In addition, test takers will “treat” nine “patients” by real time computer simulation, with 25 minutes allotted for each simulation. Day will have 4 blocks of 36 multiple choice questions, with each one allotted 45 minutes. On the first day of the exam, there will be 336 multiple choice questions, divided into seven blocks of 48 questions, with an hour allotted for completion of each block. This exam can only be taken after a candidate has passed Step 1 and Step 2, and awarded an MD upon graduation from medical school. Step 3 is a two day exam that measures a candidate’s ability to apply their medical knowledge and skills on their own, without supervision. NBME Practice tests (optional): I only took one NBME practice test at the beginning of my studying so that I could get a sense of what my baseline score was. Step 2-CS is only given in five cities (Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and Los Angeles) and is usually taken during the fourth year of med school. For each patient, the test taker will have 15 minutes to take a history and give a medical exam, and 10 minutes to write up possible diagnoses, recommended tests, and other information. During this exam, the candidate will exam a dozen “patients” (actors posing as medical patients following a script). The other exam is known as Step 2-CS, and it also is a daylong affair. There are eight sections on the CK exam, and each one has 44 multiple choice questions, and it takes around nine hours to complete the entire test. The first is known as Step 2-CK, and assesses a candidate’s knowledge in such areas as surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, etc. It is actually two separate tests, given over two days. Step 2, however, is designed to determine how well they can actually apply their skills and knowledge in actually caring for patients, under the supervision of a licensed doctor. Proven USMLE test flashcards raise your score on the USMLE test. Step 1 is designed to measure a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of medical topics and practices. There are 280 multiple choice questions, divided into seven blocks, and the test will take around eight hours to complete. The exam covers anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, behavioral sciences, and several other lesser topics. The more elite residency programs will naturally favor students with higher Step 1 scores indeed, it’s widely believed that the score is the single biggest factor residency program directors consider when making their decisions. When it comes time to apply for a hospital residency after graduating from medical school, students will find that their score will be a big factor in determining where they wind up. The score from Step 1 is not only for licensing purposes, however. A passing score is currently 188, while the average score is currently 225. In most cases, a candidate will take the Step 1 after finishing the second year of medical school. Step 1 is commonly regarded as being the most difficult of the three tests. Prepare with our USMLE Study Guide and Practice Questions.

Step 1 simulation exam