Using UWorld score as a marker of progress

[Captopril]

---

Members don't see this ad.

So I've managed to score mid-60s (sometimes even low-upper 70s) on UW quite consistently now. A lot of friends are using their UW progress as a marker for how effective their studying is. I would be extremely pleased with my scores so far, but there's a slight problem:

I used UW in a subject based manner in the beginning. This means, for instance, I'd finish cardiac Path from RR Path and then subsequently do all 100 or so cardiac Path UW q's. Did the same for Micro, Anatomy, Physio, Beh Sci, etc.

So, now when I do "mixed" blocks, I am forced to select "All" instead of the traditional "Unused" that most people do. I do this so that I don't end up with a "mixed" block full of 30-40 Pharm q's.

Should I still be considering my recent UW score ranges as something to be happy about, or is the fact that some of these Qs are repeated enough to warrant a drastic left-ward skew of my real scores?


tl;dr: getting nice UW scores, but have seen a lot of the Qs before. high scores still an awesome thing?

 

[Instatewaiter]

The best way to find out would be to do an NBME.

My thought is that doing the questions by subject after you have read the material increases your score as does seeing it a second time.

Do an NBME. That will give you feedback about where you stand.

 

[Disinence2]

You simply can't get a very accurate prediction of your scores using any of the creative methods people here provide. You can have a good day or a bad day. Maybe you'll get luck and have Step 1 only pull the obscure facts that you've memorized.

The most you can do is use your scores and the calculators to get a + or - 10-20 range.

I way only 4 points off from the clinical consult calculator

 

[HospitalDO]

Fully agree! There is only one valid way to know how you will perform of the actual exam and that is by taking an NBME exam!