Relationship between performance on the NBME Comprehensive Basic Sciences Self-Assessment and USMLE Step 1 for U.S. and Canadian medical school students.
BACKGROUND
This study examined the relationship between performance on the National Board of Medical Examiners Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) and performance on United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1.


METHODS
The study included 12,224 U.S. and Canadian medical school students who took CBSSA prior to their first Step 1 attempt. Linear and logistic regression analyses investigated the relationship between CBSSA performance and performance on Step 1, and how that relationship was related to interval between exams.


RESULTS
CBSSA scores explained 67% of the variation in first Step 1 scores as the sole predictor variable and 69% of the variation when time between CBSSA attempt and first Step 1 attempt was also included as a predictor. Logistic regression results showed that examinees with low scores on CBSSA were at higher risk of failing their first Step 1 attempt.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that CBSSA can provide students with a realistic self-assessment of their readiness to take Step 1.
Morrison
Carol A
CA
cmorrison@nbme.org
Ross
Linette P
LP
Fogle
Thomas
T
Butler
Aggie
A
Miller
Judith
J
Dillon
Gerard F
GF
D002170:Canada; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012586:Science / Q000193:education*; D012655:Self-Evaluation Programs; D014481:United States