What EPC do you need to pass Step 1?

To pass USMLE Step 1, aim for an Equated Percent Correct (EPC) score of around 66-68% or higher on NBME practice exams, which often correlates to a 90%+ chance of passing, though the official passing score varies slightly by exam form and is around 60% raw percentage, but educators recommend a higher target for a safe margin, like 65%+ for confidence, as EPC adjusts for form difficulty.

What is the EPC to pass Step 1?

NBME has published that the low-passing range for Step 1 is between an EPC of 62 and 68.

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 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.
 

What is the EPC score on UWorld Step 1?

EPC Score (Estimated Percent Correct) represents the percentage of questions you answered correctly on the UWorld Step 1 Self -Assessment. It's used to estimate your performance relative to other test takers..

"How do I prepare for Step 1 when my basics are terrible?"

Is 70% on UWorld bad?

No, 70% on UWorld is generally not bad; it's considered a solid, above-average score, especially on a first pass, indicating you're in good shape for exams like the NCLEX, where averages around this mark often predict high pass rates, though the key is learning from mistakes, not just the score itself.
 

What is a 90% chance of passing Step 1?

A 90% chance of passing USMLE Step 1, often from an NBME practice exam, means you're very likely to pass but still have a 1 in 10 chance of failing, as it's a prediction not a guarantee, and validity depends on taking the real test soon after; it's calculated by the NBME, reflects statistical models, and isn't the same as mastering 90% of content, though strong practice scores usually indicate good readiness.
 

Is 243 a good Step 1 score?

To achieve a score around the 75th percentile for Step 1, you would generally need a score above 245.

What is the 7 year rule for USMLE?

The USMLE 7-Year Rule mandates that most applicants must pass USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK, and Step 3 within seven years of passing their first step, starting from the date of that initial pass, for ECFMG Certification and medical licensure. Failure to meet this deadline invalidates earlier scores, requiring retesting, though waivers or extensions may be possible for documented extenuating circumstances like MD/PhD programs or severe illness, requiring contact with the specific state medical board or ECFMG. 

Has anyone ever gotten a 300 on Step 2?

The highest possible score for the USMLE Step 2 CK is 300, but no one has ever achieved a “perfect” score. A score around 280 would be considered a top Step 2 CK score.

How common is failing Step 1?

While most people pass USMLE Step 1, failure rates have risen, with around 10-20% of first-time takers failing, depending on the year and their medical school (MD, DO, or International Medical Graduate - IMG), with IMGs often facing higher rates. For example, in 2022, over 7,800 students failed, and in 2023, the failure rate for first-time MD takers was about 10%, while for IMGs it was around 28%, with higher rates for repeat test-takers.
 

Is Step 1 the hardest test?

Yes, USMLE Step 1 is widely considered the hardest exam in the USMLE series due to its vast, knowledge-based content from the first two years of med school, high-stakes nature (historically), and marathon-like 8-hour format, though some find Step 2 or 3 challenging for different reasons, and the recent shift to Pass/Fail changes the psychological pressure but not the content difficulty.
 

What is a failing score on Step 1?

All USMLE Step 1 scores are reported as either a Pass or Fail result for tests administered after January 26, 2022. This scoring system was reviewed in late 2024, and it was decided that no changes were to be made in 2025. Students must achieve a score of 196 on the 3-digit score system to pass the exam.

How does NBME calculate EPC?

EPC scores represent the percentage of content mastered. They are calculated as the percentage of items in the total content domain and specific content area domains that would be answered correctly based on an examinee's proficiency level.

What's a good score on free 120?

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.

What is a 70 NBME score?

A 70 on your NBME gives you a 99% chance of passing the real exam. Yes, you can still fail but it's statistically unlikely. Too many students think that they need to score in the eighties or 90s before they're ready to take step one.

What happens if you fail USMLE Step 1-4 times?

If you have attempted a Step four or more times, including incomplete attempts, and have not passed, you are ineligible to apply for any Step in the USMLE sequence.

What is the shortest residency to become a doctor?

The shortest MD residencies in the U.S. are typically 3 years, offered in primary care fields like Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Preventive Medicine, with some Emergency Medicine programs also being 3 years. These generalist specialties provide broad medical foundations, allowing physicians to enter practice quickly, though many pursue further fellowship training for subspecialization.
 

What score is 75% correct on step 2?

Getting 75% correct on Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) is generally considered a very strong performance, often placing you well above the average (around the 75th percentile or higher), translating to a strong 3-digit score (likely in the mid-250s or higher), making you a competitive applicant for most specialties, though top-tier programs in highly competitive fields might look for even higher scores.
 

What is the bare minimum score to pass Step 1?

What Determines A Passing Score? To pass Step 1, students must achieve a minimum passing standard set by the USMLE. Currently, on a three-digit scale, the passing standard is 196.

How important is Step 1 for residency?

In the 2021 National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) survey of residency program directors, 86.2% of program directors listed the USMLE Step 1 score as an important factor in deciding which applicants to interview.

What percentile is 250 on Step 1?

250-259 (50th-75th percentile) – Solid score, but you may need other strong application components for highly competitive specialties. 240-249 (25th-50th percentile) – Still a comfortably passing score but could limit options for competitive programs.

How many med students fail Step 1?

In 2021—the year prior to Step 1's moving to pass-fail scoring—95% of first-time test takers from MD-granting medical schools and 94% from DO-granting schools passed Step 1. In the years since, that number has ranged from 91–93% for MD students and 86–89% for DO students.

What is EPC score Step 1?

EPC scores indicate the percentage of the content that you have mastered. They are sta s cally adjusted to account for slight varia ons in exam form difficultly and may be slightly lower or higher than the actual percentage of ques ons you answered correctly on each specific exam form.

Does Step 1 give you percentiles?

Your USMLE Step 1 percentile reflects how your performance ranks compared to all other test-takers. Simply put, it tells you what percentage of examinees scored lower than you.