USMLE World Scores and Step II Scores

[lmh14]

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Probably been discussed before, but can't find a recent thread....

I'm just curious about what scores people were getting on USMLE World, and then how you ended up doing on Step 2.

All you have to do is post two numbers...... 🙂

Thanks folks, and good luck with everything!!

 

[UTKB]

Hey everyone- I take my step 2 CK on Thursday (2 days) and I am using primarily U-world. I have been using the general rule "when unsure pick the weird one" ie the one that you never heard of, but the others dont fit, and it has been working pretty well for me. Has anyone else known that phenomenon? Did it work on the real thing?

Yeah that strategy has worked for me on many questions, particularly pharmacology or weird syndrome questions.

 

[und]

I don't post much, but have before. I studied much harder for Step 1, but didn't do nearly enough questions. Ended up with 219/91, and trying to do Ophtho -yikes! So, needed I needed to go up on Step 2. I basically took off a 4 week block at the end of 4th year and studied pretty hard those 4 weeks, most days for about 8 hours a day. I focused almost totally on World, though I supplemented with Secrets [great book, but needs to be updated]. I threw out First Aid Step 2 CK after 1 week...not worth the time at all, in my opinion.

World average - total around 61%; last blocks mid 60's (66%)

Step 2 CK: 245/99

I think World is key, and generally just doing tons of questions. The biggest help for me was learning to rule out answers and narrowing it down to 2, and then using my best judgement to get it right. I really worked on that with World, and used that strategy on tough questions on the real test.

thanks for input on this site...

 

[und]

apologies for my poor english above...typed that out a bit fast this morning. Took it at the beginning of 4th year [in July of this year] and got my score back for CK last week. Makes more sense...now I am applying to Ophtho residency - which is due next week!

 

[tic112]

Posting my experience b/c this thread helped me when I was studying for step 2. Got my score report on the nbme website approx 3wks after my test date. Scores are posted at midnight (eastern time) on Wednesdays (this will probably change for everyone taking the test after mid-August).

Step 1 - 230
Step 2 - 254

Took 4 wks off at start of the my 4th year to study and then also took an additional week while I was on my next rotation. Mainly used Secrets (read through twice) and USMLEWorld (finished, tutor mode, grouped by subjects, final avg 65%). I also skimmed through about 50-75% of the kaplan books and read through Step Up to Medicine once (although I don't know how much I actually retained from this book...it has so much information). I think the most efficient resources to use are world and a small review book (either secrets, first aid, boards and wards, whatever you prefer). Also, I want to mention that I did not do particularly well on any of the shelf exams throughout 3rd year (all 70s, never broke 80), so there is hope for all of us that are not scoring in high 80s/90s.
Practice NBME 2 about 1 wk before test - 239

Sorry if this was pointed out already in this thread, but an interesting fact I noticed on my score report is that the mean on step 2 is 225 with 1 SD = 24 (much higher than I had thought).

 

[AThousandCranes]

x

 

[firefly33]

I think that USMLE world prepares you well for Step 2.

Cumulative USMLEworld bank - 65% (75% used)
Step 2- 238/96

Good luck to everyone!

 

[jones173]

Okay, ill keep it simple

Secrets, Boards and Wards, 3 weeks of USMLE world with a 67%....244/99.

Thanks for all the good advice on this thread...

 

[ciddx]

anyone take the exam yesterday (27th)? I thought a flew blocks were pretty tough, lots of psych on mine. don't know how i did, but i felt better coming out of step 1. Any other experiences?

At least its over with, now time to wait 3-4wks for the score...

 

[Dr McSteamy]

anyone take the exam yesterday (27th)? I thought a flew blocks were pretty tough, lots of psych on mine. don't know how i did, but i felt better coming out of step 1. Any other experiences?

At least its over with, now time to wait 3-4wks for the score...

the wait is 6 weeks this time.

and yes, there was a super tough block on mine. and a bunch of personality disorders questions.

i also was unsure what to feel coming out of the test. i don't know if i failed or passed. that's how clueless i was

 

[northandponce]

I got my 99, although I'm not particularly happy with my 3-digit score. I don't really know where the program directors set their "filters"

Worst performance was surprisingly in Psych, that was in the gray area...

By the way, my NBME-II score was within 2 points.

