USMLE Official 2019 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

[libertyyne]

Lets get this started.
M2. Mid Tier everything.
Entertaining some surgical sub-specialties.

Goal 270
Happy with 245

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[wonko]

=====IT'S HAPPENING====


NBME 13 - 259 (4 months out)
NBME 15 - 252 (2,5 months out)
NBME 17 - 265 (2 months out)
NBME 19 - 257 (1 month out)
UWSA 1 - 283 (3 weeks out)
NBME 23 - 263 (2.5 weeks out)
NBME 24 - 265 (1.5 weeks out)
UWSA 2 - 279 (1 week out)
NBME 18 - 261 (3 days out)
Free120 - 93% (1 day out)

Rx - 87.5% (Timed, System-wise)
Kaplan - 90.3% (Timed, System-wise)
UWorld - 91.7% (Timed, Random)


Reddit Predictor: 264


Real Deal : 264

It's been a hell of ride lads! I'm so overwhelmed right now I can't think of anything else to write! Good luck to all those that shared this journey with me!

way to go omorfi! See you soon in the states!

 

[787593]

Dying rn want score so bad

 

[wanderingorion]

=====IT'S HAPPENING====


NBME 13 - 259 (4 months out)
NBME 15 - 252 (2,5 months out)
NBME 17 - 265 (2 months out)
NBME 19 - 257 (1 month out)
UWSA 1 - 283 (3 weeks out)
NBME 23 - 263 (2.5 weeks out)
NBME 24 - 265 (1.5 weeks out)
UWSA 2 - 279 (1 week out)
NBME 18 - 261 (3 days out)
Free120 - 93% (1 day out)

Rx - 87.5% (Timed, System-wise)
Kaplan - 90.3% (Timed, System-wise)
UWorld - 91.7% (Timed, Random)


Reddit Predictor: 264


Real Deal : 264

It's been a hell of ride lads! I'm so overwhelmed right now I can't think of anything else to write! Good luck to all those that shared this journey with me!

Dis mayne

 

[Messengeri]

=====IT'S HAPPENING====


NBME 13 - 259 (4 months out)
NBME 15 - 252 (2,5 months out)
NBME 17 - 265 (2 months out)
NBME 19 - 257 (1 month out)
UWSA 1 - 283 (3 weeks out)
NBME 23 - 263 (2.5 weeks out)
NBME 24 - 265 (1.5 weeks out)
UWSA 2 - 279 (1 week out)
NBME 18 - 261 (3 days out)
Free120 - 93% (1 day out)

Rx - 87.5% (Timed, System-wise)
Kaplan - 90.3% (Timed, System-wise)
UWorld - 91.7% (Timed, Random)


Reddit Predictor: 264


Real Deal : 264

It's been a hell of ride lads! I'm so overwhelmed right now I can't think of anything else to write! Good luck to all those that shared this journey with me!

Wow that resdit predictor was spot on!!

 

[Scrubs101]

Zanki = 80ish percent matured stopped at beginning of dedicated, rapid review deck before usmle on cram mode
Firecracker: did about half of the cards through first year and a couple hundred qs, used info bank for reference after
Goljan audio = 2x
Pathoma = 3x
Sketchy micro = 1x
Sketchy pharm = 1x
Sketchy path = 0x
Bnb = 50% (excluding videos watched in school year)
FA = 2x
Rx= 75% at 50% done
Kaplan = 83% at 20% done
Kaplan school assessment = 73%
Amboss assessment = 75% = 249 =10weeks out
Uworld = 84% one pass timed random
UWSA 1 =262 at 6 weeks out
USWA 2= 264 at 3 days out
Free 120= 84% at 3 days out
NBME 16 = 236 = 8 weeks out
NBME 17 = 252 at 7 weeks out (84%)m
NBME 18 = 255 at 5 days out
NBME 19 = 240 = 9 weeks out
NBME 20 = 246 = 5 weeks out
NBME 21 = 259 = 4 weeks out
NBME 22 = 248 = 3 weeks out
NBME 23 = 252 = 2.5 weeks outs
NBME 24 = 250 = 2 weeks out
Comsae 105 = 617 3.5weeks out
REAL DEAL: 261!!!!! Im shaking it took forever to load omg i dont even know how to handle my emotions rn soooo happy

