Who is the average UWorld user?

[GoodmanBrown]

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The average Step 1 score is around 220, right? And the average UWorld user gets about 50% of their questions correct, right? (That seems to be true from my reading of the UWorld cumulative results where % correct and percentile match fairly well.)

So, how is it that people who are getting ~50% right in UWorld are concerned about failing? It seems to me, a 50% in UWorld should predict you're going to get a Step 1 score of around 220?

 

[shan564]

You have to consider that people are usually more prepared when they take the real test than they are when they do UWorld. If you're getting 50% when you first start UWorld, it's not too bad... but if you're getting 50% the night before your exam, then you're not doing as well.

Check out this link:
http://usmle-score-correlation.blogspot.com/

Also, google "clinical review usmle correlator" (I'm not allowed to post that link here).

 

[shan564]

FWIW, I started out around with a 192 on UWSA1, and I was getting 53-54% on UWorld at about that time. After some studying and going through 1000 UWorld questions, I've probably gotten my average up to about 58% on my last 300 questions. Last weekend, I got 83% on the USMLE Free 150... the medfriends converter says that that's worth 240+, but I don't believe that... there's no way I'm in the 240+ range already.

 

[djquickfingers]

50%? I'm over here freaking out about a 65%...I can't seem to get passed it..I have 800 questions left, so I'll see if my average goes up. I want to be around 70% but that may be unattainable by now

 

[shan564]

Well, if that chart is accurate, it looks like you're set for a pretty good score.

 

[Phloston]

50%? I'm over here freaking out about a 65%...I can't seem to get passed it..I have 800 questions left, so I'll see if my average goes up. I want to be around 70% but that may be unattainable by now

I perhaps can't relate to UWorld the same way yet, but I can say that as far as USMLE Rx is concerned, I had done 100 questions (10 blocks of 10) in January and scored exactly 67/100, then spent all of February strictly reading and memorizing FA cover to cover ~8-12hrs/day, and for the subsequent ~900 questions (48-question blocks; tutor mode) I've done in March so far, I've been scoring between 80-96%. So to be honest, I think the most significant way to boost your percentage of questions correct, at least into the ~80s, is to memorize FA, because I've definitely noticed a profound difference in how I approach the questions now that I've gained better background through the FA material. I believe the hardest ~15% of questions, on the other hand, is lower-yield stuff through the QBanks and other resources.

~Phloston

 

[kaleerkalut]

I perhaps can't relate to UWorld the same way yet, but I can say that as far as USMLE Rx is concerned, I had done 100 questions (10 blocks of 10) in January and scored exactly 67/100, then spent all of February strictly reading and memorizing FA cover to cover ~8-12hrs/day, and for the subsequent ~900 questions (48-question blocks; tutor mode) I've done in March so far, I've been scoring between 80-96%. So to be honest, I think the most significant way to boost your percentage of questions correct, at least into the ~80s, is to memorize FA. I believe the hardest ~15% of questions, on the other hand, is lower-yield stuff through the QBanks and other resources.

~Phloston

I have not used USMLERx but I will say that this might be slightly skewed because from my understanding Rx tests strictly out of FA for the most part.

 

[Phloston]

I have not used USMLERx but I will say that this might be slightly skewed because from my understanding Rx tests strictly out of FA for the most part.

Kaleerkalut raises a great point. FA does mention in its resources section in the back of the book that USMLE Rx is particularly good for reinforcing FA. Although Rx does have many strong three- and four-step questions, UWorld is supposedly harder. Nevertheless, I'm just reinforcing the already well-known point that knowing FA well is vital.