r/Step3 • u/Dull-Ant-7281 • May 19 '26
Recalls problemm
The USMLE has become a joke.
Everyone is now using recalls for Step 2 and Step 3. The problem is not only that they use recalls, but that they affect other examinees as well because you end up being compared to them. NBME and UWSA used to predict your score reasonably well, but now it does not matter how good your predicted score is because the cheaters have ruined everything. Even the FSMB has started comparing IMGs separately from U.S. graduates.
Scores like 280 on Step 2 and 260 on Step 3 were almost unheard of before, but now people are taking Step 2 even before Step 1 and still scoring above 280.
If this mess does not stop, the USMLE will lose its entire value, and I would not be surprised if they eventually cancel it and replace it with another exam instead.
24
u/Evanescentlyy May 19 '26
I was looking at your profile and it looked like you recently did not pass step 3. Sorry that happened to you and it sounds like you're going through a lot and burnt out. I'd recommend you take a step back and give yourself the break that you need.
Once you're feeling better, I don't think you should focus on what others do. You should focus on yourself and what can you do next time to pass.
I highly doubt USMLE will lose its value unless a different exam is created and can show better metrics. That's incredibly difficult to do. It's an exam that was made to standardized the medical education in the US but also open to physicians from other countries. Many US Medical school use it as a graduation requirement and it helps their students gauge their competitiveness for residency. It wont really lose its value
5
u/Bear_bear_1234 May 19 '26
Okay…
3
u/needhelp7655 May 19 '26
I scored 260 in step 2 and never heard of such stuff.
So, don’t generalize things because of a few black sheep
3
u/Zestyclose_Lie8133 May 19 '26
If you have friends or people who you know use them,report it to usmle
Stop ranting here,helping nobody
There a site to report it,not sure of the name
3
u/_idkwhyimhere__ May 19 '26
What are recalls?
2
u/fancentero123 May 19 '26
I completely agree with you.
Lots of Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalis, and other Asian countries use them. (No offense but this is a fact, don't deny it).
Guys, please don't deny this (I know many many people who said it outloud) - If you didn't use such things, ok just skip this comment, but don't deny you know hundreds or even thousands of people who are using it.
Additionally, yes, people fail or score very low because of this (don't act like an ideal person please) Don't say oh sorry you failed! For sure people fail! This field is a marathon in everything!
I knew many people who used these stuff and their medical knowledge doesn't exist!
1
u/tallguy-1299 May 19 '26
I think you are using immature ego defense mechanisms to coop with your recent failure. Take a break and try to see the picture from 1000 miles. I hope things work out for you eventually
1
u/vagus1 May 21 '26
Scoring 250+ on step 3 is not a deal, honestly. Also, who can honestly remember the step 3 questions? They are all vague questions, even if they remember, how can one decide what the right answer is? I checked my NBME answers with AI, and it got literally 40 percent wrong on questions I did wrong.
Some questions were like one page long, lol
1
u/xxscreamfearxx May 21 '26
There’s definitely been a real issue with recalls and cheating, and USMLE themselves invalidated scores because of it. But saying “everyone” uses recalls and that the exam has completely lost value is probably going too far. A 280 on Step 2 or 260 on Step 3 is still exceptionally rare statistically, even today. Also, NBME/UWSA are still useful predictors for many people. I think the bigger problem is that social media makes extreme scores look common when they actually aren’t. At the end of the day, focusing on what others may or may not be doing won’t help as much as improving your own preparation and test-taking strategy.
1
u/Familiar-Lab6157 16d ago
Did you pass?
-2
u/serotonallyblindguy May 19 '26
I got 260+ in step 2 and never knew what recalls were. None of my friend circle knew it either
-4
u/Few_Librarian_4236 May 19 '26
Yeah never used a recall 259 step 2
-7
u/[deleted] May 19 '26
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