Good luck to everyone, and congrats for those that have slayed the beast 😉

 

[UTKB]

anyone take the exam yesterday (27th)? I thought a flew blocks were pretty tough, lots of psych on mine. don't know how i did, but i felt better coming out of step 1. Any other experiences?

At least its over with, now time to wait 3-4wks for the score...

I took mine on the 27th also. I thought I had a really easy form. Absolutely NO questions where I was like, wtf? There were only 2 of those two-part questions (so I guess total of 4 questions) on the whole exam and they were straightforward. There were no "hard" blocks on mine. I'm a little worried because anytime I think an exam is really easy I don't do that well.

The new software...I actually liked it. The calculator worked, I like the searchable lab values. No glitches, no hangups between questions. I think the font is easier to read than the old Fred software.

 

[bigdan]

Just finished my exam today.

I thought the new software was great, actually. You guys will want to check out Blaufuss Multimedia Heart Sounds tutorial, which was done for the USUHS. Google it now, thank me later.

I had a whole bunch of WTF questions, but keep in mind that I did sh*tty on Step I too, so who am I to judge. I'll tell you how I did when I get the results - maybe.

Hey - are there any experimental blocks on this, like on Step I? Two of my blocks sucked so hard, I hope they're both experimental!

dc

 

[Dean202]

Admittedly a stupid question, but does NBME email you when you're score is ready?

Or do you have to keep checking the NBME page?

 

[AK_MD2BE]

Yes, Dean...the NBME will e-mail you approximately 3 weeks after your exam, just like Step 1.

 

[sdaav]

So I took my exam this past weekend, and I concur with the comments above: USMLE World is the way to go. I did 46-question blocks random throughout my studying and thought, geez, there's a lot of OB/Peds/Psych on here, and it turns out, it's the same way on the actual test.

I also agree with the comment re: heart sounds... know them. Now, instead of asking you to interpret heart sounds based on a description, you have to say: hmm... this is a crescendo-decrescendo heart sound. I had three heart sounds on my exam that I had to interpret on my own: two adult and one peds.

Also, there are videos, and they're kinda easy but also kinda annoying. Annoying in the fact that they make you watch a 2 to 2.5 minute video during a timed exam; I was a little frustrated by that but at least they were put in easier sections so I had time to spare.

Overall, the test wasn't bad. I had my "holy hell" section that had tons of marked questions, but there was only one section like that. Unfortunately, it was my last section and I was already tired anyway (were we supposed to know there were 8 test sections?) and didn't care to think too hard. Anyhow, I wish you all luck as you begin your studies... for me, the wait begins (oh yea, and that ERAS thing that I've been putting off...)

 

[Dr McSteamy]

Overall, the test wasn't bad. I had my "holy hell" section that had tons of marked questions, but there was only one section like that.

i'm glad i wasn't the only one.

that block was nuts!

 

[OKSTATE]

Well scores are available on-line. As a reader of this forum, I thought I would contribute.

Step 2 CK-248/99
UW 100% completed all 46 random q blocks-64% overall

I read crush step 2, B and W, and 1st aid for step 2 all nearly one time thru. I mainly focused on UW and annotating into a notebook, which I read the day before the exam.

I felt UW was very typical of the exam q's which seemed to be plagued with OB and peds qs.

Thanks for all the great input guys, and I wish everyone the best.🙂

 

[futrorthodr]

Congrats OKSTATE!

Got my score tonight

Step 1: 240's
Step 2: 250's😀

UW is probably the best resource as what pretty much what everyone else has said. Harder imo than the real thing especially on OB. I read Secrets twice and I thought that it was also great. Read one or two chapters in first aid then ditched it, wasnt worth the time.

Finished all of UW at ~59%.
NBME 1: 186 1 1/2 months before exam
NBME 2: 229 ~1 week before exam
NBME 3: 229 ~ 4-5 days before exam

 

[gonogo]

Just got my score today.

Step 2 CK: 244
UW cumulative: 67%, 100% done, all Q's done in blocks of 46, all subjects.
NBME I: 227, 10 days before test
NBMEII: 247, 3 days before test

My step 1 score was 238, so I was happy to improve a bit.

 

[Southpaw]

Step 1 - 223
Step 2 - 236

UWorld Average - 61% with 60% completed. I was averaging high 60s on my last several blocks.

