Is 70% on free 120 good?

Yes, 70% on the USMLE Free 120 is generally considered a very good, safe score, often indicating you're well-prepared to pass the actual exam, though some sources suggest even higher scores (75-80%+) for competitive scores or to account for real-exam anxiety and question styles. While scores in the mid-60s might also be passing, 70% and above provides a strong buffer against stress and small mistakes on exam day, with many test-takers reporting success with scores around this mark.

What is a good free 120 score?

It seems the typical score to pass requires at least 60% of the questions answered correctly. Anecdotally, I can say that if a student gets a 70% or higher on the NBME Free 120 Step 1, they generally pass Step 1. That's from a small sample size of about 25-30 students/friends.

Is 70 percent good on a test?

Short answer: Yes -- 70--79% is generally a good mark, but its interpretation depends on context (grading scale, course difficulty, institution, and goals). Consistently above average: most grading schemes treat 70--79% as solidly above the median (often a low B or high C depending on the system).

What is a good score on free 120 step 1 reddit?

A 74 on free 120 is really good. I had a 70 on my free 120 and passed. You got this.

Is 60% enough to pass step 1?

Yes, around 60% correct is generally considered the approximate pass mark for USMLE Step 1, though the exact percentage varies with each exam form, and the score is reported as Pass/Fail, not a number, so consistently scoring higher (like 65-70%) on practice exams (NBMEs) is recommended for a comfortable pass. The official passing score (around 196 before 2022, now just "Pass") isn't a fixed number of questions, as some are experimental, but aiming for about 60% on practice tests is a good benchmark, with 70%+ being a safer target for a strong pass. 

"What is safe % on NBMEs / Free 120 to pass USMLE?"

What is a 75% on Step 1?

A 75% on USMLE Step 1 usually refers to a high performance level, often meaning you scored better than 75% of other test-takers (75th percentile) or got around 75% of questions correct on practice exams, indicating a very high chance of passing, as a ~65% correct on NBMEs often predicts passing. While Step 1 is now pass/fail, historically, a score in the 75th percentile (around 240-250+ on the old scale) was considered strong for residency applications, and 70-75% on practice NBMEs suggests near-certain success on the actual exam.
 

Is the free 120 curved?

Just took the new free 120 and the questions were very straightforward, high-yield for the most part, without any of the curveballs I've seen in UWORLD and the niche details of NBMEs.

Is free 120 harder than NBME reddit?

I finally sat down and did the updated free 120 and it honestly felt tougher than most of my recent nbmes. the stems were longer, the answer choices felt closer together, and there were a few questions where i had no idea what they were even trying to test until i looked at explanations afterward.

What is a 90% chance of passing Step 1?

A 90% chance of passing USMLE Step 1, often from an NBME practice test, means that for every 100 people with that score, 90 pass, but 10 still fail, so it's a strong indicator but not a guarantee, highlighting the need to focus on weak areas identified in the report, especially for Step 1's new pass/fail format where recent pass rates hover around 90-92%.
 

Is a 70% a 2.0 GPA?

Yes, in the common U.S. system, a 70-79% is typically a 'C' grade, which converts to a 2.0 on the 4.0 GPA scale, though exact ranges can vary slightly by institution, with some placing 70-72% as a C- (1.7) and 73-76% as a C (2.0).
 

Is a 3.0 GPA all a's?

No, a 3.0 GPA is typically a straight "B" average, not all "A's," because an "A" is usually 4.0 points and a "B" is 3.0 on a standard 4.0 scale; you'd need consistent A's (4.0s) across your classes, with potentially a few B's to average out to a 3.0 if you also had some A- or B+ grades.
 

Is 70% C or D?

A 70% is usually a C- (C minus) in many US grading systems, falling at the low end of the C range (70-72%), but it can sometimes be a low C, a high D+, or even a passing grade depending on the specific school's or instructor's scale, which often varies slightly. 

What is the lowest score on Step 1?

The minimum passing score for Step 1 is 196. However, your exact numerical score for this exam will not be included in your score report.

What score is 75% correct on step 2?

Getting 75% correct on Step 2, especially on practice tests like NBMEs or UWorld, usually translates to a strong score in the mid-to-high 240s or even into the mid-250s, placing you well above average and competitive for many specialties, though top-tier competitive fields might require even higher scores (around 255-270+). A 75th percentile score means you scored better than 75% of test-takers, indicating solid performance and often helping balance a weaker Step 1 or improving residency options. 

What is the hardest Step 1 in NBME?

While it varies, NBME 30, 32, and older forms like 28 are frequently cited as the hardest Step 1 NBMEs due to challenging questions, longer stems, increased detail (especially anatomy), and demanding integration of concepts, often feeling longer or more difficult to finish on time, with NBME 30 especially noted for difficulty in converting to Step 1 scores. 

Does NBME free 120 have explanations?

Although the NBME provides an answer key to the 'Free 120' questions, there are no answer explanations. Fortunately, there are people who provide explanations for these questions that are freely accessible to all students. The most notable of these is Dr. Ben White, a practicing neuroradiologist.

Which NBMEs are most important?

For Step 1, the most important NBMEs are the newer forms (28, 29, 30, 31), especially NBME 30, considered highly predictive, alongside the UWorld Self-Assessments (UWSAs), with UWSA 2 being strongly correlated with the actual score. For Step 2 CK, the newest NBME forms (9-11) and the CMS Forms (Clinical Mastery Series) are crucial for assessing specific clinical areas and predicting performance. 

What is 70% of 120 questions?

70% of 120 is calculated by converting 70% to a decimal and then multiplying it by 120, which equals 84. This is achieved by using the formula 0.7×120.

When did the new free 120 come out?

The NBME updated the Free 120 Step 1 questions in February 2024. Below are explanations for every question in Blocks 1-3. If you're studying for USMLE Step 1, check out Med School Bootcamp.

Is free 120 representative reddit?

Free120 a bit different and a better representative of the exam, though not an exact one. Also, the NBMEs aren't out to get you and make you anxious, they are meant to be a reliable indicator of your exam readiness. If you are doing good on them, have hope.

What is a good free120 score?

The Magic Number: Two-Thirds

It's important to note that this figure is a generalized estimate. Depending on which NBME form or the Free 120 exam you are taking, scoring can fluctuate slightly. However, shooting for this 66-67% mark is considered a "safe zone" for passing.

What is the 7 year rule for USMLE?

The USMLE 7-year rule, primarily for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking ECFMG Certification, mandates completing all required USMLE Steps (1, 2 CK/CS, and eventually 3) within seven years of passing the first exam; failure to do so invalidates earlier scores, requiring retakes, though waivers or extensions may be granted for documented issues like PhD programs, severe illness, or certain military service. Most U.S. medical licensing boards also enforce this timeframe for state licensure, starting from the first successful Step pass. 

Is there a 2025 free 120?

You can download the Free 120 STEP 1 Sample Test Questions on the USMLE website here. The order of answers and explanations here is based on the online NBME platform (not the pdf) as of February 2025.