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!!

 

[Rocco Reed]

there was this unbelievable score estimator...i think its by some website called clinical review......it was for step 1...it's right on the money....waaaay more accurate than the med friends version. I wonder if they got a step 2 version out yet........i cant find the website anymore

 

[Labslave]

there was this unbelievable score estimator...i think its by some website called clinical review......it was for step 1...it's right on the money....waaaay more accurate than the med friends version. I wonder if they got a step 2 version out yet........i cant find the website anymore

Yeah...it's found at the clinical review website (just google clinical review AND step 1 score estimator). Unfortunately, they don't have one for step 2.

 

[jey2283]

I felt pretty much the same way. I came back tonight feeling kinda crappy that i spent 6 weeks slaving over books and question banks instead of going out and an enjoying the summer. I don't think UW helped me much when it came down to test day. nothing was too similar. i did all the nbmes and read over the sample questions. they all seemed pretty easy and straight forward. the test day questions def hid the actual diagnosis well. they made it seem like 2-3 possible things and they were all possible answer choices.

Materials used: Passing USMLE, Kaplan Lecture notes, Kaplan Step 3 notes, kaplan flash cards-PE/Dx/Pharm, sprinkle in some first aid (wards and ck), a dash of the kaplan high yield videos, and relevant sections in Cecil medicine.

Recomendations:
1. don't be afraid to say '*uck it', time pit question. this bit me a few times. i felt like i knew the answer but just needed more time to figure it out. Don't going screwing urself spending all day trying to detect the heart sound. ur not going to get it anyways xP (and if u did, u lost that much more time to pick up two other questions).

2. don't torture urself going over every single answer on UW just to do well on this exam (it's not going to help. BUT! I really did learn a lot of stuff from them.)

3. don't put too much weight on the NBME predicted scores.

4. BEST advice i can give you....do NOT look at the answer choices. they will distract you. DO think of the answer first. the first two things you'll think of will be in the answer choices. don't spend too much time reasoning out why A is a better choice then B (lol and they go up to Z). Circle the answer that first pops in your head, that's the right answer. (mark and come back if u want to)

5. Roll with the punches. attack each block as if it was your chance to start over and make up for the previous block. don't give up and say 'omg this is not going well.' ESP on the sequential questions. those are the ones where u have to pick an answer before continuing to the next problem, then after doing so you can't change your answer. then when you click next, it rubs in ur face the correct answer (the one you may have just gotten wrong). don't dwell on this mistake too long.

6. smile, your on camera. lol i can just imagine the ladies at my test center watching me take this exam...mouthing the F word every few questions.....some times preceded by 'what the.' other times followed by 'me'.

**Ladies: the ones that make you strip to show your not carrying anything unauthorized...they'll be the ones that tell you: 'empty your pockets, front and back, put ur hands in ur back pockets, now thrust your hips back and forth, now stick your finger on this biometric device that doesn't work very well, pause for the unkown amount of time that it takes for the device to actually read your finger **you may be corrected on proper finger placement a few times** , then sign in (or sign out).

Step 1: 241/99
Step 2: ? (took on 9/22)
NBME 2ck: 222, 241, 224 (got distracted), 261
UW: 89% complete, 66% correct

Yeah man, like everyone else is saying, you are fine. If anything, I think you are getting too worried and overanalyzing every little detail. The reason I say that is I just got my score back last week and scored at least 95+ percentile on the exam. Half of the questions you post on here I have no idea about and never encountered during studying. All the questions about diagnostic tests and clinical management of uncommon conditions will not be on the real test. I've tried to calm your nerves about this in the past, but seriously, trust me. You don't need to know what test to diagnose chronic pancreatitis and you don't need to know how to pick between two tests based on very particular criteria (barium swallow vs. endoscopy) or the exact procedure on how to fix a certain fracture. All these questions on UW help you to think more deeply about the condition, but I'm telling you, they are few and far between, if present at all on the real exam. I don't mean to say that these are not important topics in medicine and that you shouldn't further your understanding just for personal knowledge, but as far as Step 2 ck is concerned, you're getting a little bit too caught up in the details. Focus on the important stuff between the test and now, that will help boost your score now.

