USMLE 2, switch to FRED software?

[StringBean]

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So I was just reading that the switch to the FRED software is to take place mid August 2005. They suggest that those of us taking it around this time practice using the prometric software & FRED software due to the fact that some prometric centers will be switched over by certain dates and some won't. They also state that it may take an additional 3-4 weeks (on top of the normal 3-4 wekks) to get scores due to this change.

Here's the link (it was just updated on Aug 15)...
http://www.usmle.org/news/testsoftware.htm

My questions are... has anyone here taken the real thing with the new software? Is it very different? Have you heard anything about having to wait longer for results? Anyone know any additional information?

Thanks!

~Bean

 

[shorrin]

My questions are... has anyone here taken the real thing with the new software? Is it very different? Have you heard anything about having to wait longer for results? Anyone know any additional information?

I took the FRED version on 8/17. You can download the software from usmle.org and it incorporates the released items. In the new software you can highlight the question text and grey out the answer choices. It's super nice. It's not much different from the original in terms of getting around.

I'm bummed that they are taking longer, I had my test date set so my scores would be in before they reviewed the files... oh well. I'll report when I get my scores. At least it seems that they are 3-4 weeks for people who have already gotten thier scores from the old version.

 

[StringBean]

Thanks for the info Shorrin. I too am very unhappy about the longer wait for scores b/c same as you I planned so that my scores would be in for residency directors to see 🙁 . Maybe they are doing better then expected with releasing the scores? Anyone out there take the FRED version and get their scores back yet? If so, how long did it take?

 

[shorrin]

Thanks for the info Shorrin. I too am very unhappy about the longer wait for scores b/c same as you I planned so that my scores would be in for residency directors to see 🙁 . Maybe they are doing better then expected with releasing the scores? Anyone out there take the FRED version and get their scores back yet? If so, how long did it take?

Look on the bright side bean, the yellow highlight software makes it much more easy to pick out those positives in the history and the greyout of the answer choices will help you to rule out more easily.... It's much better software and I think will help you to do better in terms of focusing and getting less distracted. Hope for the best for turn around time!

 

[GenSurg]

I took step 3 with the FRED software. Kind of took me by surprise. I was glad that I took some practice questions using the format though. It is nice to be able to highlight and cross out parts of a passage. I'd recommend at least doing a few questions with the format though.

http://ipods.freepay.com/?r=20049323

 

[shorrin]

apparently some step 1 peeps are reporting 2 months for FRED scores.... still investigating.... 😡

 

[NebelDO]

apparently some step 1 peeps are reporting 2 months for FRED scores.... still investigating.... 😡

i took step 2 yesterday with FRED and thought it was great. i used the highlight on every question. it definitely helped to get out the positives from the question.

at the end of my test after the survery it said on the screen that it would be 6 weeks..

im in no hurry to get them back anyway so no biggie

 

[shorrin]

mr. bump

 

[chicamedica]

bump, any news yet?

 

[shorrin]

no news for me 🙄

 

[StringBean]

Nothing from anyone yet? Noone who took Step 2 with the new version got results back yet? 🙁

 

[chicamedica]

well i guess it would be about a week early still, even if the results are on time.

 

[StringBean]

BUMP 😳