Edit: reddit predictor had me at 254 ,95 CI 242 - 264

 

[Diphyllobothrium latum]

Zanki = 80ish percent matured stopped at beginning of dedicated, rapid review deck before usmle on cram mode
Firecracker: did about half of the cards through first year and a couple hundred qs, used info bank for reference after
Goljan audio = 2x
Pathoma = 3x
Sketchy micro = 1x
Sketchy pharm = 1x
Sketchy path = 0x
Bnb = 50% (excluding videos watched in school year)
FA = 2x
Rx= 75% at 50% done
Kaplan = 83% at 20% done
Kaplan school assessment = 73%
Amboss assessment = 75% = 249 =10weeks out
Uworld = 84% one pass timed random
UWSA 1 =262 at 6 weeks out
USWA 2= 264 at 3 days out
Free 120= 84% at 3 days out
NBME 16 = 236 = 8 weeks out
NBME 17 = 252 at 7 weeks out (84%)m
NBME 18 = 255 at 5 days out
NBME 19 = 240 = 9 weeks out
NBME 20 = 246 = 5 weeks out
NBME 21 = 259 = 4 weeks out
NBME 22 = 248 = 3 weeks out
NBME 23 = 252 = 2.5 weeks outs
NBME 24 = 250 = 2 weeks out
Comsae 105 = 617 3.5weeks out
REAL DEAL: 261!!!!! Im shaking it took forever to load omg i dont even know how to handle my emotions rn soooo happy

Effing nailed it!

 

[realba11]

US DO student here.
UWSA1: 256 - 4/10
UWSA2: 247 - 4/15 - Took this too early
NBME 20: 219 - 4/23 - wuht?
NBME 21: 230 - 4/26
NBME 13: 230 - 5/1
NBME 15: 235 - 5/10
NBME 19: 240 - 5/17
NBME 22: 234 - 5/20
NBME 16: 236 - 5/22
Free 120: 83% - 5/24
NBME 17: 250 - 5/26
NBME 18: 232 - 5/29 - This one really threw me off, much more difficult
UW: 75% timed random
Reddit Predictor: 248.6
Step 1: 243 - meh, satisfied still. Not great, not bad.

 

[wonko]

Got a 248. Was really hoping to see the middle 5, but objectively thats ok! Time to move on!

 

[Chibucks15]

The mean on this score section was 231 with a SD of 20. Seems like a super high average wow. I ended up a bit short of where I wanted to be but still good enough for neuro I think. At least I don't have to deal with this nonsense ever again

 

[Ho0v-man]

Zanki: matured 77%. Completed all of it except some of the redundant micro

Some Kaplan last year about 200 questions with class. Hated it and moved on.

Maybe half of USMLE rx ~70%.

Uworld: untimed and by system 79.8% redid most of the incorrects until I stopped caring

Free 120: 88%

Nbme 23 and 18: 230s. Don’t remember exactly

Uwsa1: 245

Uwsa2: 260

Original goal at the beginning of this thread: 230+

Edit: reddit predicted score: 249

Real deal: 256

So happy this crap is over. I have no clue what to do next bc this has been my life for 2 years. But I also don’t care either. Thanks to everyone in this thread for the advice and commiseration. Probably wouldn’t have even passed without doing the stuff I’ve read on SDN.

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

The mean on this score section was 231 with a SD of 20. Seems like a super high average wow. I ended up a bit short of where I wanted to be but still good enough for neuro I think. At least I don't have to deal with this nonsense ever again

Yeah the average is so high. Damn the resources!

