exam). PLAB is piss easy, UKNLE is going to be similar to USMLE. So doing residency in the UK is going to become more challenging.
Just my luck eh?
Don't make excuses, work hard, and you'll make it!
 
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Kazaki said:
While I do agree with this, it's pretty much all what PDs have to judge IMGs, or AMGs from mid-tier programs. Otherwise, we'd be looking at a world where the ivy league guys get matched first, then mid-tier schools etc...
The simple fact is...the test works. The statisticians behind it know how to make scores comparable. Somewhere on the NBME site it says the step scores obtained within 2 to 3 years of each other are comparable (fair enough, more than 3 years and chances are the test has changed quite a bit) so I wouldn't worry about it being comparable to the guys doing it before the changes set in.
If you really want to be sure that these changes aren't going to affect your score, dig up the stats for the past 6-5 years and look at the means and SD. I reckon they'd be close to each other, maybe an increase in the mean?


I don't think that they're gonna hold a nation-wide meeting titled "how to evaluate the new step scores" I think what's going to happen is that the number of people scoring 260+ will decrease, prompting PD to start looking at more applicants with above average to average scores.


On a completely unrelated note
During high school I was at a british school. Long story short, you've got 3 sets of exams to go through in years 10,11,12. They changed every single curriculum the year that I did each exam. The year that I graduated high school, almost all unis in australia decided to abandon undergrad medicine (MBBS) and switched to postgrad MD. Fast forward to med school....I was thinking about applying to england for residency, BUT GUESS WHAT? the year that I graduate med school, england is changing their exam from the current PLAB to what they're gonna call the UKNLE (UK national licensing exam). PLAB is piss easy, UKNLE is going to be similar to USMLE. So doing residency in the UK is going to become more challenging.
Just my luck eh?
Don't make excuses, work hard, and you'll make it!
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May be for IMGs step scores are all that PD have to compare to US MD applicants. But for AMGs (low, mid, or upper tier, this doesn't even matter) step scores are only about 30% of the battle man. Third year/clerkship grades, and letters of recommendations are just as important. If an applicant is severely deficient in any of the other two, a 250 wont help for competitive specialties


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
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Thank you for contacting the National Board of Medical Examiners.


The governing bodies of USMLE periodically review of examination and survey data, including the amount of time used during the examination. Timing adjustments are made to testing forms based on such data. For example, the Step 3 examination recently reduced the total number of MCQ items on the examination from approximately 460 items to 413 items.


All testing forms are balanced in terms of overall content and examination difficulty through statistical processes. Examinees are encouraged to review our website for additional information about upcoming examination changes.


Any additional questions should be directed to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) at:


3624 Market Street, Fourth Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685 USA

Telephone: 215-386-5900
 
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here is a screen shot from the famous Dr. Barone (The Kaplan Pathology lecturer) website....baronerocks.

efdfdf.PNG
 
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i think the only difference will be this. - margin of error like you said!

qn lengths, difficulty etc will be the same.
 
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okay. thank you guys. I didnt know this. now its time to panic and get the test before that date... OMG
and also gotta add. Unless the NBMEs self assesments get fixed in based of that soon. us that take these nbmes on the assumption of getting a grade. for ex: 230 then you have the odds of getting lets put 245 if you get more right among them or a 215 if you get more wrong among the real thing. so they wont be as predictive for people studying for this term...
 
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They can't change the entire database in few months.
So, the only thing they can do is to take out "gimme" questions (which can be answered purely by memorization) thereby leaving the "thinking" questions. Hence the reduction in number of questions.
 
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Transposony said:
They can't change the entire database in few months.
So, the only thing they can do is to take out "gimme" questions (which can be answered purely on memorization) thereby leaving the "thinking" questions. Hence the reduction in number of questions.
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Omg why...:boom: beginning to lose hope :bang:
 
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Hmmm guys whatever you do, take the exam before or after the changes, you are going to be nervous anyway. But be aware of the fact that everybody is going through it and trust yourself. We spend a lot of time studying, there will be questions that we fail, and usually those are the ones we remember just after taking an exam, but there will also be many questions that we won't fail and we will find relatively easy to answer, and those we tend to forget. Don't panic, trust yourselves. Both options have pros and cons, so pick up one (before or after the changes, i mean), and then forget about it and keep going. WE CAN FU***** DO THIS! 🙂
 
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The step 2 and 3 have very long stems. My suspicion is the new step 1 will be more clinically focused and similar to step 2. There has been step 2 material weaved into step 1 the past two years, including obgyn and paeds, likely as experimental questions to gauge how students in their preclinical years are exposed to clinical material. But as of May these questions won't be experimental.
 
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Phloston said:
The step 2 and 3 have very long stems. My suspicion is the new step 1 will be more clinically focused and similar to step 2. There has been step 2 material weaved into step 1 the past two years, including obgyn and paeds, likely as experimental questions to gauge how students in their preclinical years are exposed to clinical material. But as of May these questions won't be experimental.
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Are you saying that we should look at Obgyn/peds Step 2 materials? If so, what materials do you recommend that would give us the highest yield without taking away too much time?
 