 

[cogwise]

Step 1: 241/99
Step 2: ? (took on 9/22)
NBME 2ck: 222, 241, 224 (got distracted), 261
UW: 89% complete, 66% correct

Was that NBME 3 that you got the 224 on and can you please give specify the time period in your prep when you gave them? You will do fine, by the way, nbme's are good predictors, except I dont know about NBME 3.

 

[jey2283]

Was that NBME 3 that you got the 224 on and can you please give specify the time period in your prep when you gave them? You will do fine, by the way, nbme's are good predictors, except I dont know about NBME 3.

Yea it was nbme 3. Studied from august 5 till sept 21 with a few days off in btw.

Nbme 1 I took day one no studies 220s

2.5 weeks later ( focusing on the areas nbme said I was week on) took nbme 2 getting 240s

week later I finished readin all my materials 1x. Took nbme 3 and dropped back to 220s

freaked out and stepped up my studies hard core. Took #4 and got 260s. 2days later I took the real deal

 

[pagemmapants]

Hi all!

Mere mortal here. Studied for 4 weeks, exam 09/30.

First time through USMLEWorld = 58%. Done in blocks of 40, systems-based. Obvious deficiency in endocrine & renal; other subjects not too bad. Also I pretend neurology doesn't exist.

Second time through UWorld = Random, timed blocks of 44. Average 80% with range of 75%-85%. About 1/3 through, I would guess, although there have been repeats since you can't "reset".

UWorld self-assessment = 70%

NBME SA #4: 232

Felt pretty good about the exam itself. I can identify a few "dumb mistakes" I made on stuff I really did know but second-guessed myself... (i.e. Fragile X) Advice about the prophylaxis and vaccines was spot-on; I had very little neurology but one that I can remember specifically I had no idea about. There were a few obvious musculoskeletal injuries (like the most common dislocation in a child when they fall down and mom grabs them, or ouch I hurt my back lifting something and now I have a positive straight leg raise), only 3-4 nephropathy questions, a TON of pediatrics (too much, IMHO, JAUNDICEJAUNDICEJAUNDICE), a few "side effects" questions (UWorld covered the ones I got), and some easy behavioral questions. Not very many on biostatistics and those that were were like "if you lower the threshold for test X, what happens to sensitivity and specificity?" so not hard. The nice part was that I had ZERO "what anti-whatever antibody is related to this disease" but I DID have multiple "inborn immunodeficiency" questions.

There were a few questions which I felt were pretty ambiguous; i.e. two of the answers were the closest to right but because of the wording they weren't exactly right. As if I could come up with a "best answer" in my head and it wasn't either of the two closest ones. These were usually the touchy-feely "what do you do next" questions. And of course, there were a few that were way out in left field and I wouldn't have known them even if I had studied for another 4 weeks.

Overall I'd say those people who say "JUST DO UWORLD" are right. I really didn't think First Aid added much to my studying except for giving me someplace to write down notes from UWorld questions. It won't get you a 260 because there are things that it doesn't cover that I definitely had on the exam, but if you're looking for a big shiny P then getting through UWorld should be plenty.

Biggest thing I think I did differently from Step 1: I SLOWED DOWN. I left the center at 1:45 for Step 1 and although I'm fairly happy with my score (>230) I think I could have done better if I'd have taken my time. For this one I really tried to think carefully about each question individually (even ones that in my head I was like "well F this, this is a ******ed question") and I didn't end up leaving until about 3:20. Most of the time I gained was from not taking long breaks; lunch was like 15 minutes max - I hate taking breaks they make me antsy.

 

[drmom33]

pagemapants i recommend looking @ the myopathies and what happens to the myocyte, including the myocytes in duchen's. intusseception where in the bowl does it occur and how to dx it clinically. Know the management of lower back pain when the leg lift is negative and when it;s positive, what's the next step, is it to treat or more imiging. for vaccines know prophylaxis for example exposure in a daycare, who do you prophylax and with what, is it all the kids, or just the ones under 1 yo, do you give vaccine, or IG's, especially if there's a meningicoccal outbreak.
but as far as a single review, couldn't tell u what the best source is.
Try and solidify what you konw best first then go over more q's. But sleep early and rest your eyes the day before.
Good luck!