 

[wanderingorion]

NBME 18-219
NBME 20-236
NBME 21-238
NBME 22-250 5/28
UWSA1-266
NBME23-246 6/10
UWSA2-258
NBME24-255
Free 120 93%
UW 1st Pass- 73% (Random)
UWorld 2nd pass (Random, 31% complete) - 92%

Real deal: 256

I'm glad I used the new nbmes, as they were fairly predictive. What a relief everyone. We did it =)

 

[realba11]

Just an observation, but it seems like people are generally getting lower than they thought

 

[ritts]

246! Higher than I expected

 

[kb1900]

Underperformed by like 10-15 from my last few practice exams but oh well I’m just happy to move on and have broken 245 tho obviously was hoping for the other end of my prediction CI


Key take always: would have probably done better withmore questions through the year rather than zanki


Also just a thought the distribution on the report doesn’t look normal with some definite skew. I guess that’s why they don’t provide percentiles? Any guesses?

 

[Frogger27]

238. Fml. Was thinking of something competitive but def have some doubts now. Really wanted that 240

 

[Scrubs101]

Is 247 good enough for ophtho or urology? Got lower than my predictions

Def someone from my DO school matched uro at a respectable uni program sub 240. Those niche field seem to be more about research and who ya know IMO

 

[Scrubs101]

238. Fml. Was thinking of something competitive but def have some doubts now. Really wanted that 240

Youre USMD right? Youre def still good to go homie IMO

 

[Frogger27]

Youre USMD right? Youre def still good to go homie IMO

Mid tier USMD. 3rd quartile so not a rockstar by any means

 

[Scrubs101]

Mid tier USMD. 3rd quartile so not a rockstar by any means

IMO youre still in solid spot, thats still a sick score. Just pump out some research and rub elbows w/ ur home/away rotation programs. Now go out and partake in adult beverages or whatever your poison is tn!!

 

[You shall know the Truth]

What is a competitive gen surg score with the higher mean going to look like?

 

[Frogger27]

IMO youre still in solid spot, thats still a sick score. Just pump out some research and rub elbows w/ ur home/away rotation programs. Now go out and partake in adult beverages or whatever your poison is tn!!

Thanks man. Definitely stil disappointed but I’ll power on. Planning on applying to Urology if all goes as planned 3rd year.. have solid connections and research already

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

For any lurkers--I'd like to second the notion that more questions instead of zanki would have been better. Zanki has too many cards and thus its benefits for me started to taper off whilst using up valuable time. Try to use the original zanki deck rather than the updated one with way more cards if anything. Do 3 question banks and you will probably break 240. Can't believe I made the mistake of not doing enough questions when that is always rule number 1 in test prep, but I suppose 'enough' is different for everyone. At least I broke 230! GL in 3rd year everyone!

 

[Ho0v-man]

Thanks man. Definitely stil disappointed but I’ll power on. Planning on applying to Urology if all goes as planned 3rd year.. have solid connections and research already

I’d recommend taking a research year solely for the purposes of making a comprehensive anki deck of di(k jokes and memorizing it cold. It’s the best way to stand out.

 

[Frogger27]

I’d recommend taking a research year solely for the purposes of making a comprehensive anki deck of di(k jokes and memorizing it cold. It’s the best way to stand out.

Lolzzz. A little too early but I still laughed. Thanks bro

 

[EEtoPre-Med]

256! I just want to specially shout out @Lannister and @USMLE_Pro for your methods. I used a combined method where I did Rx and read every word similar to Lannister and then in dedicated made anki cards off of my Uworld misses. I reviewed them for awhile and then quit about 25% through Uworld but I kept making them. I think the process of communicating your thought process is really helpful. Really appreciate this thread. I tried for more than a year to become a Zanki person and I failed. Lack of willpower. It worked out but it may not be for everyone.

 

[Gomedorgohome]

UPDATE

1st time posting since MCAT just recently took it, now playing the waiting game for a month. Zanki was amazing would recommend if you’re a flashcard person. Would say ≥90% of my practice test scores are due to Zanki.

Test day:
Even distribution of subjects except less biochem (which sucked I like that lol).
Takeaways that might be applicable to your test day experience:
-If you have vague ethics questions don't spend lots of time trying to reason through it when you could use that time for questions you actually know.
-Don't be afraid to pick an answer just because you don't know it, IF you know all the other ones are wrong (be confident in what you know). Had 2 Qs I looked up after test that I got right, but had not learned that correct answer just had learned all the other answer choices and knew they weren't the question stem.
-Continuation of the "Be confident in what you know" principle. If you flat out know something and a Q asks it and you see that answer, don't spend another 40 seconds re-reading and thinking of another way that the Q could be tricking you. You're wasting time . I caught myself doing this on first block then corrected it and had more time on all my other blocks.

