Time pressure on Step 1?

[Christopher]

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Compared to the MCAT, how time-pressured is the step 1?

Thanks.

 

[southerndoc]

I finished with a couple hours to spare. I was scheduled to test until 5 pm or so, but i finished around 2:45.

Most people I know finished early.

 

[Hero]

you aren't allowed to go back and check your answers right?

 

[southerndoc]

Once you mark a section (50 questions, 60 minutes per section) as finished, you cannot go back through that section to check your answers.

You can check your answers within a section if you finish with enough time to spare. If you finish the section 15 minutes early, then that time is added to your total break time (total of one hour for the day I believe).

 

[Brewster]

The exam consists of 7 or 8 blocks of 50 questions each. You are allowed to go back and change your answers within a block. But, once you end a block (go through all the questions, click 'end,' click 'yes, I really want to end'), you answers are saved and you cannot go back.

And, like Geek Medic, I had no issues with time. I also finished with plenty to spare. I have blocked out my MCAT experience, so I can't really compare it to that.

 

[Christopher]

Thanks so much for the replies. I just finished trying out the 2002 usmle sample test material questions that's on cd rom, and the questions seem very short and not too hard. I hope the real test is similar!

 

[Amy]

Accrding to FA, the USMLE sample questions are a bit easier than the real thing. They're still worth going through, though.

 

[j_sde]

hey.. how do you get the CD rom that another poster talked about ? i know that the usmle people put up 150 questions on their website that you can print out... are these the same questions? or are they different questions from what is on the cdrom? thanks

 

[theodore]

Somewhere between the 4th and 5th block I found myself in desperate need for a break. So, dizzy and confused as i was, i clicked on the "end block"option, but i forgot to press "yes" in the "do you wan to have a break?" screen. There was no way to go back in the block, but when i returned from my break i realized that my break screen wasn t on, since i forgot to press"yes".
I this logic, theoretically it would be possible to go out during a block. However, there was videosurveillance of the exam, so i don't know whether someone from outside could see my screen or not. I guess i will be sent an "irregular behaviour" mark IF this was considered cheating(damn, if this happens, it s too bad i didn t actually cheat).
No problems with time here, either.