Step 1 easier in rural locations?

[dfk228]

So I've heard a rumor that the test is supposed to be easier in places with fewer medical students or more isolated regions. Anyone hear any truth to this? I think our administration may have mentioned it and the DIT guy as well.

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[DD214_DOC]

So I've heard a rumor that the test is supposed to be easier in places with fewer medical students or more isolated regions. Anyone hear any truth to this? I think our administration may have mentioned it and the DIT guy as well.

Why would it be any easier in one specific location? It's a national standardized examination and your score is scaled based upon the average performance of the entire group. I don't know why your admin believes this as it doesn't make any sense.

 

[Mr hawkings]

By easier, do you mean easy to schedule/ less external stress related to the testing environment due to fewer people using that same center?

Cos i'm pretty sure the level of difficulty of teh test itself will be the same regardless of where you take it.🙄

 

[hrandani]

I've heard that individual regions are curved. So the hope is that you go from being a regular fish in a big pond to a big fish in a small pond.

I've also heard IMG exams (ECFMG) are curved more strongly down than NBME due to people taking a few years off to study exclusively.

No way to verify either so meh.

 

[Depakote]

Standardized testing does not work that way! </Morbo voice>

 

[BlondDoctor]

Is that true about ecfmg and nbme not being on the same standardization curve?
Not the adjustment garbage, I mean are they two seperate populations?

I always thought they were standardized together.

 

[kryptik]

it's a myth

 

[DrBowtie]

Is that true about ecfmg and nbme not being on the same standardization curve?
Not the adjustment garbage, I mean are they two seperate populations?

I always thought they were standardized together.

it's a myth

I'd say more of a rationalization.

 

[slowbutsteady]

I've heard that individual regions are curved. So the hope is that you go from being a regular fish in a big pond to a big fish in a small pond.

I've also heard IMG exams (ECFMG) are curved more strongly down than NBME due to people taking a few years off to study exclusively.

No way to verify either so meh.

lol, remind me not to have surgery in Arkansas.

 

[MossPoh]

The only way I could see it being easier is having less people to distract you in the room...maybe. I took my MCAT in two different towns and it was much more relaxed in the smaller place since it was just me and 1 other kid taking the exam, as opposed to the town I'm in now that has 2 universities and was filled with MCAT, GRE, GMAT and very loud keyboards.

I was also more relaxed at the other place because I got a nice hotel room and sat in the hot tub just scanning over some stuff, watched a movie, had a nice breakfast and just didn't feel strungout walking in.

 

[DD214_DOC]

It *might* may a difference when you take it, if they divide people up into blocks or administer different, "sets" of questions at different times. You'd be more likely to do better by taking it later in the year since you will be taking the exam with re-takers and people who put it off for ever because they weren't ready. Assuming you're not one of them, of course.

 

[coralfangs]

It *might* may a difference when you take it, if they divide people up into blocks or administer different, "sets" of questions at different times. You'd be more likely to do better by taking it later in the year since you will be taking the exam with re-takers and people who put it off for ever because they weren't ready. Assuming you're not one of them, of course.

don't think that's true. That wouldn't be very fair for the rest of us who took it in our typical months (you know... march-july period).

 

[hrandani]

Right. It can't be true, because the people who create these standardized tests care so much about what's best for you rather than what's easiest for them.

 

[DrBowtie]

Right. It can't be true, because the people who create these standardized tests care so much about what's best for you rather than what's easiest for them.

Again, quit rationalizing poor performances.