Completed Q bank averages and Practice test scores (in order):
•RX=84%
•Kaplan=86.9%
•UWorld=90.2

•NBME 13: 248
•NBME 15: 257
•NBME 16: 263
•NBME 17: 259
•NBME 19: 257
•UWSA 1: 275
•NBME 20: 267
•NBME 21: 259
•NBME 22: 252
•NBME 23: 250
•Free 120: 96%
•NBME 24: 257
•NBME 18: 259
•UWSA 2: 262

•STEP 1: ****264**** (SCORE CALCULATOR: 261.22; 253.56-268.88)

BRUHH SO HAPPY THANK THE LORD HE IS GOOD.

 

[chigirl23]

do we know what test dates these scores were released from? Like up to June what?

 

[YoungDoc25]

247! Super pleased with it overall. MCAT was <505 FWIW and owe it all to my man Zanki. Congrats everyone!!

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Mid 240s! I'll take it. For one thing what I want to do breaking that 240 was key so I'm pretty pleased, my other interest relies a lot more on the COMLEX so now I await that with baited breath lol. Right in my window from the reddit predictor, even though I was really thinking I pulled a 245+, oh well. So relieved this **** is over and I escaped with a score where none of my goals are affected.

Edit: I'll add, the new NBMEs were pretty damn close score wise. I was only a point or two away from my average on those. So for anyone seeing this thread worried about next year, just trust your scores. Smack dab in the middle of my average of the new NBMEs and my average on the UWSAs.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

What is a competitive gen surg score with the higher mean going to look like?

230 will likely still be the cutoff to competitively apply to GS as a DO (I think you're a DO student?). 230 is good enough, 240 is better, and 250 is icing on the cake.

Zanki = 80ish percent matured stopped at beginning of dedicated, rapid review deck before usmle on cram mode
Firecracker: did about half of the cards through first year and a couple hundred qs, used info bank for reference after
Goljan audio = 2x
Pathoma = 3x
Sketchy micro = 1x
Sketchy pharm = 1x
Sketchy path = 0x
Bnb = 50% (excluding videos watched in school year)
FA = 2x
Rx= 75% at 50% done
Kaplan = 83% at 20% done
Kaplan school assessment = 73%
Amboss assessment = 75% = 249 =10weeks out
Uworld = 84% one pass timed random
UWSA 1 =262 at 6 weeks out
USWA 2= 264 at 3 days out
Free 120= 84% at 3 days out
NBME 16 = 236 = 8 weeks out
NBME 17 = 252 at 7 weeks out (84%)m
NBME 18 = 255 at 5 days out
NBME 19 = 240 = 9 weeks out
NBME 20 = 246 = 5 weeks out
NBME 21 = 259 = 4 weeks out
NBME 22 = 248 = 3 weeks out
NBME 23 = 252 = 2.5 weeks outs
NBME 24 = 250 = 2 weeks out
Comsae 105 = 617 3.5weeks out
REAL DEAL: 261!!!!! Im shaking it took forever to load omg i dont even know how to handle my emotions rn soooo happy

Edit: reddit predictor had me at 254 ,95 CI 242 - 264

Zanki: matured 77%. Completed all of it except some of the redundant micro

Some Kaplan last year about 200 questions with class. Hated it and moved on.

Maybe half of USMLE rx ~70%.

Uworld: untimed and by system 79.8% redid most of the incorrects until I stopped caring

Free 120: 88%

Nbme 23 and 18: 230s. Don’t remember exactly

Uwsa1: 245

Uwsa2: 260

Original goal at the beginning of this thread: 230+

Edit: reddit predicted score: 249

Real deal: 256

So happy this crap is over. I have no clue what to do next bc this has been my life for 2 years. But I also don’t care either. Thanks to everyone in this thread for the advice and commiseration. Probably wouldn’t have even passed without doing the stuff I’ve read on SDN.

HOLY S**T You two murdered it.

