When to take Step II with mediocre Step I score and test anxiety

[Sophia88]

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[survivordo]

I scored a 226 on Step I and I am trying to figure out when to schedule step II CK. I had scored much higher on practice tests for step I (high 240's) but I tend to get bad testing anxiety and I think this hurt my performance.

I am unsure of when I should take step II? In part I would hope to do much better on step II and would want residencies to see this score, but on the other hand would feel much less pressure if I took it after I submitted ERAS and then had the option of not sending my score if I did poorly. I am planning on applying for a residency in path.

Any advice would be great! Thanks!!

I'm not sure how the scheduling works at your school but I managed to arrange my schedule so I got a solid 3 weeks off between 3rd and 4th years. Studying hard during this period and also throughout my 3rd year resulted in an excellent score.

Survivor DO

 

[pipe dream]

When did a 226 Step 1 score become mediocre?

 

[Syncity]

When did a 226 Step 1 score become mediocre?

Lol - mediocre on SDN and mediocre in real life are very different things.

What's the average Step 1 score floating around nowadays?

 

[pipe dream]

Lol - mediocre on SDN and mediocre in real life are very different things.

What's the average Step 1 score floating around nowadays?

221 last year.

 

[viper930]

When did a 226 Step 1 score become mediocre?

Average in my cohort last year was 224 I think....so a 226 is pretty mediocre not just by SDN standards but any reasonable ones...

Anyway, OP I'm sorry you have anxiety issues. I know many people who have suffered the same outcomes based on test taking jitters. Have you ever considered getting checked out by a doc and getting low dose propranolol as needed for performance anxiety? I know it definitely helps some people if they take 1-2 right before a major source of stress (exam, performance, etc)

 

[pipe dream]

Average in my cohort last year was 224 I think....so a 226 is pretty mediocre not just by SDN standards but any reasonable ones...

Remedial vocab lesson - mediocre doesn't mean avg which this poster is above, even by your cohort standards. It means iinferior or unsatisfactory. A 200 would be mediocre. A 226 would be avg or slightly above.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Remedial vocab lesson - mediocre doesn't mean avg which this poster is above, even by your cohort standards. It means iinferior or unsatisfactory. A 200 would be mediocre. A 226 would be avg or slightly above.

Definition of MEDIOCRE

: of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance : ordinary, so-so

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mediocre

I guess you're both right...

 

[DreamingTheLive]

Semantics. Silly.

OP, your test score is average. Nothing to be ashamed about at all. I think the best thing you can do for your test anxiety is to begin preparing little by little now but definitely to have taken the exam by the end of July at the latest (if not earlier). Don't build Step 2 CK into a monster, because it isn't, and you're statistically much more likely to do significantly better than on Step 1. Work hard on your clerkships now, read a little bit every day, heck, even just 10 - 15 pages/day in a Step 2 review book if you want. I'd try and give yourself a good 3 - 4 weeks before the test. Maybe try setting up a free month or a really cush rotation for the first month of 4th year and then follow that with CK. Do well learning rotation-specific stuff now, review a little bit each week, then give a final 3 week push.

Good Luck!