Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

In the midst of a global health crisis, USMLE Step 1 needs to be made pass/fail now

Anna Delamerced
Conditions
March 31, 2020
27 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Every aspect of life has been affected by COVID-19, including medical education.

Since March 17, medical schools across the nation have suspended clinical rotations, per guidelines from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The target end date for this temporary pause was set originally to March 31.

The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) followed suit, declaring that Prometric testing centers were closing for at least 30 days starting March 18, with an anticipated re-opening from April 16 onwards.

Then on Sunday, March 29, President Trump declared an extension on social distancing guidelines to the end of April.

At this writing, AAMC and NBME have not issued updated guidelines in response to these new social distancing measures. But as medical students await for further instruction, we anticipate that Prometric centers will continue to be closed down beyond the original target date of April 16.

We know that the COVID crisis continues to escalate. Entire countries have been put on lockdown. Both patients and healthcare workers have died. These are unnerving times, and medical students are feeling the effects of the pandemic in more ways than one. They are worried not only about their education, but their health, finances, and their own families. On top of all this, the postponement of Step 1 has caused emotional distress for many medical students. Exam dates are in limbo, prone to change each week. This affects the start of third-year clinical rotations as well. Some schools mandate a passing grade of Step before entering rotations. It is not only second-year students who are studying for the exam, but third-years and those who took a gap year before fourth year. Students are not only thinking about this exam; they are worried about their families and loved ones, their communities, and cities.

Amidst these chaotic times, we advocate for making Step 1 pass/fail now amid COVID-19. On February 12, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) program had already issued new policies that changed the reporting of Step 1 from a three-digit number to pass/fail, but only two years from now starting in January 2022. Even if decisions are not released soon on whether further Prometric testing sites will close down, it would be reassuring for students if Step 1 was changed to pass/fail. Making it pass/fail would alleviate some stress during an already stressful time. Given the unprecedented effects of the pandemic, we plead to apply these changes now.

Administration and others may see the delay as extra time for studying, but studies have shown that the number of days dedicated for Step study do not have a correlation with scores. If anything, the delay has compounded additional dread on top of the already-stressful nature of the board exam. It is well-documented that the 3-digit score has played a significant part in students’ applications to residencies, often determining who may interview at a specific program or not.

We recognize that NBME has tried to assuage the negative ramifications of test cancellations by offering free practice exams beginning April 3. They have also waived fees for permit extensions. But as a classmate put it, why did it take a pandemic for NBME to offer free study materials? This organization already makes millions of dollars each year, profiting from medical students who are already mired in thousands of dollars of debt.

Many students who were in the midst of intense periods of Step study are now actually taking this time to fight COVID-19 outside the hospitals. Whether it’s providing childcare for physicians or virtual visits the elderly at assisted living facilities, whether it’s making phone calls for PPE donation campaigns or helping the local department of health gather epidemiological data, medical students from all class years have stepped up – including those who are still studying for Step.

Exam dates have been re-scheduled ever since the testing suspension from March 18-April 16; however, now that social distancing guidelines have extended, we know that exam dates are still truly up in the air. This kind of uncertainty and confusion compounds the stress that many of my peers are already facing from an exam as challenging as Step 1. I hear their worry and concerns; people I know have been studying for several weeks, some months, now, and they’re understandably frustrated. Burnout looms ahead. I write this advocating for the thousands of medical students who are in the throes of studying for this exam.

USMLE has already declared Step 1 to be pass/fail – and future medical students are grateful. But we hope these changes will apply to our current medical students now, many of whom are taking the time and stepping up to fight against the global health crisis.

Anna Delamerced is a medical student.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

I put my role of doctor above my role of mom

March 31, 2020 Kevin 3
…
Next

A resident physician’s reflections on COVID-19

March 31, 2020 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: COVID, Infectious Disease, Medical school

Post navigation

< Previous Post
I put my role of doctor above my role of mom
Next Post >
A resident physician’s reflections on COVID-19

More by Anna Delamerced

  • It’s time we stop saying “black cloud” and “black weekend”

    Anna Delamerced
  • Medical students in solidarity: Black Lives Matter

    Anna Delamerced
  • The power of poetry during a pandemic

    Anna Delamerced

Related Posts

  • USMLE Step 1 pass/fail winners and losers

    Aamir Hussain, MD
  • Should USMLE Step 1 be pass-fail?

    Ryan Okonski
  • Coronavirus takes a toll on IMGs: anxieties over USMLE Step 1 becoming pass/fail

    Karolina Woroniecka, MD, PhD
  • Transition recommendations for the reporting of USMLE Step 1 scores as pass/fail

    David F. Havlicek and Ian B. Winthrop
  • A step forward: a way to advance the mental health of health care professionals

    Mattie Renn, Thomas Pak, and Corey Feist, JD, MBA
  • Are negative news cycles and social media injurious to our health?

    Rabia Jalal, MD

More in Conditions

  • Misinformed claims and the offensiveness of discrediting COVID-19 vaccine development

    Angel Garcia Otano, MD
  • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

    Frank Chen, MD
  • Exploring disfigurement and self-worth

    Kathleen Watt
  • Are we doing enough to help chronic pain sufferers?

    Adam Strohl, MD
  • Lessons taught by Bell’s palsy

    Alexander Rakowsky, MD
  • Unthinkable choices in childbirth emergencies

    Kim M. Puterbaugh, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling excessive medical billing and greed

      Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH | Policy
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Dying is a selfish business

      Nancie Wiseman Attwater | Conditions
    • Navigating medical decision-making: Embracing limits and growth

      Benjamin Wade Frush, MD | Physician
    • Empathy and compassion in palliative care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Navigating the broken medical system: challenges faced by foreign medical graduates

      Anonymous | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • The essence of medicine: genuine connections in practice

      Jennifer Tillman, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Misinformed claims and the offensiveness of discrediting COVID-19 vaccine development

      Angel Garcia Otano, MD | Conditions
    • Bitcoin’s role in diversified portfolios [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • 1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • The pros and cons of whole life insurance for high-income earners

      Shane Tenny, CFP | Finance
    • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

      Frank Chen, MD | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Reduced Mortality Seen in Cancer Survivors Who Meet Exercise Guidelines
  • CDC Advisors Endorse Maternal RSV Vax to Protect Newborns
  • Amoxicillin Alone for Acute Sinusitis Holds Up Against Broad-Spectrum Cousin
  • Despite Taboo, Med Students, Doctors Use Substances Too
  • White House Opens Gun Violence Prevention Office

Meeting Coverage

  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • ERS Roundup: Cell Transplant Boosts Lung Function in COPD Patients
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling excessive medical billing and greed

      Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH | Policy
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Dying is a selfish business

      Nancie Wiseman Attwater | Conditions
    • Navigating medical decision-making: Embracing limits and growth

      Benjamin Wade Frush, MD | Physician
    • Empathy and compassion in palliative care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Navigating the broken medical system: challenges faced by foreign medical graduates

      Anonymous | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • The essence of medicine: genuine connections in practice

      Jennifer Tillman, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Misinformed claims and the offensiveness of discrediting COVID-19 vaccine development

      Angel Garcia Otano, MD | Conditions
    • Bitcoin’s role in diversified portfolios [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • 1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • The pros and cons of whole life insurance for high-income earners

      Shane Tenny, CFP | Finance
    • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

      Frank Chen, MD | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...