 

[Rei02sDinnerParty]

247! Super pleased with it overall. MCAT was QUOTE]

Honestly, I find posts like these even more amazing than the super high scoring ones.

What a chad.

 

[You shall know the Truth]

230 will likely still be the cutoff to competitively apply to GS as a DO (I think you're a DO student?). 230 is good enough, 240 is better, and 250 is icing on the cake.




HOLY S**T You two murdered it.

Thanks

 

[bearbear33]

CBSE1 2/28: 212
AMBOSS 4/1: 239
NBME 18 4/19: 234
UWSA1 4/26: 243
NBME 20 5/4: 238
UWSA2 5/11: 247
CBSE2 5/14: >260 (97 raw, lots of repeats from CBSE1, so falsely inflated I think)
NBME 22 5/17: 238
NBME 21 5/24: 240
Free 120 5/29: 84%
UW: 73% (only finished 67% of questions, timed, random)
STEP 1 5/31: 253

Believe in yourself. I felt like sh** about not finishing UWorld, but everything is okay. Also, I knew in my heart that I'd do better than I did on the new NBME's. I was so exhausted at the end and I never "peaked". I took the last day or two off to clear my mind, got a good night's sleep, and performed well. Lastly, I never skipped anything that was important to me - friend's birthdays, seeing my family, going to conferences, $5 bloody marys at brunch. You'd be surprised how much living a real life will actually help you on the test. Don't doubt yourself, your life, or what you know.

 

[samsamani]

231 , not happy with it as I want to do Diagnostic Radiology. But we'll see, God is good

 

[Neopolymath]

~~250 definitely felt the effects of a really weak curve but result won't hold me back from any fields at all. Will probably do a write up on some of the lesser discussed aspects of doing well besides the obvious UFAP like mindset, navigating school etc.

Congrats to everyone and I hope you all realize that your score does not define you. If you did well, it doesn't mean **** 3rd year and you have everything to prove to be a real doctor. If you are disappointed, you have a path to redemption to show that you will be a valuable asset to any residency program you are interested in! Tonight, we celebrate, but tomorrow we move on to the reason we came to school in the first place. Relish the new challenge. Thanks for all the competition and support. You guys rock!

 

[You shall know the Truth]

231 , not happy with it as I want to do Diagnostic Radiology. But we'll see, God is good

God is good, indeed. Philippians 1:6

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

Just remember not to compare yourselves to others on this test that defines your score by comparing it to others.

 

[getfat]

219. Not great but was convinced i was not gonna pass at one point so ill take it

 

[TheVagüs]

258. Wanted that 260 haus energy BUT ALL MY DOORS ARE OPEN, BABY. GJ FAM WE DID IT.



Edit: I'll add that the reddit score predictor had me at a 258. for the record or whatever

 

[Gurby]

Zanki: 90% matured
Rx: ~300 questions done
Kaplan: ~500 questions done
UW 1st pass untimed/tutor mode: 85%

(all practice tests done <10 days out from test day)
UWSA1: 266
NBME 18: 259
UWSA2: 264
Free 120: 91%

Real deal: 256

A little bit bummed I didn't crack that arbitrary 260 mark... I'll get over it though. I think the fact that I took all my practice tests so close to the real test gave me inflated scores and too much hope, but I would do it that way again. Wish I had done less Zanki and more QBank during the year.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

231 , not happy with it as I want to do Diagnostic Radiology. But we'll see, God is good

You'll be just fine lol, the match rate for US Seniors for the last 6 years to Rads in that score bracket is 98%. For DOs it's 96%.

 

[medicineman1234]

Zanki: 90% matured
Rx: ~300 questions done
Kaplan: ~500 questions done
UW 1st pass untimed/tutor mode: 85%

(all practice tests done <10 days out from test day)
UWSA1: 266
NBME 18: 259
UWSA2: 264
Free 120: 91%

Real deal: 256

A little bit bummed I didn't crack that arbitrary 260 mark... I'll get over it though. I think the fact that I took all my practice tests so close to the real test gave me inflated scores and too much hope, but I would do it that way again. Wish I had done less Zanki and more QBank during the year.

