Some Step 3 tips, UW/NBME/actual scores
madrad - 01-14-09 15:39

hi guys,

I recently passed my Step 3 with 216/91. can't complain abt the score, bcoz i did not study much.. u know the Step 3 score doesnt matter, right?

I had read some excellent tips on this & some other forums. can't say i can make significant additions, but would like to highlight certain aspects of preparation.

first, the material i used..
some Step 2 Kaplan books, especially medicine (i didn't get time to read all of them, but u should read them if u have time).
UW (both CCS and MCQs)
CCS Software from the USMLE website- this is VERY IMP!

now, this doesnt seem like much of reading. i mean i've seem some ppl advocating a lot of material. but i personally believe in reading small amount of material with a right approach.

so on that note, while u r reading Kaplan CK books, remember the shift of focus from Step 2 to Step 3. Step 2 stresses on pathophysio, initial investigations, diagnosis & initial management. Step 3 focusses more on management. it's all about the next step (not necessarily the first step) in management (inv/Rx), complex clinical decisions, prognosis, etc. No doubt some questions are on diagnosis, but management (including investigations and treatment) carries more importance. so while reading CK books, ignore the pathophysiology & focus on management. try to develop the logical thinking & algorithms required for actual patient management. forget the rare conditions, but u must thoroughly know even the rare presentations & complications of common conditions.

& most imp, be rational. & use ur common sense in exam. it's a long, tiring exam. so it's imp to keep ur cool..

again, do the CCS cases from UW & USMLE website. this is very imp. but remem, this carries only about 25% of importance. so majority portion is still MCQs. so dont neglect that aspect.


& finally, i used to always think about correlation between UW & actual score. i looked around different websites & following is the general idea i got..


correlation between 2 & 3 digit scores in exam..

198/81
200/82
207/86
216/91
218/92
223/94


correlation between UW and actual score..

UWorld Actual test
49 192
50 206
60 221
54 216/89
58 212-217
54 208
54 214


i read somewhere.. Step 3 = 2.3UW + 80

so basically u're all set if u get around 55-60% score on UW.

now, all this is based on feedback from other ppl..


finally, NBME and actual score.. i dont remember where i found this.. (thanx to whoever posted this!)

Actual Exam NBME

75---- 182
------- 183
------- 184
------- 185
------- 186
------- 187
------- 188
------- 189
------- 190
------- 191
------- 192
------- 193-- 1sd--- -------400
------- 194
------- 195
------- 196
80---- 197
------- 198
------- 199
------- 200
------- 201
82---- 202
83---- 203
83---- 204
83---- 205-- -1/2 sd------- 450
84---- 206
84---- 207
------- 208
85---- 209
------- 210
86---- 211
86---- 212
------- 213
------- 214
------- 215
88---- 216
88---- 217-- mean--------500
88---- 218
89---- 219
89---- 220
89---- 221
90---- 222
90---- 223
------- 224
91---- 225
------- 226
92---- 227
92---- 228
93---- 229-- 1/2 sd------- 550
93---- 230
94---- 231
94---- 232
94---- 233
95---- 234
95---- 235
95---- 236
96---- 237
96---- 238
97---- 239
97---- 240
97---- 241-- 1sd--- -------600
98---- 242
98---- 243
99---- 244
99---- 245
99---- 246
99---- 247
99---- 248
99---- 249
99---- 250
99---- 251
99---- 252
99---- 253-- 1.5sd--------650
99---- 254
99---- 255
99---- 256
99---- 257
99---- 258
99---- 259
99---- 260
99---- 261
99---- 262
99---- 263
99---- 264
99---- 265-- 2sd----------700
99---- 266
99---- 267



hope all this was helpful.

all the best!