Step 1 changes

[Grrath]

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http://www.usmle.org/announcements/

The USMLE just recently made a couple of changes to the Step 1 reporting procedures and question totals. I'm not too broken up about it since I'm no longer phased by anything the medical school process throws at me but I still think there needs to be a discussion on how unprofessional it is to make major changes to such an important exam less than two months before most medical school students take it.
What changes could possibly be so urgent as to warrant completely adjusting the reporting schedule in the middle of test-taking season? I don't actually expect any schools to require people to move their test taking dates that far up but it still worries me that the board could be so flippant with making adjustments like this.

 

[MedWonk]

It sounds like they're simply reducing the number questions by 2 on each section. Is that a dramatic change from the current format?

 

[Lord_Vader]

It sounds like they're simply reducing the number questions by 2 on each section. Is that a dramatic change from the current format?

For med students it is.

 

[Psai]

Yeah! I'm so outraged! It's not like they posted the changes directly on their announcement which entails fewer questions in the same amount of time or told people months in advance about these changes! How urgent! Unprofessional! Discuss!

 

[Ismet]

It sounds like they're simply reducing the number questions by 2 on each section. Is that a dramatic change from the current format?

Lol no. 46 questions to 44 questions, I'm assuming you still get the same amount of time, so people should be rejoicing. Step 2 CK blocks are 44 questions each.

 

[Grrath]

Thanks for making jokes instead of reading the whole post. I almost laughed. The much bigger problem is the reporting change. The possibility of having to take the test a whole month earlier doesn't seem like an issue?

 

[Lord_Vader]

Thanks for making jokes instead of reading the whole post. I almost laughed. The much bigger problem is the reporting change. The possibility of having to take the test a whole month earlier doesn't seem like an issue?

Your school is making you take the test a whole month earlier just because of the reporting change? That seems asinine. My school set a deadline in May and they haven't changed it just because the reporting timeline has changed.

 

[Psai]

Thanks for making jokes instead of reading the whole post. I almost laughed. The much bigger problem is the reporting change. The possibility of having to take the test a whole month earlier doesn't seem like an issue?

Why would you have to take it earlier?

 

[medstar2330]

Thanks for making jokes instead of reading the whole post. I almost laughed. The much bigger problem is the reporting change. The possibility of having to take the test a whole month earlier doesn't seem like an issue?

Calm down brochacho.

Pretty sure a similar delay happens every year. As far as I know it very, very rarely affects anybody. Why would you need your score back earlier, and why wouldn't your school account for it?

 

[fastlane]

They reduce the number of questions by two to allow making the question stems longer.

 

[Psai]

They reduce the number of questions by two to allow making the question stems longer.

Many question stems do not need to be read

 

[PL198]

The question stems are already a joke now. I wonder what they will be like in 10 years

 

[JP2740]

Why would you have to take it earlier?

Some schools require a pass on step 1 before proceeding to year 3

 

[mcloaf]

Some schools require a pass on step 1 before proceeding to year 3

That seems wasteful...you're just supposed to hang out while you wait for your score? Do you get a vacation or something?

 

[PL198]

That seems wasteful...you're just supposed to hang out while you wait for your score? Do you get a vacation or something?

I mean isn't that the entire purpose of step 1, that you know enough basic science knowledge to at least pretend to be clinically helpful.

 

[Ost3oclast]

That seems wasteful...you're just supposed to hang out while you wait for your score? Do you get a vacation or something?

Thats how it works at my school actually! Been kickin it for like a month....

 

[fastlane]

That seems wasteful...you're just supposed to hang out while you wait for your score? Do you get a vacation or something?

You start M3 year after step 1. if it turns out you failed step 1, they pull you from rotations

 

[mcloaf]

You start M3 year after step 1. if it turns out you failed step 1, they pull you from rotations

I think this is what happens at my school, just struck me as odd that there are places that just have you twiddle your thumbs in the mean time.

I mean isn't that the entire purpose of step 1, that you know enough basic science knowledge to at least pretend to be clinically helpful.

Good point. I've been spending too much time in the step 1 forum where the point of step is to get a 265 so you can match into plastics or whatever, rather than passing to prove basic competency.

Thats how it works at my school actually! Been kickin it for like a month....

Do they have stuff for you guys to work on in the mean time or are you just cut loose pending a passing score?

 

[Ost3oclast]

I think this is what happens at my school, just struck me as odd that there are places that just have you twiddle your thumbs in the mean time.


Good point. I've been spending too much time in the step 1 forum where the point of step is to get a 265 so you can match into plastics or whatever, rather than passing to prove basic competency.


Do they have stuff for you guys to work on in the mean time or are you just cut loose pending a passing score?

We have a designated month to do "research" which is a requirement at my school. I've literally done zero work on my research for now and most of my classmates that I have talked to have done the same. I think they do it to make sure everybody passes step 1 to be honest.....However it has been really nice just to kick back and relax for a couple of weeks after that freakin test.

 

[JP2740]

That seems wasteful...you're just supposed to hang out while you wait for your score? Do you get a vacation or something?

No dude. They have a deadline so that the latest date you can take step 1 coincides with receiving your score by the time 3rd year starts. You get pulled if you don't pass. I think the schools find out if you pass or not before you get your score actually.

 

[seminoma]

No dude. They have a deadline so that the latest date you can take step 1 coincides with receiving your score by the time 3rd year starts. You get pulled if you don't pass. I think the schools find out if you pass or not before you get your score actually.

Right, so you're just hanging out for a month until your score gets reported. I don't think schools find out before the student does... If the school knew pass/fail earlier than the student, why would the school wait to pull students out of clerkships rather than just telling them they need to start studying again?

 

[notbobtrustme]

Right, so you're just hanging out for a month until your score gets reported. I don't think schools find out before the student does... If the school knew pass/fail earlier than the student, why would the school wait to pull students out of clerkships rather than just telling them they need to start studying again?

We had a week of "intro to 3rd year" stuff before starting 3rd year. You could take Step 1 anytime before that week but not after it except in special circumstances. Worked out to be a 2 week vacation (took it early June, clinical week was last week of June, 3rd year started June 30th) for me before 3rd year began but some people didn't have any time off.

 

[seminoma]

We had a week of "intro to 3rd year" stuff before starting 3rd year. You could take Step 1 anytime before that week but not after it except in special circumstances. Worked out to be a 2 week vacation (took it early June, clinical week was last week of June, 3rd year started June 30th) for me before 3rd year began but some people didn't have any time off.

We have something similar. Actually, that sounds like exactly what we have. I wonder if we go to the same school.