berkeleyboy
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 361
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and this is there official stance on difficult versus easy exams.
This is what I wrote:
I know there are many versions of the usmle step 1 and everyone recieves different tests. However, I found my exam (USMLE step 1) to be extremely difficult while others found their test to be quite easy. Are difficult exams curved only against those who took the same difficult exam? or are all exams curved equally? I think it would be unfair to curve an easy exam against a very difficult exam. If you could shed light on this matter I would appreciate it very much.
Thank you very much for taking the time out and replying to me.
This is the reply:
We do not use the term "weight" to describe these effects. However, your question is very pertinent and your statement is correct. A person with an easier form of the test will need to answer more questions correctly to get the same 3-digit score as someone with a harder form. Thus, candidates with harder forms are not unjustly penalized, while those with easier forms are not unfairly rewarded.
All this said, we make the forms as similar to one another as possible and the differences in difficulty between them are really very small. So we are talking about miniscule effects, here.
I personally think the last statement is BS. I know for a fact, that my exam was a lot harder than nbme 1 and Qbank questions.
I hope this thread helps some people out.
Berk
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PGY-1 Ohio State University Plastic Surgery
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| pray4md
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 124
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berk, i feel your pain man. yo, its been like one week since the exam and i was doing good for 2 days, and then today i got anxious again. i keep trying to block out this test and stuff, but it creeps up on you. its weird. like this whole wait one month thing does nothing for our sanity. and i dont get how its computerized, yet they need all this extra time.
i look at it like this, all this pain suffered now will have to be returned to us later in life in the form of pleasure. because we have put in some serious work and we're waiting like dogs right now. i know we're probably bitching, and its not as bad as some of the kids over the middle east fighting the crazy war over there, but its still tough.
nonetheless, one week down and i guess 3 weeks to go? hahaha.... insane. hang in there bro. im sure you friggin aced that thing man. as for me, im gonna kick some kaplan ass if i fail this thing!!! hahaha.....
alright man, im off to pass out,
peace
p4md
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| berkeleyboy
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 361
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things are cool with me. I'm heading off to europe this weekend. I should have my score by the time I get back or my parents will call me once I get the score. Going out with friends I haven't seen for a while helps out a lot with the waiting....and so does the drinking...
take care bro,
only 3 more weeks left!
J
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PGY-1 Ohio State University Plastic Surgery
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