usmle score inflation??

[ObGyn]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

There were a lot of speculations concerning possible inflation of scores on the usmle step 1 over the last few years. I remember hearing many people posting here on sdn that 250 and 260s were unheard of few years back, but these scores are now common.

Apparently, this is totally untrue - just so you guys know this so don't let any high scores scare you. I talked to the dean of my medical school, and when I told him about the speculated inflation, he started laughing and then told me not to believe info like that. He then pulled out all the usmle step 1 data from the last 10 years (these data were mailed/emailed directly from the nbme btw). There is a 1.107 point increase in the last five year with very simliar standard deviation. The curve is still a normal bell shaped curve.

It kinda funny, but the truth is a 240 is still a 240, a 250 is still a 250, and just as it was before these are amazing scores well above the 95 percentile.

A lot of times the average score on the student report give you data from only part of a whole year...so student sees averages scores like 216, 217 or even 221.

keep a positive attitude guys, a 230 will pretty much get you into any residency program you want as far as step 1 board score is concerned. 🙂

 

[kaos]

Man, do I hope they "inflate" my score. 👍

 

[bigfrank]

don't know what the point of this thread is.

Anyone with a high school knowledge of statistics can see where a person stands against his or her peers (which is who you'll be compared to when applying to residency) by utilizing mean/SD/Z-score.

P.S. I wouldn't count on a 230 "getting you into any residency program you want," but if you want to, that's fine by me. 😉

 

[allylz]

i appreciate the attempt at a morale boost!

i have heard about the inflation rumor as well but it's nice to hear they are keeping the average the average.

🙂

 

[nutmegs]

don't know what the point of this thread is.

Anyone with a high school knowledge of statistics can see where a person stands against his or her peers (which is who you'll be compared to when applying to residency) by utilizing mean/SD/Z-score.

P.S. I wouldn't count on a 230 "getting you into any residency program you want," but if you want to, that's fine by me. 😉

don't know what the point of your post was.

 

[NebelDO]

don't know what the point of your post was.

i agree with obgyn, the inflation is pure bolongy!! you defintely also cannot base anything on what people on this board make and say also.compared to the what, 12000 or more that take this test worldwide every year, SDN members are such a small skew.
the main thing is to relax,everyone is going to do fine. all you can do is the best you can. i believe a 230 is still agood score.dont let anyone tell you otherwise. sure people can make generalizations about what kinds of specialties competitiveness falls into certain brackets(240 and up etc..)i believe its a case by case thing.remember that the step 1 is only 1 part of the app.sure you make a 260 on step 1 but if you have the personality of a pencil eraser, it will come out in the interview.

i know you guys have all heard this same advice ad nausem, but i wanted to throw my 2 cents in.
good luck to my fellow DO brethren who are pulling double duty taking both comlex and usmle.