COMLEX and USMLE

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COMLEX and USMLE

• Class of 2009

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Agenda

• Accreditation
• Registration
• Performance Statistics
• Preparation
• Resources
• Exam Administration
• Score Reports

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Accreditation
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AOA Accreditation Requirements

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

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Registration
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2-Step Process

1. NBOME for authorization and payment
2. Prometric for test administration

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COMLEX Registration

• nbome.org
• Bulletin of Information
• 465
• Forms on line
• Contact by March
• For May or June test date

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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)

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Prometric

• Must register and pay with NBOME first
• Still need test site
• Thomson-Prometric
• prometric.com
• 8 sites in Missouri alone

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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

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Best Advice

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

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Alternative Advice

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

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Statistics
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COMLEX and USMLE Level I Board Performance, Past
5 Years
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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.

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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

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Preparation
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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

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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

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USMLE Shelf Exam

• March 27, 2007
• 100 PM 530 PM
• Required
• Retired questions, integrated
• Results are always low (35 is fine)

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Suggestions Anatomy

• Know Urays innervations

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SuggestionsOTM

• 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

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SuggestionsPrinciples of Medicine

• Direct relevance to boards
• Tests were good preparation for COMLEX (Buckler)
• Attend specialists lectures

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SuggestionsPediatrics

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

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SuggestionsPathology

• Physiology integrated pathology
• Endocrine
• Lung capacity
• Alcohol, Biochemistry and Drugs
• Evans case studies helpful
• Quizzes beyond board difficulty

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Resources
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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.

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On-line Resources

• Portal, GI and Path, Year 1
• Kaplan Screen, Pharm Deck downloads
• Other than Kaplan Q-Bank and streaming audio

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Text Resources

• First-Aid (USMLE)
• Step Up (USMLE), more abstract
• The little path book, (Schneider, Board Review
  Series)
• Buy the Robbins Path textbook

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Personal Resources

• Study Aids
• Summaries (combine them)
• Concept maps
• Examination study groups

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Exam Administration
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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

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What to bring

• ID
• Purses, lockers at some sites

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What NOT To Bring

1. No Electronic Devices
2. No backpacks
3. No food, drink, or tobacco

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Whats 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

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Cheating

• Do not speak to one another while the examination
  is in progress.
• Unethical conduct will be documented and reported
  to the NBOME.

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Score Reports
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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.

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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.