Comments on: Is the version of the USMLE for IMGs harder than for AMGs? http://blogs.askdoc-usmle.com/is-the-version-of-the-usmle-for-imgs-harder-than-for-amgs/ All about USMLE Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:30:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: askdoc http://blogs.askdoc-usmle.com/is-the-version-of-the-usmle-for-imgs-harder-than-for-amgs/comment-page-1/#comment-5783 askdoc Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:39:47 +0000 http://askdoc-usmle.com/wordpressblog/?p=10#comment-5783 Hi Luis, The USMLE scores is set up so you can compare them even when taken years apart. This comparability is important when programs are deciding which candidates to consider as not all candidates who apply at the same time took the exam time or even the same year. Doing it the way you describe, using the basis for scoring only the scores of each batch will make it impossible to compare scores taken during different years. Therefore, scores are always normed over several years worth of examinees and not any specific year or time. Hope that answers your question. Askdoc Hi Luis,

The USMLE scores is set up so you can compare them even when taken years apart. This comparability is important when programs are deciding which candidates to consider as not all candidates who apply at the same time took the exam time or even the same year. Doing it the way you describe, using the basis for scoring only the scores of each batch will make it impossible to compare scores taken during different years. Therefore, scores are always normed over several years worth of examinees and not any specific year or time. Hope that answers your question.

Askdoc

]]> By: askdoc http://blogs.askdoc-usmle.com/is-the-version-of-the-usmle-for-imgs-harder-than-for-amgs/comment-page-1/#comment-4915 askdoc Sun, 07 Nov 2010 16:30:28 +0000 http://askdoc-usmle.com/wordpressblog/?p=10#comment-4915 Hi Luis, The reason USMLE takes great pains to test questions for difficulty level before scoring them (hence experimental questions) and takes the time to normalized the scores is because they need the scores of examinees to be comparable even if they took the exam years apart. That is part of the mandate of the USMLE in formulating this examination. The only way to do that is to use the scores of examinees that took the examination over several years to come up with the normalized scores. Therefore your scores are always compared to thousands of examinees (AMG) only that took the exam years before and not on the same year you took it. If they do it the way you described, then the scores of examinees that took the exam in different years will not be comparable. Askdoc Hi Luis,
The reason USMLE takes great pains to test questions for difficulty level before scoring them (hence experimental questions) and takes the time to normalized the scores is because they need the scores of examinees to be comparable even if they took the exam years apart. That is part of the mandate of the USMLE in formulating this examination. The only way to do that is to use the scores of examinees that took the examination over several years to come up with the normalized scores. Therefore your scores are always compared to thousands of examinees (AMG) only that took the exam years before and not on the same year you took it. If they do it the way you described, then the scores of examinees that took the exam in different years will not be comparable.

Askdoc

]]> By: Luis http://blogs.askdoc-usmle.com/is-the-version-of-the-usmle-for-imgs-harder-than-for-amgs/comment-page-1/#comment-4404 Luis Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:54:00 +0000 http://askdoc-usmle.com/wordpressblog/?p=10#comment-4404 Now I know the version is the same for both AMG's and IMG's, but what about the myth that says that is harder to get a higher grade if you take the exam on june-july or in december because your score is compared to the scores of the AMG's that take the USMLE on those months (which are most of them), what do you think about that? Now I know the version is the same for both AMG’s and IMG’s, but what about the myth that says that is harder to get a higher grade if you take the exam on june-july or in december because your score is compared to the scores of the AMG’s that take the USMLE on those months (which are most of them), what do you think about that?

]]> By: drshruti http://blogs.askdoc-usmle.com/is-the-version-of-the-usmle-for-imgs-harder-than-for-amgs/comment-page-1/#comment-575 drshruti Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:27:01 +0000 http://askdoc-usmle.com/wordpressblog/?p=10#comment-575 I totally agree with your post. Its not that the exam is harder but the topics tested are somewhat different thatn the ones IMGs might have to focus on in their own med schools. I am An IMG and i took the step 1 a month ago. I had a mammoth task trying to get TB out of my system as the top differentail for everything..still managed it :) step 2 CK in two months... fingers crossed for this one too. I am not listening to all the wierdos telling me not to take it in my home country but with my CS in June. I totally agree with your post. Its not that the exam is harder but the topics tested are somewhat different thatn the ones IMGs might have to focus on in their own med schools. I am An IMG and i took the step 1 a month ago. I had a mammoth task trying to get TB out of my system as the top differentail for everything..still managed it :)
step 2 CK in two months… fingers crossed for this one too.
I am not listening to all the wierdos telling me not to take it in my home country but with my CS in June.

]]> By: Is the USMLE getting tougher every year? | askdoc-usmle http://blogs.askdoc-usmle.com/is-the-version-of-the-usmle-for-imgs-harder-than-for-amgs/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Is the USMLE getting tougher every year? | askdoc-usmle Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:37:57 +0000 http://askdoc-usmle.com/wordpressblog/?p=10#comment-10 [...] previously tackled one common myth about the USMLE. (See “Is the version of the USMLE for IMGs harder than for AMGs?” ) Now we will tackle another one. In order to answer this question we need to understand how [...] [...] previously tackled one common myth about the USMLE. (See “Is the version of the USMLE for IMGs harder than for AMGs?” ) Now we will tackle another one. In order to answer this question we need to understand how [...]

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