Abstract
Objectives: Many medical students take commercial preparation courses to prepare for the USMLE Step 1. This investigation examined the relationships among Step 1 performance, preparation method, and academic achievement in medical school.
Method: A survey was conducted on 148 junior students at a medical school in July 2000 regarding their preparation methods for Step 1. Additional data was collected on student Step 1 scores, attendance record on preparation courses, and course grades in medical school.
Results: One hundred students (68%) responded to the survey including 32 preparation course participants. Course participants had significantly lower Step 1 scores and second-year GPAs than those of the non-participants (p < 0.05). However, the effect of preparation method was not significant by using ANCOVA when the second-year GPA was used as a covariate (p = 0.71).
Conclusion: Performance on Step 1 is related to academic performance in medical school and not the type of preparation methods.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barzansky, B., Jonas, H. & Etzel, S. (1997). Educational programs in US medical schools, 1996–1997. Journal of American Medical Association 278: 744–749.
Bowles, L.T., Melnick, D.E., Nungester, R.J., Golden, G.G., Swanson, D.B., Case S.M., Dillon G.F., Henzel T.R., Orr, N.A. & Thadani, R.A. (2000). Review of the score-reporting policy for the United States Medical Licensing Examination. Academic Medicine 75(5): 426–431.
Lewis, L.A. & Kuske, T.T. (1978). Commercial National Board Review Programs: a case study at the Medical College of Georgia. Journal of American Medical Association 240: 754–755.
Scott, L.K., Scott, C.W., Palmisano, P.A., Cunningham, R.D., Nass, J.C. & Brown, S. (1980). The effects of commercial coaching for the NBME Part I examination. Journal of Medical Education 55: 733–742.
Swanson, D., Ripkey, D., Case, S. & the Validity Study Group for USMLE Step 1/2 Pass/Fail Standards (1996). Relationship between achievement in basic science coursework and performance on 1994 USMLE Step One test administrations. Academic Medicine 71(10 Supplement): S28-S30.
Thadani, R.A., Swanson, D.B. & Galbrath, R.M. (2000). A preliminary analysis of different approaches to preparing for the USMLE Step 1. Academic Medicine 75(10 Supplement): S40-S42.
United States Medical Licensing Examination (2001). 2001 Step One Content Description and Sample Test Materials.
Way, D.P., Biagi, B., Clausen, K. & Hudson, A. (1999). The effects of basic science pathway on USMLE Step 1 scores. Academic Medicine 74(10 Supplement): S7-S9.
Werner, L.S. & Bull B.S. (2003). The effects of three commercial coaching courses on Step One USMLE performance. Medical Education 37: 527–531.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, C., Rauchwarger, A., Toth, C. et al. Student USMLE Step 1 preparation and performance. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract 9, 291–297 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-005-3925-5
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-005-3925-5