Still a sick score I would kill to be 10 below haha. I was gonna ask since u said u went through each choice carding lots of things you didn't know even on questions u got right. Would you have done the same if you could go back in time? I'm struggling to finish uw like this lol I have 1k Q's left and only can dedicate like 5 hours a day max . Gonna take uwsa2 in two weeks and hoping I go up a few or at least stay the same

 

[Gurby]

Still a sick score I would kill to be 10 below haha. I was gonna ask since u said u went through each choice carding lots of things you didn't know even on questions u got right. Would you have done the same if you could go back in time? I'm struggling to finish uw like this lol I have 1k Q's left and only can dedicate like 5 hours a day max . Gonna take uwsa2 in two weeks and hoping I go up a few or at least stay the same

I guess it depends how much time you have... But yeah I feel like I learned a lot from doing that.

I think the biggest pitfall with pre-made decks, for me, is that you end up memorizing without learning. Making your own cards based on practice questions you got wrong kind of avoids that problem to some extent.

I think finishing UW should be a priority... but at the same time, it does you no good to just rush through it if you aren't retaining the information. You might need to make fewer cards if it's looking like you won't be able to get through it, IMO.

 

[medicineman1234]

I guess it depends how much time you have... But yeah I feel like I learned a lot from doing that.

I think the biggest pitfall with pre-made decks, for me, is that you end up memorizing without learning. Making your own cards based on practice questions you got wrong kind of avoids that problem to some extent.

I think finishing UW should be a priority... but at the same time, it does you no good to just rush through it if you aren't retaining the information. You might need to make fewer cards if it's looking like you won't be able to get through it, IMO.

I feel that. Seems like above 250 score predictors of nbme/uwsa can get wild up or downwards. I'm sure you didn't memorize anything without knowing it in and out. Congrats again and thx for the help

 

[deleted697308]

Mine is still not released lol another week I wait! i guess my permit disappearing was related to expiry date of june 30th ... lol

congrats everyonne!!!!

 

[Newyawk]

I guess it depends how much time you have... But yeah I feel like I learned a lot from doing that.

I think the biggest pitfall with pre-made decks, for me, is that you end up memorizing without learning. Making your own cards based on practice questions you got wrong kind of avoids that problem to some extent.

I think finishing UW should be a priority... but at the same time, it does you no good to just rush through it if you aren't retaining the information. You might need to make fewer cards if it's looking like you won't be able to get through it, IMO.

As much as ive been discouraging the use of anki over the years and favoring questions, its pretty crazy that youre telling people you didnt do it the right way when you scored a 256. I still believe questions is the way to go but...

 

[tf21594]

257. I'm a happy boy.

 

[Gurby]

As much as ive been discouraging the use of anki over the years and favoring questions, its pretty crazy that youre telling people you didnt do it the right way when you scored a 256. I still believe questions is the way to go but...

I do still think Zanki is a good foundation and I don't think my approach was "wrong".... just maybe could have been more optimized. During M2 pre-dedicated I spent 95% of my study time on zanki, and 5% on QBank. I think it would have been better to strike a 70/30 split, and prioritize finishing either Rx or Kaplan prior to dedicated rather than prioritizing getting through all of Zanki.

The grass is always greener though, I guess - using QBanks as a primary information source would be more time consuming than blasting through zanki cards. Maybe in practice it wouldn't work as well as it seems in my head.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Zanki: 90% matured
Rx: ~300 questions done
Kaplan: ~500 questions done
UW 1st pass untimed/tutor mode: 85%

(all practice tests done <10 days out from test day)
UWSA1: 266
NBME 18: 259
UWSA2: 264
Free 120: 91%

Real deal: 256

A little bit bummed I didn't crack that arbitrary 260 mark... I'll get over it though. I think the fact that I took all my practice tests so close to the real test gave me inflated scores and too much hope, but I would do it that way again. Wish I had done less Zanki and more QBank during the year.

From watching your posts I thought you’d crack 265 for sure.

Might seem silly, but I feel obligated to mention that the stuff from a couple pages back about the inner game of tennis was actually a game changer for me lol. My scores shot up when I started thinking about that.

So seriously, thank you!