Step 1 pattern change on May 15th, 2011?

[step1saga]

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Hey guys

Like last year, are there going to be changes in the Step 1 pattern this year too? They already made it more clinical, but I've heard rumors that starting May 15th there would be more Immuno Questions?

Update:- Well, they are not rumors.

 

[pbnj003]

i hiiiigghly doubt that they would make any changes like "adding" more questions from one subject area. Step 1 is supposed to be an exam testing your knowledge in all subject areas so I doubt they would add something specifically. I think some people just tend to feel their exam was heavy on a particular topic vs another, but I think that just has to do with the test takers bias. Usually people tend to feel they were heavily tested on something because it was their weakest topic during prep. Negative thoughts always tend to stick out in our minds. 😛

I know they changed the format last year but I think that has to do with the time period, I think every few years they change things on the exam. Not sure how many years apart, but I remember someone telling me that. I dont think its every year but someone else can pobably shed some better light on that.

I wouldnt worry! Just work hard dont get too preoccupied with all this guess work becuase noone will be able to tell you for sure. Gluck 🙂

Hey guys

Like last year, are there going to be changes in the Step 1 pattern this year too? They already made it more clinical, but I've heard rumors that starting May 15th there would be more Immuno Questions?

This sounds BS to me, but just wanted to make sure if any of you guys have been notified of any changes. Im an IMG so I hope Im not missing out on this information.

Thankyou.

 

[step1saga]

i hiiiigghly doubt that they would make any changes like "adding" more questions from one subject area. Step 1 is supposed to be an exam testing your knowledge in all subject areas so I doubt they would add something specifically. I think some people just tend to feel their exam was heavy on a particular topic vs another, but I think that just has to do with the test takers bias. Usually people tend to feel they were heavily tested on something because it was their weakest topic during prep. Negative thoughts always tend to stick out in our minds. 😛

I know they changed the format last year but I think that has to do with the time period, I think every few years they change things on the exam. Not sure how many years apart, but I remember someone telling me that. I dont think its every year but someone else can pobably shed some better light on that.

I wouldnt worry! Just work hard dont get too preoccupied with all this guess work becuase noone will be able to tell you for sure. Gluck 🙂

Thankyou, You are right, the concepts will never change. Oh well this is good enough to shoot Noreepi in me 24/7 now. No more 😴

 

[kstreet]

dood, i actually heard that on May 14th, 2011 they were gonna add in way more perineal anatomy. Totally don't forget that shiz and you'll be awesome possum!

 

[kl323]

Where do you guys hear these rumors???

 

[step1saga]

Where do you guys hear these rumors???

Not a rumor, there will be more Immunology questions, check the updated 2011 usmle.org.

 

[Rollo]

Not a rumor, there will be more Immunology questions, check the updated 2011 usmle.org.

Please post the actual link and quote the official source.

 

[pbnj003]

yes please post the exact link. i tried looking for it on the website but i couldnt really see what you were talking about. 😕

i still doubt they would change it specificaly like that but you never know i guess.

 

[tootheye]

Not a rumor, there will be more Immunology questions, check the updated 2011 usmle.org.

It only says that immunology was reclassified to a new category as system based immune system instead of immunology as general principles. I guess only the presentation of the questions might change not the number.

http://www.usmle.org/general_information/Announcements.aspx?ContentId=55

 

[Scared2011]

wooohoooo ... take your exams before May 15th!! lol jk jk

 

[DrDrToBe]

It only says that immunology was reclassified to a new category as system based immune system instead of immunology as general principles. I guess only the presentation of the questions might change not the number.

http://www.usmle.org/general_information/Announcements.aspx?ContentId=55

On the site it says, and I qoute, "In addition, items from the General Principles section of the content outline that test immunology were reclassified to a new category, Immune System.This change reflects expansion in the field of immunology." Take that to mean whatever you like, but I would not be surprised if it also involves more questions.

 

[dude1344]

I still don't understand it as they're adding more immuno questions for every test...

 

[step1saga]

On the site it says, and I qoute, "In addition, items from the General Principles section of the content outline that test immunology were reclassified to a new category, Immune System.This change reflects expansion in the field of immunology." Take that to mean whatever you like, but I would not be surprised if it also involves more questions.

You beat me to it.

Im looking forward to more "gimme questions" through immuno.
Our school wasn't too shabby drilling immuno concepts into our heads.

 

[Orthodoc2be]

Is there anywhere on the website where we can see what the new questions look like (i.e. sample practice questions)?

 

[dangit]

hey orthodoc2be,

do you know where to find what the new questions will look like?

 

[step1saga]

You beat me to it.

Im looking forward to more "gimme questions" through immuno.
Our school wasn't too shabby drilling immuno concepts into our heads.

Actually on second thoughts , No one knows what "Expansion in field of Immunology" means

If its something beyond what I expect, then I really don't want to take a risk. I think Im gonna try my best to schedule my exam before May 14th . Oh well it will save me a lot of stress.

 

[DrDrToBe]

Actually on second thoughts , No one knows what "Expansion in field of Immunology" means

If its something beyond what I expect, then I really don't want to take a risk. I think Im gonna try my best to schedule my exam before May 14th . Oh well it will save me a lot of stress.

Yeah, I don't know what that means either. But it could mean more questions, or it could mean questions taken from a broader concept of immunology. I don't think it matters too much if you take it before or after may 15th, because I heard from people who took it recently that it seemed that there were difficult immunology questions. After reading this i'm thinking it may be that those tough immunology questions were experimental. Since we have no way of knowing what's experimental or what exactly that "expansion" means, I'm just going to study it a bit more that I'd originally planned.

 

[pbnj003]

what if "expansion in FIELD of immunology" just meant advancements in it?

as in more recent studies developments etc? and if they are including more questions from "current and updated" info from immuno, i doubt theres any way for anyone to study for it unless you read medical journals or something, which means they are either experiemental as someone here mentioned or they are some of those "WTF" questions.

just putting out there since this is all guess work anyway! 😀

im just hoping the different qbanks i am doing will just help me solidify my knowledge the rest shall be taken care of. 🙂

 

[tootheye]

http://www.usmle.org/general_information/Announcements.aspx?ContentId=55

Quote-... goals of this group included increasing the number of items in the exam that assess basic science knowledge in a clinical context.

As a result of the work of this group, the number of items in the examination with non-clinical presentations was reduced; this was announced on April 21, 2010.


This applies to immuno too- may be thats what it means. In other words there may not be many give aways any more like in gen principles, instead applied system/organ wise like a few in uworld. My 2 c.

 

[Rollo]

I think it probably just means that they will reduce the number of basic-science immunology questions like "Which interleukin is responsible for activating T-cells?" and replace THOSE questions with clinical-based immunology questions like "A little boy presents with no thymic shadow on CXR, which type of infections is he susceptible to in future?"

So in essence, number of questions in immunology won't increase. We will see more clinical-based questions within the realm of immunology that has been seen before.

 

[Orthodoc2be]

hey orthodoc2be,

do you know where to find what the new questions will look like?

Hey dangit, I think this is where you can try out the new questions http://www.usmle.org/Orientation/2011/menu.html
I also so 1 sample question here: http://www.usmle.org/Examinations/step1/step1_test.html

I could be wrong, but these seem like clinically based questions to me. If these aren't examples of how the exam is going to be after May 15th, let me know.