Should we standardize clerkship grades?

I’ll be honest, when I first matriculated into medical school, I didn’t even know what a USMLE Step exam or clinical clerkship was. In fact, the first time I ever heard of them was from another applicant on the interview trail. I have always been a take-it-one-step-at-a-time type of person, but eventually, I would have to succumb to the pressure and ask upperclassmen about the exam. And what did they tell me? Almost unanimously, it was proclaimed to be the single most important exam of medical school, and that I should, “Do well on Step 1 so I don’t have to worry about third-year clerkship grades or Step 2 CK.” Many of my specialty advisors projected the same theme. But could it be that easy? Just work hard for the first two years of medical school, ace the USMLE Step 1 exam and then coast until graduation? It sounded too good to be true, and guess what, those sort of things always are. Inevitably, the impact of grade inflation would reach USMLE scores. Mean scores have significantly risen throughout the years, and will likely continue to do so. According to the AAMC results from first-year residents, the average Step 1 score in 2008 was 221, and just this past year in 2016 it was reported to be 231. Medical school curricula are consistently updated, more efficient study resources are produced, and students are getting smarter. As a result, the adage of getting a high score on Step 1 so you can coast through third year clerkships has begun to lose its validity. Why?...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Education Medical school Source Type: blogs