I read Crush as well. I started out reading FA but ditched it with a few weeks to go. It's nice to get more information but if you can't remember every little detail then I think it's useless reading it. Crush hit the highlights which is what is tested. I think you cover your bases by studying only Crush and UWorld for Step 2. Good luck to those reading and future test takers!

 

[carter]

Long time lurker. Was constantly obsessing over these scores and correlations so I will put in mine. I used World and FA. Thats it. Studied hardcore for about a month. Granted I had obviously been studying throughout my rotations.

UW avg: 74%, 100% completed. Done once, timed, unused

NBME1: 256
NBME2: 250
NBME3: 261

Step 2 CK: 262

PS. I walked out of that exam feeling like crap. So even if you feel that way, don't worry...you prob did ok.

 

[radiomedicine]

I was obsessed with the score correlations too... but managed in the end to get my 99..

UW aveerage score 70%.. (did 100% ; one time; tutor mode )
Kaplan notes one time.
total time 10weeks..
Score 265 (CK)

my exam had two kinds of questions.. some that were really easy and the others were like wtf.. clueless.. came out confused..

two or three questions were directly from UW.. and the 2 heart sounds audio questions were too difficult cos i could detect no murmur in either..

caution: the step two score estimator is junk...

 

[172821]

I was a lurker around here as well. Just thought I should add.

I took the test and walked out thinking i did bad. Looking back, I missed alot of gimme questions. The three weeks i waited to get my score back were pretty long. In the end, it turned out great.

Step 1: Upper 250s.

World Avg: 79% (this was my second time through as I used it during 3rd year for the shelfs)

NBME 2: 262 (2 weeks out)
NBME 1: 267 (1 week out)

Step2ck: NBME 1 predicted my score within 1 point.

I used Kaplan notes during the third year and skimmed them once while studying for step 2. I also use secrets. Other than that, U world.
Total time: ~3.5 weeks of about 4-6 hours a day.

 

[Dr McSteamy]

PS. I walked out of that exam feeling like crap. So even if you feel that way, don't worry...you prob did ok.

that sucks. i'm different. whenever i feel like crap, that means I truly did badly.

 

[xme17]

Took Step 2 earlier in the summer, results were back w/in 3 weeks.

Step 1: low
Step 2: 240
So those of you dissappointed by your step 1 score keep plugging away!!!
USMLE world: ~ 64% (100% completed). Did okay on shelf exams (70s&80s).
Didn't read much other than Crush and a little Step Up Medicine which I had already read M3 year.

 

[firstdoc101]

Long time reader, first time poster.....thanks for having me on.

World 59% (all Qs) in test mode with blocks of 10 at a time

Step 1: 208

NBME 1: 235 3 weeks out
NBME 2: 235 1 week out

Step 2: 250



big improvement over step 1 which I think is due to not getting bogged down in the details and instead concentrating on the bigger picture

 

[surprisedgirl]

Took Step 3 earlier in the summer, results were back w/in 3 weeks.

Step 1: less than 200
Step 2: 240
So those of you dissappointed by your step 1 score keep plugging away!!!
USMLE world: ~ 64% (100% completed). Did okay on shelf exams (70s&80s).
Didn't read much other than Crush and a little Step Up Medicine which I had already read M3 year.

how long did you take to study? just curious im basically donig world and secrets and worried about only having 2.5 weeks total

 

[Dr McSteamy]

how long did you take to study? just curious im basically donig world and secrets and worried about only having 2.5 weeks total

if i didn't have time, i'd study only UW. twice.

 

[HazomboL]

Hey guys,
I've been using the USMLE world for 10 days now. I average in the 62%, with a few leaps into the 70's and a few ones into the 50's. My exam is due in 4 weeks, which is getting me a little stressed. It's encouraging to see your performance, thanks for that.

I don't seem to understand the way they calculate the scores, well, though.. (a bit late for a waking up, I know 🙂) I understand that the 3-digit score is more accurate, since it's not subject to chance as much as the 2-digit score. Would someone help me quickly understand the process and what a good score is? 🙂

 

[staphaureus]

Hey guys,
I've been using the USMLE world for 10 days now. I average in the 62%, with a few leaps into the 70's and a few ones into the 50's. My exam is due in 4 weeks, which is getting me a little stressed. It's encouraging to see your performance, thanks for that.

