What exactly is a 90% percentile on Step 1

[zama]

Hey guys, this question might have been answered before (but I don't believe so). What is a 90% percentile (not the two digit score seen on the report) on Step 1? Many of the more competitive scores say that successful applicants usually had step 1 scores above the 90% percentile. Thanks for the help.

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[electra]

Percentil score indicates that you did better than 90% of people who sat for the exam.

Hey guys, this question might have been answered before (but I don't believe so). What is a 90% percentile (not the two digit score seen on the report) on Step 1? Many of the more competitive scores say that successful applicants usually had step 1 scores above the 90% percentile. Thanks for the help.

 

[DrPak]

The double digit score is not a percentile, though is it?

 

[zama]

Thanks Electra for the information. But, I already know what percentile means statistically. I wanted to know what the score or score range (three digit) is for a 90th percentile on Step 1.

 

[Iwy Em Hotep]

Mean is about 220, SD about 20.

 

[Pollicis]

Do the scores change depending on the quality of the pool of students each year? I still don't think the original question has been answered...Help?

Thanks Electra for the information. But, I already know what percentile means statistically. I wanted to know what the score or score range (three digit) is for a 90th percentile on Step 1.

 

[VincentAdultman]

Some of you are rididculous

1. Of course the OP knows what the mean and SD are. They're on the freakin' score report.

2. Maybe I'm a super genius, but it was pretty evident that the OP was asking for the ACTUAL percentile, not the definition. And if the OP doesn't know the definition of percentile, then the OP made it through the application/selection process by an act of God.

After I got that off my chest, I'll answer your question. 245-250.

 

[zama]

Thanks pompacil, exactly the answer I was looking for.

 

[DrPak]

245-250 is the 90th percentile? Where did u get this info from? I had been looking for it...

So what does the two digit score mean? And the 3 digit score?

 

[saco]

245-250 is the 90th percentile? Where did u get this info from? I had been looking for it...

So what does the two digit score mean? And the 3 digit score?

There is nothing to look for. With a mean of about 220 and SD of 20 the 90th percentile becomes 245.6 or so by a simple calculation. The three digit score is an arbitrary system with no clearly defined ceiling. The two digit score is set at about 75 for passing and maxes out at 99 at about the 90th percentile

 

[VincentAdultman]

There is nothing to look for. With a mean of about 220 and SD of 20 the 90th percentile becomes 245.6 or so by a simple calculation. The three digit score is an arbitrary system with no clearly defined ceiling. The two digit score is set at about 75 for passing and maxes out at 99 at about the 90th percentile

Exactly. Do some homework, people!

 

[lattimer13]

the last few posters have got it right...if the OP or others still don't get it, try going to the biostats section in BRS Behavioral Sciences by Fadem and it explains it pretty well. Hopefully your biostats course at your school has (or will) cover this.

 

[ice_23]

There is nothing to look for. With a mean of about 220 and SD of 20 the 90th percentile becomes 245.6 or so by a simple calculation. The three digit score is an arbitrary system with no clearly defined ceiling. The two digit score is set at about 75 for passing and maxes out at 99 at about the 90th percentile

The three digit score maxes out at 300. This is what a woman from the NBME told me.

-Ice

 

[bigfrank]

http://psych.colorado.edu/~mcclella/java/normal/accurateNormal.html

is a good site to help calculate your %ile if you know the mean & SD of your particular exam.

When I took the Step I, a 245 was approximately the 90th %ile

 

[TY06]

sooo, my input....

245-250 corresponds to a 2 digit of 99 which corresponds to 90th percentile.

let me know if you disagree.

 

[ckyuen]

If you guys are saying the mean is 220 and SD is 20 then 90th percentile would be b/t one and two standard deviations above. one sd 83%tile and two sd about 97.5%tile.

 

[viper]

USMLE does not release percentiles. However, yes you can calculate it kind of like shown by posters above. Its not exactly accurate, but its probably close. Since they don't really release that and since the reason you were asking htis question was in regards to competitive programs - I would say you need about a 230. 230 is considered a competitive score by most programs. Some programs, like Derm etc. want a higher score, but for most competitive programs, 230 is probably the cutoff.

 

[p53]

Anyone that can't figure out how to calculate 90th percentile given a Step 1 average of 216 and SD of 24 has a snowball chance in HeII of scoring high on Step 1.

The 2005 Step 1 average was 216 and SD was 24.

NOW SHUT UP ON THIS STUPID THREAD.