 

[drmom33]

* bump *

 

[jey2283]

It's almost here, verification of our hard work. Oct 7th!!

I think we should be clear regarding our goals when giving advice: pass v 99.

Many people i've talked to who took the pre 44 bank raved about world. Personally, for step one (unless they changed the bank), world was key. i easily picked up 5 questions word for word. NBMEs were also a good source of cut and paste questions (maybe 3-4). But this new bank changes up the game plan (in my opinion).

Passing with just UW? most likely. getting a 99? DOUBT IT.

Take this advice (AND ALL ADVICE ON THIS FORUM) with a grain of salt (especially since i'm still waiting for my score):

Realistically the best BEST way to study for this exam is slow and steady throughout your rotations. During surgery, read surgery. during im read IM.

for a source i do like kaplan (flash cards for next best step/ diagnosis; text for the details). i think it provides a solid framework for logical guesses. Doing kaplan in its entirety is a *itch*. You don't need to just for a pass, but for a 99 it's probably worth doing.

Forget the details early on in the studies. don't waste time hammering into your head vaccine protocols and ethics until a few days before. Grab the big picture ideas.

Think, "what is the most important thing i need to know?" Only a few subjects stick out in my head.

1. cardiovascular: know ur MI work up and ddx. know your heart sounds. don't stop with just s1.s2. Know what happens in diastole versus systole. know the implications of different maneuvers (valsava v handgrip) and how they effect different murmurs. take this a step further and relate that to medications. how does ace-i affect regurg murmurs. (see what i mean?). this isn't memorizing, this is understanding & grouping things together. your not going to get 1st order questions on this exam, PERIOD (except in stats). even vaccine protocols will be at least 3rd order.
2. know your diabetes. know ur pharm for this disease. know the c/i drugs (and why). memorizing is not going to help. if u understand why certain drugs like beta blockers are c/i then you'll be able to eliminate answer choices on the exam.
3. pulmonology: COPD/Lung CA/Restrictive v Obstructive/ TB/treatments/ preventions
4. GI: appendicitis./acities/cirrhosis/ sbo/lbo/perforation/nash just to name a few. at a minimum konw the important ones that you will c often as a doctor, know the life threatening ones for sure (those are the ones where the patient dies or suffers greatly if you don't diagnose them...but are easily cured or helped if u make the diagnosis).
5. thyroid (associations with AI disease/ PNP syndromes/ cancers/work ups)
6. derm (ugh everything 🙁)
7. musculoskeletal. the AI associations and genetic syndromes. the common breaks. (be able to ID on xray).
8. neuro: the strokes/ the hemorrhages/ the trauma situation/ and of course you will be given the Huntington & Parkinson gift questions.
9. stats: if u want u can cut ur losses at a 5 question max that you will most likely miss anyways 😛 if anything know ur sensitivity and specificity (at least pick up one point).
10. psych: BP/MDD/and some personality disorders. (know all associations and DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA).

I think those are some key areas to focus on.

Remember: big picture (ie rule outs) then towards the end small picture (those little tricky details that separates the boys from the men. (or girls from the women xP).

**NOTE: most of the small details your going to not learn from a book, its during the pimp rounds on the floor. its the thing u hear once and for some reason you recognize on the exam).

TEST DAY:
don't spend too much time on the audios
don't spend too much time on any one question!!!
don't fret about the previous block
and REMEMBER: if you busted ur ass studying for this exam and you still don't know the answer...your not alone 🙂

Anyone agree or disagree?

 

[markglt]

spot on.

 

[islandman]

Hello all,

I know you all are probably anxious for your score this coming Wednesday, I'm sure you all did well!!......I need some major advice on what to do.... I am scheduled to take step 2ck on next Saturday, october 10th.... I started studying on Tuesday september 22nd, I didnt take many peoples advice on studying during rotations unfortunately but anyhow. I started with USMLEword as my study guide I obviously wasn't doing too great.. I was scoring in 50's....... So i stopped doing world (except for 1 block a day) I began reading Step-Up to Step 2, I noticed gradual improvement in my score... Now this week I've been scoring in the high 60's.... So I decided to take an NBME today I took Form 3 i scored 500/217, now bear in mind i really want to score a 99, on Step 1 I got 236/99 with 3 weeks of studying but I scored 228-236 on the NBME's........ Now my question is should i cancel my exam next Saturday, or should i study hard this week and take it..... Also, was it a good idea to take form 3, or should i have taken another form, I still have USMLE-SA to take...... Please help me!!!! I have a rotation starting on october 12th so I know I wont be able to put in as much time as I have been for the past week and half. Thanks!!!!

