USMLE Step 1

The United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1

USMLE STEP 1 FORMAT AND INFORMATION

USMLE Step 1, The United States Medical Licensing Examination, assesses the basic sciences. The USMLE Step 1 is an examination of applying the basic medical sciences to medicine and understanding the interplay of the many different medical science disciplines to medicine. The following topics are the main subjects of the USMLE Step 1.

USMLE STEP 1 BLOCKS

Anatomy, Behavioural Sciences, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Physiology.

The USMLE Step 1 is an eight-hour computer-based examination. There are 336 questions, in multiple-choice form subdivided into 48 questions, for a total of seven blocks. You are allocated 1 hour per block and 1 hour for break. You can use 15 minutes of your 1 hour break, prior to the examination to learn how to use the computer program for completing the examination.

USMLE STEP 1 DIFFICULTY

The most difficult section is usually pharmacology, as many medical students do not get much training within this interesting subject. Overall, the USMLE Step 1 is the most difficult of the 3 examinations.

USMLE STEP 1 SCORING

Your score will be reported as 3 digits. The passing score is around 182, with average scores at 215. Maximum score is 300.

When to take the USMLE Step 1?

The best time to take the USMLE Step 1 is immediately after completing the pre-clerkship years of medicine. These are the first two years of medical school in the majority of medical school programs. It is best written after these years, when the subjects are fresh in your mind, as the clerkship years are very difficult and time consuming. Moreover, the USMLE Step 1 is required for application to residency programs in the United States, and is of crucial importance in the application process.