The Effect of Numeric Versus Pass/Fail USMLE Step 1 Scores in the Integrated Plastic Surgery 2023-2024 Match Cycle: A Single Institution Study
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: • About 58.9% of applicants reported ‘Pass’ Step 1 scores in the 2023-2024 Integrated Plastic Surgery Match Cycle. • Applicants who reported a ‘Pass’ score were more frequently placed into the middle tier, while those with a numeric score were more frequently placed into the high or low tier. • There was a significant difference between tiers in regards to medical School reputation, re-applicant status, Alpha-Omega-Alpha status, Step 1 and Step 2 score, and research productivity. • Step 1 score was the only independent predictor associated with high vs middle tier placement, with Step 1 score and new applicant status being the only 2 predictors for high vs low tier placement. • Comparing applicants with numeric Step 1 scores to those with Pass/Fail scores can have a significant impact on the ranking of those applicants, and should be carefully considered during future application cycles. The USMLE Step 1 exam, an important metric in the integrated plastic surgery match, transitioned to pass/fail scoring in January 2022. No previous studies have investigated the impact of this new scoring system on the process of ranking applicants in the integrated plastic surgery match. 330 Plastic Surgery Common Applications (PSCAs) were submitted to a single academic center in the 2023-2024 match cycle. Applicants were sorted into tiers via a holistic review process, and quantifiable data, including USMLE Step 1 scores, were then compared between tiers. Our Institution's Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program. Integrated Plastic Surgery applicants in the 2023-2024 match cycle. 317 of 330 PSCAs were analyzed in this study, excluding applicants who did an elective rotation at our institution. Applicants were sorted into 3 tiers: high (n = 100), middle (n = 118) and low (n = 99), with a significant difference in match rate per tier, respectively (88.0%, 58.5%, 30.3%, p < 0.0001). The majority of USMLE Step 1 scores were reported as pass/fail (186/317, 58.7%). There was a significant difference (p < 0.0001) between the average USMLE Step 1 score between the high (mean 250.5, SD 10.4), middle (mean 241, SD 14.6), and low tiers (mean 235.5, SD 16.5). More applicants in the low tier (50%) and high tier (40%) reported numeric USMLE Step 1 scores than those in the middle tier (35%, p = 0.0734). Stepwise logistic regression revealed USMLE Step 1 score to be an independent predictor of tier placement between the high and middle tier (p = 0.0030) and high and low tier (p = 0.0001). Lastly, 3 applicants reported their USMLE Step 1 score as ‘pass’ instead of their given numeric score. Comparing applicants with numeric USMLE Step 1 scores to those with pass/fail scores can have a significant impact on the ranking of those applicants and should be carefully considered during the plastic surgery match process.
Source: Journal of surgical education
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,040
OpenAlex ID: W4402620157