General Common Questions
In this section
When will the policy change of reporting Step 1 as pass/fail only occur?
January 26, 2022 is the effective date of the change. All Step 1 exams taken on or before January 25, 2022 will receive a numeric score and pass/fail outcome. All Step 1 exams taken on or after January 26, 2022 will receive a pass/fail outcome only.
What information will appear on USMLE transcripts after the transition to Step 1 pass/fail?
All USMLE transcripts, including those submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®), will include the same information. A Step 1 exam taken on or after January 26, 2022 will appear on transcripts as a pass/fail outcome only, without a numeric score. A Step 1 exam taken on or before January 25, 2022 will appear on transcripts as a numeric score and a pass/fail.
I am taking Step 1 before January 26, 2022. What information will appear on my paper and/or ERAS transcripts after the transition to Step 1 pass/fail score reporting?
All scores for Step 1 exams taken on or before January 25, 2022 will continue to be reported as a numeric score and pass/fail outcome on all USMLE transcripts. If a Step 1 exam on a transcript was taken on or after January 26, 2022, only a pass/fail outcome will be reported.
What information will appear on USMLE transcripts after the transition to Step 1 pass/fail?
All USMLE transcripts, including those submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®), will include the same information. A Step 1 exam taken on or after January 26, 2022 will appear on transcripts as a pass/fail outcome only, without a numeric score. A Step 1 exam taken on or before January 25, 2022 will appear on transcripts as a numeric score and a pass/fail.
If I received a 3-digit score on my Step 1 examination, will my 3-digit score be visible on paper and ERAS transcripts after Step 1 outcomes are reported as pass/fail?
All scores for Step 1 exams taken prior to the date of the policy change will continue to be reported using the three-digit numeric score on all USMLE transcripts.
How can I compete with others who have a numeric score when I have pass/fail?
The primary purpose of USMLE is for licensure. The USMLE co-sponsors recognize that there are other uses for USMLE, such as residency selection, but an ideal system for evaluating candidates should be holistic. This system should feature various assessments of a candidate’s competencies and unique characteristics. In such a system, USMLE would serve as one objective measure and be weighted appropriately.
When should I schedule my exam if I want a numeric score and pass/fail outcome or if I want a pass/fail outcome only?
Carefully review the options available to you—whether a numeric and pass/fail outcome or pass/fail only score is preferred. After you are confident in your selection, book your appointment through Prometric as early as possible in your eligibility period. If you want a numeric score and pass/fail outcome for your Step 1 exam, take the exam on or before January 25, 2022. If you want a pass/fail only outcome for your Step 1 exam, take the exam on or after January 26 ,2022.
What new content appeared on Step 1 exams administered after the exam was updated in October 2020?
A fee may be charged if you change your appointment, depending on how much notice you provide.
What kinds of pharmacology items are on the Step 1 exam following the October 2020 updates?
Step 1 pharmacology items continue to focus on examinees’ understanding of drug mechanisms rather than on pharmacotherapy. Step 1 examinees are not required to identify specific medications; Step 2 CK examinees, however, are asked to do this. See example Step 1 pharmacology item.
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