<p>Step one is now complete for DD. She had some answers come easily others did not. Her biggest complaint was the testing center- people bickering with the workers, people discussing which computer they might prefer, etc, AFTER DD had already begun her test. She found that unlike practice tests, she did not have extra time at the end of each section, in her opinion because she thought longer about the uncertain answers than on the practice tests. She found all the other stuff going on to be very distracting given that she did not have an extra minute or two or three to be distracted.</p>
<p>She called me to report after the test and I heard more complaints about paying $600 for the test ought to mean better conditions than about the questions. She also commented that if she had had another week to study she likely would not have gotten any more of those questions right. She figures her score could be +/- 15 points of what she is guessing, just based on which sections were the test ones that do not count and how she did against the scaled basis for the score.</p>
<p>I guess it is the scaling that causes them to be unable to provide the score instantly? Now one week to move and prepare to begin clinicals.</p>
<p>^ Congrats for somedaughter to have reached yet another milestone.</p>
<p>Although it may be still 9-10 months away for DS to take this test, he mentioned to us that sometimes he feels it is not easy to be fully prepared for some tests in MS (as compared to premed days.) Usually he would spend more time on studying those subjects that he believes are more relevant to STEP-1 or more relevant to MS2’s curriculum. So, he tends to take the important tests the last (At his school, it appears each student can schedule when (s)he would take a particular test (most seems to be online tests). Some students prefer to get it over as soon as possible. But DS seems to prefer to allocate as much time as possible to study it before taking the test, even though I heard the score does not matter as long as it is passing in the end.)</p>
If you are talking about the Step 1, it is true that it cannot be retaken if passed, but the score is pretty critical to having choices in terms of speciality and which residency program is available!</p>
<p>mcat2,
D. said the same, nobody ever feels that they are prepared enough for tests and material is not comparable to pre-med at all as well as format of tests is completely different. They do not have a choice, there is one week at the end of each block when they take the tests, usually Tue is Anatomy + histho - 4 hrs, Thur. - big test on the system(s) (5 - 6 hrs) and Friday is step1 practice that does not count for now. I could have missunderstood something. They are p/f for now.
They have a choice when they take Step 1.</p>
<p>Pgal, Congrats to your S. that should make him competitive for most any residency as long as he has the other requisites in place. Your big sigh of relief was heard all the way in Texas !</p>
<p>He was so nervous, he hardly slept last night. The scores were released at noon today but it was 3pm by the time he was able to log in. UMDNJ’s highest score from last year was 270, which he was really hoping to beat.</p>
<p>But he is happy anyway with the 267/90.</p>
<p>He is all set to do his best in his rotations and has his research ongoing. Also has all honors so far 1st, 2nd, and the current year. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he makes the AOA. Thanks to you for your guidance. It has certainly helped as I have passed it along to him.</p>
<p>And yeah, yeah. I know it is just one element of a successful match…but jeebus. He killed it. I just hope mine survived. If some of y’all will remember, her IRT analysis of how she did was not.that.good. Not flunking bad, but enough for me to recall a couple bad spots in an otherwise spotless record. </p>
<p>She just wants to have a score that doesn’t auto-exclude her from consideration from whatever surgical residency she wants. I’ll post a thumbs up or thumbs down if I ever hear anything. She has been less than available lately.</p>
<p>FWIW, in the off chance that she doesn’t score in the 240s which is key for surgery residencies, she can always take the STEP 2 early enough to have it be part of her application process. Most programs only require Step 1 for the application but a few (including the place S ended up) want to see Step 2 score as well.</p>
</p>
</p>