 

[markglt]

take it👍

 

[islandman]

take it👍

Thanks markglt!!! Should I not attempt another NBME? Or should i just take the USMLEworldSA? I really would like to get a 99 🙂... I know it's for a lot of you since you haven't gotten your score back yet

 

[jey2283]

Thanks markglt!!! Should I not attempt another NBME? Or should i just take the USMLEworldSA? I really would like to get a 99 🙂... I know it's for a lot of you since you haven't gotten your score back yet

Take it. Just be sure to memorize the points I suggested above before test day. Don't waste any more time with praice questions. Just do readings.

Some promotion: www.ShareNotes.com I posted a free study guide for derm. Pics and facts.

Sent from my iPhone

 

[islandman]

Take it. Just be sure to memorize the points I suggested above before test day. Don't waste any more time with praice questions. Just do readings.

Some promotion: www.ShareNotes.com I posted a free study guide for derm. Pics and facts.

Sent from my iPhone

Thank you, yes I did read your post above, I will definitely brush up on those topics. I think I will go ahead and take it!!!

 

[wmc24]

when are scores usually posted? tuesday at midnight?

 

[jey2283]

when are scores usually posted? tuesday at midnight?

i hope. i want to c my score asap 🙂

 

[Peds1]

I know the website says if you take CK from august to the end of September, you'll find out on Oct. 7th. But I took my exam on Sept 21st, do you guys think I'll get my score on the 7th too? Or do you think I'll be waiting a few more weeks? Thanks!

 

[synapse lapse]

Scores come out wed. morning around 10-11 central time.

 

[jey2283]

Scores come out wed. morning around 10-11 central time.

🙁 10/11 am 🙁 i want midnight!!!!! ARGH.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Just called the NBME, it is going to be around 11am

 

[astronomylover]

11 am Central Time?

 

[jey2283]

11 am Central Time?

lol so much for pulling an all nighter.

 

[medInUSA]

I took mine on 9/22 I wonder if my score will be thrown in with this batch coming out tomorrow

 

[Frugal Traveler]

Good luck to everyone!

Still studying but wish you all the best

Thanks to everyone for all their posts!

 

[jey2283]

Let it be known that i've officially NOT received my score as yet. 😱i guess i'll be waking up to the surprise that is my grade.

Is this what kids feel like on xmas eve right before santa comes and brings them their gifts? The tree is empty when you go to bed, but when you wake up it's filled with wonderful things (or coal if you've been a jerk). (Lol i have no idea, i'm a jew 😛).

 

[drmom33]

ok no scores here. Guess we'll be getting it tomorrow although I have a bad feeling it's going to be much later than expected.
more time for prayers, God willing they're answered Inshallah!

 

[drmom33]

Passed baby!!! my prep:
kaplan live 6 wks lectures
4 wks uw & review
nbme 4 380 2 wks before the exam
uw timed mixed only finished about 67% with ave score 51%
ck score: 83/202

😱I took my exam Sunday 8/23
Inshallah, God Willing I do well. Not sure how I did, so I won't talk about my prep, only about the new format (It was something I was looking for before my test so I thought I'd post my experience).

