What is a good score on the internal medicine shelf?

A good Internal Medicine shelf score is typically above the 70th percentile, with scores in the 80s (80th percentile+) often needed for honors at many schools and considered excellent, while scores in the 90th percentile or higher are outstanding and highly competitive for residency, though passing is often around the 10th percentile (around 61-63). Scores vary, but aiming high helps with rotation honors and Step 2/3 prep, with the 90th percentile often requiring around an 84-86 on the converted score, especially later in the year.

What is a good score on the internal medicine shelf exam?

The Internal Medicine shelf exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 99, with most students scoring between 70 and 80. Scores above 90 are considered outstanding.

Is 75 on IM shelf good?

Percentiles between the 55th and 75th typically fall into high pass territory and reflect above-average mastery. Percentiles above the 75th are considered excellent and are usually associated with honors designations if you're only considering the shelf.

What score do you need to pass internal medicine board?

To pass the exam, your standardized score must equal or exceed the standardized passing score of 366.

What score do I need for internal medicine?

Internal medicine has an average Step 2 score of 251. Internal medicine is the most pursued medical specialty. For context, in 2025, 11,379 positions in internal medicine were filled, while the next most popular was family medicine, which filled just over 4,500 positions.

How to Score 276 on USMLE Step 2 CK: How to Ace Step 2 CK and Score HIGH!

Is ABIM harder than USMLE?

The ABIM (Internal Medicine Boards) is generally considered a different kind of challenge than the USMLE, with many finding the ABIM harder due to its focus on deep internal medicine facts, extensive clinical vignettes, cognitive endurance required over long sessions, and emphasis on high-yield, sometimes obscure, facts, while USMLEs (especially Step 1) are often seen as foundational science/clinical application hurdles, though some find the ABIM easier due to more time per question and less "tricky" wording than earlier Steps. It's a subjective comparison, but most agree ABIM demands dedicated, comprehensive study of internal medicine for board certification, unlike the broader scope of the USMLEs. 

Is 250 a good step 2 score for internal medicine?

The right target depends on your career goals. Here's a simplified guide: Primary Care (Family, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine) → 230–240 can be enough, though higher is always better. Mid-Competitive Specialties (Emergency Medicine, OB-GYN, Anesthesiology) → Aim for 240–250.

How many people fail internal medicine boards?

Internal Medicine

In 2024, the pass rate for first-time test takers remained level, with 87% of takers passing the exam.

How competitive is internal med?

The top internal medicine programs are very competitive so it is important to understand what your target programs will be. The vast majority of U.S. allopathic seniors match in internal medicine, but, the specialty remains competitive for international and osteopathic applicants.

Which medical specialty has the hardest board exams?

The top 10 hardest medical specialties generally include:

• Neurosurgery.
• Orthopedic surgery.
• Interventional cardiology.
• Thoracic surgery.
• Radiation oncology.
• Dermatopathology.
• Plastic surgery.
• Gastroenterology.

What is the hardest shelf exam?

The internal medicine (IM) shelf is often considered the hardest shelf exam out there. It is extremely broad, covering everything from cardiology to infectious disease, and it rewards both depth and clinical reasoning.

Do residencies see your shelf scores?

While your NBME Shelf Exam scores are not directly reported to residency programs, they can still impact your application. Some medical schools use Shelf Exam scores to calculate class rank or determine honors designations, which can influence your residency application.

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. 

How hard is the Internal Medicine shelf?

Shelf exams cover a broad range of medical topics, and they're widely considered difficult due to the massive amount of knowledge students are required to memorize and understand. Plus, you'll need to apply that knowledge to hypothetical clinical scenarios, which is no small feat.

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.
 

How many questions do I need to get right to pass ABIM?

Ultimately, the ABIM Certification exam focuses on assessing your internist competence and ability to provide quality patient care. You do not need to get 100 percent of the questions right. Statistics show you need around 70 to 75 percent of questions correct to pass.

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in high-demand surgical and specialized fields like Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, Radiology, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology often earn over $500,000 annually, with some top earners in Thoracic Surgery or Neurosurgery making significantly more, while even family doctors can reach this level through practice ownership or specialized services.
 

What are red flags for residency?

Residency red flags are issues in an applicant's record that can raise concerns for program directors, primarily falling into categories like academic performance (failed board exams, low scores, failed courses), gaps in education (unexplained time off, delays in graduating), and professionalism issues (disciplinary actions, legal problems, negative MSPE), along with weak application materials (generic statements, poor LORs) or limited clinical experience. These flags signal potential challenges, but can often be mitigated by explaining the context, demonstrating growth, and showing alignment with the program's values. 

What is the 32 hour rule in medical school?

The "32-hour rule" in medical school admissions refers to a policy where some medical schools focus on an applicant's GPA from their most recent 32 credit hours, often in post-baccalaureate coursework, to evaluate academic strength, giving a chance to those with a weaker overall undergraduate record but strong recent performance, like at LSU-New Orleans and Wayne State. It's a way for schools to see recent academic growth, with examples including focusing on recent semesters or post-bacc programs to demonstrate improvement.
 

Is ABIM harder than Step 1?

But before we can call ourselves truly independent, one last exam looms on the horizon: the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification exam. On the hierarchy of medical exams, the difficulty of the ABIM exam lies somewhere in the middle, below the MCAT and USMLE Step 1, but above USMLE Steps 2 and 3.

What is the hardest board exam to pass?

There's no single "hardest" exam, but the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), USMLE (U.S. Medical Licensing Examination), and India's UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam are consistently ranked among the toughest due to extremely low pass rates, intense preparation demands, or high stakes for career progression. The CFA has notoriously low pass rates (often under 45%), the USMLE requires years of study for doctors, and the UPSC's success rate is often less than 0.3% for elite Indian government jobs. 

Is internal medicine a difficult specialty?

The most challenging and rewarding aspects of internal medicine: One of the most challenging—and the most rewarding—aspects of internal medicine is the complexity of our patients. This can at times be daunting, but it is also incredibly intellectually stimulating.

How hard is it to score 240 on Step 2?

An examinee with a Step 2 CK score of 240 is at the 24th percentile. The 24th percentile means that 24% of the Step 2 CK first-takers from LCME-accredited US/Canadian medical schools in the three-year cohort described previously scored lower than 240.

What score is 50% on step 2?

A 50% Step 2 score (USMLE) typically means scoring around 250, placing you at the median (average) for matched U.S. MD seniors, which is solid but may require strong application components for highly competitive specialties; it's a passing score, but scores vary by specialty, with some (like Family Med/Psychiatry) having lower averages and others (Surgery/Derm) much higher.