Investigating the Utility of a Clinical Science Composite Score to Predict United States Medical Licensing Examination Performance

• In Event: 34.049 - Selection and Prediction

Abstract

This research investigates whether composite scores based on National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) clinical science subject examinations are useful for predicting performance on United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) Steps 2 CK and 3. A composite score based on five examinations (medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, psychiatry) is the best predictor of Step 2 CK and Step 3 performance, but composite scores based on three and four examinations provide almost as good prediction. The composite score enters the equation before Step 1, but including Step 1 in the equation results in a statistically significant increase in R2. Logistic regression analyses found that higher composite scores were associated with a greater probability of passing Steps 2 CK and 3.

Authors

• Carol A. Morrison, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Michael Barone, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Gregory Baker, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Laurel Anne Smith, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Linette P. Ross, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Seohong Pak, National Board of Medical Examiners