It's 44 q's with 1 hour to complete. I had only 3 biostat q's & 3or 5 ethics. It was a long day, and I used up my break time so my last 2 blocks were back to back and I was tired and hungry, so pace yourself well! There was also lots of annoying typing going on all around me, I don't know what exam those other people had, but they were typing like their life depended on it!

my exam was mostly IM, and it was everything. The format is exactly like uw and the free material from the orientation downloads. Each block had a good number of the easy to answer q's, and they were not long at all. The long ones were the psych q's, and they were very straight forward. The easy q's reminded me of the first block of the orientation materials, and there was at least 5-7 in each block, a good confidence booster and time saver when I came across them! Although I had 2 blocks that were impossible, and I had marked more than half the questions but not time to review them, that's why not sure about how I will do.😕

The answer choices were what really threw me off, it was not like UW, vague, you might know what the symptoms are and how to dx and tx, but then they ask you the mechanism behind it, and for me, step 1 was 4 years ago!

It was similar to the 3rd block of the free material, the hard q's not the easy ones. (I didn't do the 2nd block) Surgery was strait trauma, exactly like the UW q's, I don't think I had anything else, and it was minimal as well, not more than 3-5 q's per block.

Obgyn was not what I expected, I thought I studied that subject well, but just could not figure out some of the answers! I just felt that maybe I learned the material the wrong way, for example I never paid attention (or didn't remember) about the ms afp as a number and I could not remember what was elevated and the next step, I guess I thought they would just tell you if it was elevated or decreased. I also had 3 fetal monitoring strips.

Peds could have been mixed in with everything else, i think there were 3 milestones, and like 2 post exposure vaccinations. The rest was pretty mixed in with IM.

For media and pics, just like everyone is saying, can figure it out from the q. I only had 2 media only 2 ekg's. and about 3 pics/xrays/mri's per block. Not difficult if you know how to answer the q's, it's the choices that really drove me nuts in this exam.
overall it's a strait forward common sense test, just those few q's that you really have to scratch your brain for.
Now i wait in pain for the next 6 weeks

 

[jey2283]

still no word here yet. 🙁

 

[It'sElectric]

No score yet, but I did receive the email stating that most scores should be released at 11 am est.

 

[cyclohexanol]

Step II: 234/97

UWorld Average 76% overall

I'll take it, although I was expecting a higher score. I felt pretty good coming out of the test. Only missed my Step I by 6 points.

 

[doctorFred]

got it today, 11:15 eastern time.

step 1 - 219
step 2 - 239

50/50 kaplan and uworld. i liked the new step 2 format with fewer questions.. i had enough time on every block, pretty much.

 

[It'sElectric]

Just took the beast today, and I wanted to make a quick comment that I still stand 1000% behind UWorld. I have no idea what my score will end up, but the number of questions that were eerily similar to World was unbelievable. Sure, I thought some of the biostats and ethics questions were a bit tricker than what I found in World.

World is definitely spot on. Hopefully, my brain didn't let me down today.

Secrets and B&W throughout 3rd year were my only other sources. I used pretty much only world for the 2 weeks I set aside to study.

Finished about 85% untimed, random blocks of 46 first time through at 62%. Last several blocks between 65 and 73%. Will post more when scores come back....2 friggin' months from now!!!

The above is from the day of my exam (8/15/2009).
NBME 2 (7/16/2009): 188 (0 studying)
NBME 3 (8/7/2009): 204 (1 week)
UWorld Sim Exam (8/12/2009): 224
Step I: 220/90
Step II (8/15/2009): 242/99

Absolutely ecstatic. I had no idea what to expect with the new format and 7 week wait, but I definitely feel it was worth the wait.

I'm not sure what that says about the NBMEs for this particular exam - obviously they weren't diagnostic in my case. We'll have to see what other's show. Once again, I cannot sing UWorld's praises enough. I pretty much did ONLY World for the 2 weeks leading up to my exam. I did all my reading throughout 3rd year, using B&W and Secrets primarily.

Thanks to everyone on here for all of the advice - SDN is a helluva resource. Any further questions/comments, feel free.

 

[tulane06]

UWorld Random average: 61%
NBME 4: 224
Step 2 CK 238/99

 

[chemist157]

Step 1: 214/88
uworld step2: 64perc overall, 97 perc completed (only resource)
step 2 ck: 252/99

yes, I AM relieved.

 

[jey2283]

took my test 9/21. will my score be released today or do i have to wait another week?

 

[Abducens]

Step 1: 238/99

Used usmle world completing about 70% of the questions at about a 63% average. Also read through most of Secrets and select sections of Crush. Took 2 weeks to study.

