USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination)

USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination)

(Website: http://www.usmle.org/)

USMLE  Exam is also represented as Licensing exam conducted by US countries. The Basic reason for conducting this exam to check to find the ability of Students in the basic Science fundamental practice of medicine. This exam contains three steps and it was sponsored by FSMB and NBME (Federation of State Medical Boards and National Board of Medical Examiners). Step 1,Step 2 and Step 3. In first step1 and step 2 they are exam section after clearing these two steps, then only students able to enter into the Step 3 Level, final stage exam.

Step 1 exam is an eight hours examination conducting in a single day. It contains more than 300 multiple choice questions

How should I apply for USMLE Step 1 Exam?

Those who are now studying medicine or graduates of Medicine can apply for this exam USMLE step 1 with NBME. Outside of Canada and US countries (International Students) registered with (ECFMG) Education Council for Foreign Medical Graduates.  And the cost for this examination is around 600$USD.  Most of the students preferring this exam between second to third years finishing the Bachelor of Science Course and previous to Clinical Clerkship. The Syllabus for Step 1 Procedure has Anatomy, behavioral science, microbiology, pathology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiology. And other topics cover which include mechanism underlying health, disease, and the modes of therapy, genetics, aging, nutrition, immunology, molecular, cell biology, epidemiology and medical ethics. Most of the students prefer this exam after the two to three months of BS course because students still having the topics in their Mind. Don’t need to refresh.

Minimum Score to Pass the Step 1 Procedure:

The Minimum score to pass the step 1 procedure is upto 195-200 range level. And the Average score of previous year was 228 with the standard deviation is 21.

How could I get the results for Step 1?

Sep 1 result will be released on every Wednesday and the time duration taking for this exam is upto 3 to 4 weeks. The Option for getting the results through the mail id which one is you applied for the exam with (NBME or ECFMG). In that email your score will be available as the same way it can also posted in the Appropriate Website.

The Present minimum passing rate for USMLE Exams:

Step 1: 192

Step 2: 209

Step 3: 196

The Information about minimum current passing score is presented at http://www.usmle.org/transcripts/

And the information about passing rate is presented at http://www.usmle.org/performance-data/.

There is no option to write the step 1 exam again if students getting average mark and not satisfied further trying to get the Maximum score. If students willing to raise their score the answer is no, if students not clearing the Paper Step 1 First time means then having a choice to reappear again. Limitation of reappearing step 1 is three time per year. 

Step 2:

Step 2 Examination it contains two stages that is CK and CS Procedure. Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skill, it’s an one day exam. The Eligibility criteria for this exam is the students must clear the USMLE step 1 Level. Step 2 exam students can appear in fourth year.

For Step 2 Information : (http://www.usmle.org/pdfs /usmlecontentoutline.pdf)

Clinical Knowledge (CK)

It is nine hours test day and the passing rate for this exam is 203, the total question in this exam is 355 multiple choice test items. The Content area for this exam is Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Surgery and other areas relevant to provision of care under supervision. Mostly it describes clinical situations and require that you provide one or more of the followings such as an indication of underlying mechanism of disease, diagnosis, prognosis, and the further steps include medical care that including Preventive measures. Scoring for this exam is three digits.

Clinical Skill (CS)

Step 2 CS it is the second part of the examination, the basic reason for conducting this examination is the medical students who wish to do PG program in US Countries. The Step 2 CS exam is administered by CSEC at all six of its test centers in the United States. In Advance you need to register this exam is upto 12 months. Testing appointments will usually fill to take at least four months in advance. So every students must have a tough to register it before, every year MAY month itself, if they extended to August, you may be find that there is no available appointments for testing.

USMLE Step 2 CS is a Pass-Fail Examination. Students need to clear in three major subcomponent paper, that is Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Spoken English Proficiency and Integrated Clinical Encountered.

To check the Examination schedule or calendar updates, results and finally further updates students can check through Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (Website : https://secure2.ecfmg.org/emain.asp?app=csess).

Step 3:

Step 3 is the final assessment of the USMLE Procedure. It is also the one part of Licensing exam for the requirements of Doctor of Medicine (MD). Students must be pass this exam for PG program in Philippines. In Step 3  exam 75% consists of Multiple choice question and the remaining 25% contains clinical case simulations. This exam also Online process needs to register via State Licensing Board of Examination.

Eligibility

Step 3 Eligibility, students (physician) must pass step 1 and step 2 CK level procedure and needs to hold an MD or DO degree. For International medical students must attain certification by (ECFMG) Educational Commission of Foreign Medical Graduates.

Step 3 conducting by two days. And the score will be in an single digit weather pass or fail.

Day 1: In day 1, examination pattern is multiple choice questions. Day 1 deals with (FIP) Foundations of Independent Practice, here will focus on the application of knowledge in Medicine and Science and the Knowledge of Diagnosis and Management. Students will answer 256 one word type questions and its divided into 6 Blocks. For every Block time allotment is one hour.

Day2: Day 2 procedure deals with Advance Clinical Medicine (ACM), its basically focus on students knowledge in health and disease in the Patient Management and Manifesting of Disease. These day 2 procedure include both Multiple choice question and computer based question.

The Time duration for this exam is 9 hours and it contains 198 multiple choice question and its splited into same 6 Blocks. Each blocks carries 45 minutes time duration.

Similarly details we can go through out with this websites

ECGMG Website : http://www.ecfmg.org/

FSMB Website : https://www.fsmb.org/

NBME Website : http://www.nbme.org/

Have a question? Ask it below through comment. All the very best for your USMLE examination!!