The USMLE Step 1 exam is a pass/fail exam, and examinees are no longer given a numeric score or percentile ranking. Instead, the performance of each examinee is compared to that of all other examinees who took the exam at the same testing session. Examinees who perform at or above the mean performance of all examinees are considered to have passed the exam. Examinees who perform below the mean are considered to have failed the exam.
USMLE used to provide a “three-digit score” for Step 1, but no longer does as of January 2022. Now Step 2 Clinical Knowledge is scored as a three-digit score. The three-digit score is intended to give examinees, medical schools, and other interested parties a general sense of an examinee’s performance on the exam. The three-digit score is based on the number of questions an examinee answered correctly, but it is not directly proportional to the number of correct answers. The USMLE program does not release specific information about how the three-digit scores are calculated.
| Specialty | Average Step 2 Score (Matched) |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | 246 |
| Child Neurology | 246 |
| Dermatology | 256 |
| Diagnostic Radiology | 249 |
| Emergency Medicine | 247 |
| Family Medicine | 238 |
| General Surgery | 249 |
| Internal Medicine | 248 |
| Internal Medicine/Pediatrics | 250 |
| Interventional Radiology | 255 |
| Neurological Surgery | 252 |
| Neurology | 245 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | 248 |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | 255 |
| Otolaryngology | 256 |
| Pathology | 242 |
| Pediatrics | 245 |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | 241 |
| Plastic Surgery | 256 |
| Psychiatry | 241 |
| Radiation Oncology | 250 |
| Vascular Surgery | 247 |
Competition for medical residency positions can vary depending on a number of factors, including the number of applicants, the number of positions available, and the specific requirements and preferences of individual programs. Some specialties are generally considered to be more competitive than others, but it is important to note that the level of competition can vary from year to year and from one geographic region to another.
According to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), which matches medical students with residency positions, the specialties that have historically been the most competitive for matching into a first-year (PGY-1) position in the U.S. include:
Some medical students may be able to complete their preparation for Step 2 in a few weeks, while others may need several months or more.
It is generally recommended that medical students begin studying for Step 2 as soon as possible after completing their clinical rotations. This will allow you to review the material while it is still fresh in your mind and give you plenty of time to cover all the necessary content. You should also consider setting aside dedicated study time each day or week to ensure that you are making progress and staying on track.
In general, it is a good idea to aim for at least 8-12 weeks of dedicated study time for Step 2. This will give you sufficient time to review the material, practice questions, and become familiar with the test format. However, the actual amount of time you will need to devote to studying will depend on your individual needs and circumstances.
Here is a sample 7-day schedule for studying for the USMLE Step 2 exam:
This is just one example of a one-week study schedule for the USMLE Step 2 exam, and you may need to adjust it based on your own needs and circumstances. It is also a good idea to schedule regular breaks to rest and recharge, as well as to review the material you have studied to ensure that you are retaining the information.