Step 2: 243/99

Higher than what the score estimator had predicted. I thought those things were spot on for Step 1 but no so sure for Step 2.

Congrats to everyone! 🙂

 

[jey2283]

has any one got their score that took it late sept?

 

[Eurosepsis]

edit

 

[jtre506]

Took the exam 8/26

step 1 246/99
USMLE world self acessment 240
did 100% of Uworld 71% ave
step II 253/99

I honestly thought the test was super hard and was worried that I had failed

 

[SeaBreeze12]

has any one got their score that took it late sept?

I took mine on Sept 24th and I don't have a score yet 🙁. We might be waiting another week... although I am not giving up hope until 5pm eastern time.

 

[agranulocytosis]

Step 1: 214/88
uworld step2: 64perc overall, 97 perc completed (only resource)
step 2 ck: 252/99

yes, I AM relieved.

Now THAT is an improvement! Congratulations!

 

[futuremd22283]

U world: 60 % first time through it on tutor mode
USMLE Rx (did after U world): 76%
--Didn't use any books, just the 2 question banks--
Step 2 CK on 8/29: 236/98

Very happy as I scored low 200s on step 1...

 

[cgk]

Does anyone have the formula for converting the step 2ck scores into percentiles? Someone compiled a percentile chart for step 1 a year or so ago, and if anyone can do that for this years step 2ck that would also be most appreciated.

 

[noonday]

as opposed to the people who post with only 99's all around...and/or who are bummed about less than a 99...some "real" scores -- because someone has to fill in the rest of the curve:

comlex level 1: 545/85
comlex level 2: 618/90

usmle step 1: 199/81
usmle step 2CK: 233/96

and i'm beyond ecstatic with my newly-found step 2 score! 😀 it's more than i ever hoped for...15 points higher than my step 1! working my ass off for 2months paid off, even if it did mean a lower (than i could have gotten) comlex level 2 score as a casualty.

the step 2 score was obtained by reading full texbooks during rotations all of third year (not review guides/first aid). for example, read all of schwartz during surgery, all of harrison's during IM, all of kaplan and saddock during psych, etc. the only one i got lazy on was ob/gyn because i hated it so much. also did all the pretests and case files for each rotation's shelf. starting just over 2 months before, i did all of the kaplan practice questions (the books of questions). reviewed all the kaplan books. did all of usmle world twice. did all of combank once. re-did all of the pretests and all of the case files. did all the free sample practice questions off of the nbme site. did the robbins path question book, harrison's IM question book, and katsung's pharm book. then in the last days used the fischer step 3 review book to finish things off.

all in all, 6-8 hours every night after the hospital for rotations and 14-18 hours every weekend day for ~2 mo. i took the usmle and 5 days later (5 days of studying OMT and the like) took the comlex. i had a hard time switching gears to shorter, more straightforward questions.

i was running in the high 60's to low 70's% on usmle world.

 

[medInUSA]

I took mine on Sept 24th and I don't have a score yet 🙁. We might be waiting another week... although I am not giving up hope until 5pm eastern time.

Took mine on september 22nd no scores yet,

has anyone else who took it late september recieved anything???

 

[jtlc2345]

Took mine on september 22nd no scores yet,

has anyone else who took it late september recieved anything???

There's probably still a bit of a backlog - I took mine 19 August and only received my score today.

Jonathan

 

[jey2283]

i guess its only been 2 weeks since i took mine. i'll check one last time around 11pm eastern then i suppose i'll have to wait till next week 🙁

my ecfmg site hasn't been updated since oct 6.

 

[Instatewaiter]

read all of harrison's during IM,

Seriously?! Was it the full harrisons- because if it is, how on earth did you manage to read a 3000 page text book during a rotation? Good lord!


Anyway:
Step 1- 247- UW overall percentage ~62%

Step 2- 261 UW overall percentage ~69%

 

[Peds1]

Yeah, I took mine on Sept 21st and didn't hear back yet. It's only been 2 weeks but since the website said people who took their exam from August to late September would be finding out October 7th, I'm kind of disappointed. Do you think we'll find out next week, or have to wait another month until there's a new "group" of scores to report?