I don't seem to understand the way they calculate the scores, well, though.. (a bit late for a waking up, I know 🙂) I understand that the 3-digit score is more accurate, since it's not subject to chance as much as the 2-digit score. Would someone help me quickly understand the process and what a good score is? 🙂

is this a joke? you're seriously stressing out that you're averaging at 62%, and have 4 weeks left to study? what med school do you go to b/c i thought most people don't study more than a few weeks... here's my advice, take the night off.. go out to a party a club, someone will eventually slip a chill pill into your drink... and you'll come home the next morning, surely de-stressed. It's good medical advice, else you'll put yourself at a higher risk for heart disease.. but I'm sure you already answer that correctly on UW. goodluck.

staphaureus

p.s. why does it say you're a resident?

 

[HazomboL]

🙂 It's not a joke, no.. I easily stress before exams. The healthy amount, though.. the stuff that gets you working more.
It says I am a resident, because I am a resident of psychiatry in my country (Egypt).. an IMG, obviously. I didn't find a closer fit on the list of titles!

 

[Dr Jboo]

Step I 222
USMLEworld 60% 1300q completed
Step II 251 😀
I was really surprised by my score and I owe it all to USMLEworld. Besides looking over the leukemia/lymphoma section of Step Up to Medicine, I spent 2 weeks with USMLEworld only. It was much harder than the original thing and there would be times where I would get a similar question to something on world, but the step II didn't ask me to go into nearly as much detail. In hindsight the only thing I wish I had done differently would be to use USMLEworld for my 3rd year shelfs. I used it for just that to study for peds and ended up getting my second highest shelf score without opening a book. Good luck everyone!

 

[G0S2]

I just took it today and I don't feel as good as I did coming out of Step 1. Kinda walkin funny. There were some blocks where I had 15-20 marked. UW, as I expected, is great. Still, however, I am racking my brain thinking of all the Q's I spent 5 minutes on just to take an educated guess.

 

[2muchplanning]

Anyone who took the test recently taken the USMLE free questions on their website (formerly called 'USMLE CD questions'). If so, anyone willing to share correlations to their scores?

I'm scheduled to take the test in 2 days and getting cold feet. I've been through UWorld and Secrets. Got a 62% on UWorld once, tutor, unused, random. My last dozen or so sections have been in the 67-72% range.

I was feeling pretty good about it then I did those USMLE free questions. First set I got an 85% but second set I got a 76%, which makes me pretty nervous considering (atleast for step 1) the sample questions were all chip shots. I'll take the 3rd set tomorrow (maybe).

Any thoughts or advise?😳

 

[Dr McSteamy]

I was feeling pretty good about it then I did those USMLE free questions. First set I got an 85% but second set I got a 76%, which makes me pretty nervous considering (atleast for step 1) the sample questions were all chip shots. I'll take the 3rd set tomorrow (maybe).

Any thoughts or advise?😳

sorry. you're gonna fail. 95% on the free questions = passing.

 

[premed7]

Anyone who took the test recently taken the USMLE free questions on their website (formerly called 'USMLE CD questions'). If so, anyone willing to share correlations to their scores?

I'm scheduled to take the test in 2 days and getting cold feet. I've been through UWorld and Secrets. Got a 62% on UWorld once, tutor, unused, random. My last dozen or so sections have been in the 67-72% range.

I was feeling pretty good about it then I did those USMLE free questions. First set I got an 85% but second set I got a 76%, which makes me pretty nervous considering (atleast for step 1) the sample questions were all chip shots. I'll take the 3rd set tomorrow (maybe).

Any thoughts or advise?😳

You will be fine. Take a deep breath. You're not in any danger of failing, and you will probably do quite well. I think everyone does better on step 2 than step 1. Most US grads score above a 240. And at this point, you don't have to automatically release your scores on eras. So in case you do worse, no one has to know. Good luck!

 

[2muchplanning]

You will be fine. Take a deep breath. You're not in any danger of failing, and you will probably do quite well. I think everyone does better on step 2 than step 1. Most US grads score above a 240. And at this point, you don't have to automatically release your scores on eras. So in case you do worse, no one has to know. Good luck!

Thanks for the kind words. I'll likely take it as planned, my goal is to break 230, hopefully I can!

 

[kwanny]

I guess USMLEWORLD does correlate with step 2 CK. I did not believe it until I got my score just now...

UWORLD Ave: 70% (random sets of 46 questions, tutor mode)
Step 2 CK: 251

 

[MrBling]

Just doing some back of the envelope math here...

