COMLEX and USMLE

Class of 2009

Agenda

• Accreditation

• Registration

• Performance Statistics

• Preparation

• Resources

• Exam Administration

• Score Reports

Accreditation

AOA Accreditation Requirements

• Class of 2008 and ALL SUBSEQUENT Classes (2009, 2010,....)  MUST TAKE AND PASS COMLEX-USA I & II licensing examinations to graduate. 

Registration

2-Step Process

1. NBOME for authorization and payment

2. Prometric for test administration

COMLEX Registration

• nbome.org– Bulletin of Information

• $465

• Forms on line

• Contact by March

• For May or June test date

Quarter 8 Deadline

• “I want to STRONGLY EMPHASIZE that your compliance will be expected. Failure to follow the policy guidelines at this time could result in adverse effects of your academic progress.”

(Steve Laird, 1/19/07)

Prometric

• Must register and pay with NBOME first

• Still need test site

• Thomson-Prometric– prometric.com

• 8 sites in Missouri alone

USMLE Registration

• On your own

• May keep some allopathic options open

• Scores about 10% lower than COMLEX

• 60 students per year report results

• 0 – 2 students have results mailed per year

• Some have taken it in advance as practice

Best Advice

• Take all the licensing exams you can find and pass them. (Phil Slocum)

Alternative Advice

• Find all the licensing exams you can pass and take them. (Tim Tucker)

Statistics

COMLEX and USMLE Level I Board Performance, Past 5 Years

Performance KCOM % Total Mean KCOM Mean KCOM %

Range USMLE COMLEX COMLEX COMLEX

High 78 510 527 98.0

Low 73 499 516 94.2

COMLEX Scores

• Standard Scores (3-digit).  The standard scores are reported on a scale with a mean of 500 and a standard deviation of 100.  The minimal passing score for Part I is 400. 

• Scaled Scores (2-digit).  Scaled scores are reported on a scale with a mean of 80.  The minimal passing score for Part I is 75.

USMLE Scores

• Standard Scores (3-digit).  The minimal passing score for Part is 182. 

• Scaled Scores (2-digit). The minimal passing score for Part I is 75

Preparation

General Guidelines

• Attend lectures

• Note relative weaknesses on Diagnostic

• Review 1 – 2 hours per week until finals

• Q-bank runs 90 days starting in March

Significant COMLEX Dates

• Diagnostic December 5, 2006

• Review manuals December 12, 2006

• Review lectures January – April, 2007

• Mock Final May 2, 2007

• Finals week May 14 – 18, 2007

• Boards by June 14, 2007

USMLE Shelf Exam

• March 27, 2007

• 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM

• Required

• Retired questions, integrated

• Results are always low (35% is fine)

Suggestions: Anatomy

• Know Uray’s innervations

Suggestions:OTM

• The “Ten-Page” packet and review • Ask Dr. Lockwood if he will be

giving a “fast paced, high intensity OMM board review” in April or May

• The “little red book”

Suggestions:Principles of Medicine

• Direct relevance to boards

• Tests were good preparation for COMLEX (Buckler)

• Attend specialists lectures

Suggestions:Pediatrics

• The “drugs and bugs” review was helpful for both boards (calculation of volumes, etc. was not on COMLEX but did appear on the USMLE)

Suggestions:Pathology

• Physiology integrated pathology– Endocrine– Lung capacity– Alcohol, Biochemistry and Drugs

• Evan’s case studies helpful

• Quizzes beyond “board difficulty”

Resources

NBOME Resources

• COMLEX-USA Level 1, 2 and 3 Practice Items are available for purchase for $8.00 per booklet. Please send a written request form along with your check for the booklet.

On-line Resources*

• Portal, GI and Path, Year 1

• Kaplan Screen, Pharm Deck downloads

*Other than Kaplan Q-Bank and streaming audio

Text Resources

• First-Aid (USMLE)

• Step Up (USMLE), more abstract

• The “little path book,” (Schneider, Board Review Series)

• Buy the Robbins Path textbook

Personal Resources

• Study Aids

• Summaries (combine them)

• Concept maps

• Examination study groups

Exam Administration

Time Schedule

• Sign-in ≤ 30 minutes

• Seating assigned

• Book 1 4 hours*

• Lunch 40 minutes+

• Book 2 4 hours*

• * 10 minute optional break, counts v. time

• + Lunch is optional, does not count v. time

What to bring

1. ID

2. Purses, lockers at some sites

What NOT To Bring

1. No Electronic Devices

2. No backpacks

3. No food, drink, or tobacco

What’s in Your Purse?

1. Prepare for endurance

2. Water bottles

3. Energy bars (avoid refined sugars)

4. Protein

5. Caffeine is a fickle friend

6. Manage medications

Cheating

1. Do not speak to one another while the examination is in progress.

2. Unethical conduct will be documented and reported to the NBOME.

Score Reports

Scores

• Scores will be posted electronically 4 – 6 weeks after the exam (the day you leave town).

• Paper results with limited analysis will be mailed shortly thereafter.

• NO SCORES WILL BE REPORTED BY E-Mail, TELEPHONE OR FAX.

COMLEX Change of Address

• Candidates who wish to change their address must notify the NBOME office in writing before results are mailed.

• Any change of address may not be recorded until two weeks after receipt.