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Heol said:
Are you saying that we should look at Obgyn/peds Step 2 materials? If so, what materials do you recommend that would give us the highest yield without taking away too much time?
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I ve found question on Uworld about next step managment.
and also a question about necrotizing enterocolitis in a preterm newborn. got this qs right because I mistakenly study for step 2 ck before step 1 before they decided to put stuff of step 1 on step 2 ck.
so yes thats a fact! and I can feel my hope slowly dissappear
 
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BellaPinhaMD said:
I ve found question on Uworld about next step managment.
and also a question about necrotizing enterocolitis in a preterm newborn. got this qs right because I mistakenly study for step 2 ck before step 1 before they decided to put stuff of step 1 on step 2 ck.
so yes thats a fact! and I can feel my hope slowly dissappear
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Necrotizing enterocolitis is a staple Step 1 topic. I've seen it in several practice questions as well as First Aid. I certainly wouldn't say it's primarily Step 2 level material.
 
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Heol said:
Are you saying that we should look at Obgyn/peds Step 2 materials? If so, what materials do you recommend that would give us the highest yield without taking away too much time?
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Just to make a point loud and clear: up until these recent exam changes I would not have recommended studying paeds and obgyn whatsoever for Step 1. It's just that I receive feedback from students about topics appearing on the exam that current Step 1 resources haven't caught up with yet. Paeds fortunately is covered at a cursory level in Step 1, but I would review management and presentations of bronchiolitis, epiglottitis, croup, paeds sepsis (i.e., antibiotic choice) and dehydration resus. For obgyn know about decelerations/accelerations and pathologies associated with pregnancy, e.g., the placenta path and postpartum path.
 
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Would it be worth going over just the management sections in MTB2 or 3? Can't imagine it'd take more than 2-3 days if your step 1 prep is already decent.
 
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who can wait for 2 n half months for result after May 9. better give it before it, a week or 2 will not make any difference for those who were planing to give it in May.
 
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Well by management I meant investigations/work-up + treatment. If its just the sequence of investigations we need to read, I can't imagine it adding more than a day or two. From MTB, that is, unless theres a better source that can be used.
 
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It's sad to see so many stress producers here. All this talk about longer questions, more OBGYN, removing gimme questions, implementing more Step 2 type questions is all speculation. Everyone wants to have an answer but the truth is no one really knows anything about the changes besides that there will be less questions.

And I think it's pure insanity, people talking about changing their test date to before May 9. People were freaking out last year because of changes too. Just prepare for the test as people always have with the resources that have known to produce great scores (UWFAP). NBME's will still accurately predict your score whether you take the exam before or after May 9th. There will always be people who want to stress you out. Don't entertain these people. Stress and worry is not conducive to performing well on Step 1.

If you and stay positive, calm and collected, you will do better.
 
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They change something like this every year and every year people flip out about it. Step 1 was 46 questions per block when I took it, then down to 44 and now 40. It does suck that a chunk of people will have to wait longer than 3-4 weeks for their score, but that should be the only "stressful" factor right now - everything else is pure speculation.

This year Step 2 CK freaked people out when some people had 20 questions in their 8th block and others had a full block. The questions in the 20-Q block weren't longer than normal.
 
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Can I ask again (kind of from being lazy) but who said that people are going to have to wait longer than 3 weeks for their scores? And if so, who is going to have to wait longer than 3 weeks?
 
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I took the new form this week. 40 questions per block now. Stems no different from the practice NBMEs and some of the uworld questions in terms of length and general difficulty. Doesn't seem like they did much except reduce the question number, which I feel gave an extra 5-10 min to review at the end of each block. There were a number of randomish, overly detail oriented questions that I don't remember being from First Aid or the qbanks but I'm guessing that's nothing new.
 
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midwestm2 said:
Can I ask again (kind of from being lazy) but who said that people are going to have to wait longer than 3 weeks for their scores? And if so, who is going to have to wait longer than 3 weeks?
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http://www.usmle.org/announcements/default.aspx?ContentId=175

Here it says:
"The target date for reporting Step 1 scores for most examinees testing the week of May 9 through late June will be Wednesday, July 13, 2016"

Which means that people may be waiting up to 2 months!
 
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kenjixshadow said:
Source: http://www.usmle.org/step-1/
http://www.usmle.org/announcements/default.aspx?ContentId=174
My observation for this:
1) Same exam, a little more time per question. (Obviously is the best option)
2) Less questions, but overall the stems become much longer and more convoluted. (This would suck)
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took it today may 31 2016
6blocks 40 qs and 1 block 36 q..... its interesting but frustrating... dunno what im gonna expect or whats the grading on that... its confusing.. no anatomy... nor biostats.... weird. since i was preparing for a 46 q.s blocks....
 
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I just took it. Yesterday. 6 blocks 40 and 1block 36. Longer questions..... not a lot of biochemistry or memorization. I dunno questions were longer and more complex. Kinda reminded me at nbme17 but less questions. Didn't give hints of questions rather you needed to know who's best. And even in couple of questions asked me who's the next best tx. So..... yeah. And since I have to wait til july13 for the result I'm wondering how they r gonna grade me.... good luck everyone !
 
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