Here's what I've got so far:

Avg UW: 64%
Avg USMLE CK: 245

Does that sound about right? 🙄

 

[Dr McSteamy]

I guess USMLEWORLD does correlate with step 2 CK. I did not believe it until I got my score just now...

UWORLD Ave: 70% (random sets of 46 questions, tutor mode)
Step 2 CK: 251

what date did you take the test ?

 

[2tall]

Most US grads score above a 240.

only on SDN
correction only in this thread on SDN

 

[kwanny]

what date did you take the test ?

about 3 weeks ago..

If anyone is interested, I'll be happy to share how I prepared for it. PM me.

 

[Dr McSteamy]

about 3 weeks ago..

If anyone is interested, I'll be happy to share how I prepared for it. PM me.

huh? I took it over 4 weeks ago, and I didn't get my score yet.

how could you get it that early. they changed the FRED software, and the delay was supposed to be 6 weeks

 

[allendo]

huh? I took it over 4 weeks ago, and I didn't get my score yet.

how could you get it that early. they changed the FRED software, and the delay was supposed to be 6 weeks

I'm in the same boat

 

[radiomedicine]

Anyone who took the test recently taken the USMLE free questions on their website (formerly called 'USMLE CD questions'). If so, anyone willing to share correlations to their scores?

I'm scheduled to take the test in 2 days and getting cold feet. I've been through UWorld and Secrets. Got a 62% on UWorld once, tutor, unused, random. My last dozen or so sections have been in the 67-72% range.

I was feeling pretty good about it then I did those USMLE free questions. First set I got an 85% but second set I got a 76%, which makes me pretty nervous considering (atleast for step 1) the sample questions were all chip shots. I'll take the 3rd set tomorrow (maybe).

Any thoughts or advise?😳

you are going to do just fine... i got 76% on all the 3 sets.. and freaked out like anything.. u world anything above 60% is gud enuf.. though it doesnot guarantee 99.. do well on the exam.. all the best!!

 

[KillingMeSmalls]

You will be fine. Take a deep breath. You're not in any danger of failing, and you will probably do quite well. I think everyone does better on step 2 than step 1. Most US grads score above a 240. And at this point, you don't have to automatically release your scores on eras. So in case you do worse, no one has to know. Good luck!

Wow, not even close to the national average of US grads. That's so far from true it isn't even funny.

Ok, it's actually pretty funny.

 

[kwanny]

huh? I took it over 4 weeks ago, and I didn't get my score yet.

how could you get it that early. they changed the FRED software, and the delay was supposed to be 6 weeks

Not every site has the new FRED software. Everyone who took it at my test site had the old FRED software and got their scores in 3 weeks. Others who took it at another site had the new version and are still waiting for their scores.

You'll get yours in 2 weeks.

 

[kwanny]

Wow, not even close to the national average of US grads. That's so far from true it isn't even funny.

Ok, it's actually pretty funny.

According to my score report, the average score for the first-time takers in the US and Canada for step 2 CK is 225 with std deviation of 24.

 

[HazomboL]

Anyone who took the test recently taken the USMLE free questions on their website (formerly called 'USMLE CD questions'). If so, anyone willing to share correlations to their scores?

I'm scheduled to take the test in 2 days and getting cold feet. I've been through UWorld and Secrets. Got a 62% on UWorld once, tutor, unused, random. My last dozen or so sections have been in the 67-72% range.

I was feeling pretty good about it then I did those USMLE free questions. First set I got an 85% but second set I got a 76%, which makes me pretty nervous considering (atleast for step 1) the sample questions were all chip shots. I'll take the 3rd set tomorrow (maybe).

Any thoughts or advise?😳

I am not sure how I scored in the first two blocks, because I took them long ago. But, I got an 87% on the third block. The blocks weren't tough, but the quick shift from the UW's sophisticated questions to the free blocks' rather blunt questions could be a little disorienting at first. You'll do fine (you must be in your exam, now, already).. 🙂 Good luck.

 

[CanIMakeIt]

So i went to Prometric this morning and after waiting for 45 mins or so they tell me that they are having computer problem on the administrative side and won't be able to load my test today. I was so ready for this to be over with and now I have to reschedule ... darn it!!!!!!!!!!

Any suggestions what to do for the next 6-7 days while I wait around for next date to come around?
so maaaaaaaaaddddddddddddd!!!!!!

/venting done