Step 1 as an IQ test

[Trader56]

I'd be interested in thoughts on this - especially from those of you who've taken Step 1 and done well.

As I go through QBank, it seems as though the practice questions, and scenerios on QBank IV are, in some ways, much like some of the IQ tests I've seen. A fair number of the questions I've gotten right are things that can be answered by lookng for patterns in the clinical presentation, or sometimes by just reasoning through what seems reasonable in the answer choices.

Now, I won't claim to know how this compares to the real thing, and have several months before i'll find out, but Im beginning to see the wisdom in the advice I was given when told to "do a LOT of questions!"

So is Step 1 like an IQ test?

Big Frank? Pox? Anyone else?

Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

Yes. step is so much like an IQ test.

anyone who passes is a genius with 180+ IQ.

 

[zeloc]

People who get extremely high scores on Step 1 will generally have high IQs. People who get extremely low scores will in general have lower IQs. That is it for the correlation. If as you say someone can do lots of practice questions and then do well on Step 1, you are already weakening your argument that it is related to intelligence because then anyone could do lots of practice questions and get a stellar score. Secondly, there is far too much knowledge required for the USMLE for it to resemble an IQ test at all, and so it will measure how much effort a person puts into the test. You will find very intelligent people who get average board scores.

 

[p53]

1. People with high IQs score high on Step 1.
2. People with high IQs score low on Step 1.
3. People with low IQs score low on Step 1.
4. People with low IQs NEVER score high on Step 1.

There is NO correleation with IQ for Step 1.

Step 1 is NOT an IQ exam. It is more of an achievement exam that tests your knowledge base. With that said, intelligence does determine your upper ceiling. A person with an average intelligence won't be able to score above a 260 regardless of work ethic and/or a photographic memory.

Still, a person with an average intelligence with a herculean work ethic and drive can still top out around 230-240. This is why you will always see some AOA members score below 240 on Step 1. These students have the knowledge base but don't have the cognitive ability/intelligence to score above 240 on Step 1.

On the other hand, a genius can score a 172 on this exam because the exam is knowledge based. Even if a person has a 180 IQ, without knowledge this person won't be able to apply the information to solve the question thus will fail this exam.

One more piece of advice. Do not judge yourself based on Qbank. Qbank is not as difficult as the real thing because as you mentioned, Qbank is heavily based on pattern recognition. Step 1 is not based on pattern recognition at all. Use Qbank for what it is, a program to solidify concepts and build up your knowledge base.

 

[Trader56]

Thanks zeloc and p53 - great comments!

Good points especially about the knowledge base necessary vs simply pattern recogntion.

 

[bigfrank]

p53, excellent post. Exactly on the money.