4 Things to Ask Yourself Before Taking the USMLE Step 1 Exam


This is it–you’re at the last leg of your journey to becoming a practicing and licensed physician. But before the culmination of all your years in premed and med school, you first have to go through one final test: the USMLE Step 1 Exam.

We all know that this is a board exam that will determine whether you can become a doctor or not, but what else should you know about it? To gain a deeper understanding of what this exam is about, ask yourself the following questions:

What is the coverage of USMLE Step 1?

Based on the exam outline, you will be answering questions based on the years and subjects you’ve taken in med school. This will range from basic scientific topics such as behavioral sciences, anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, physiology,  biochemistry, biostatistics, epidemiology, and microbiology. These will be interspersed between questions that cover aging, nutrition, genetics, immunology, molecular biology, epidemiology, and even medical ethics.

Am I qualified to take the exam?

If you are in your 2nd or 3rd year in med school, then you can take the exam.

What is the minimum score required to pass?

You need to get at least 194 points to qualify as a medical practitioner.

What if I don’t pass the USMLE Step 1 exam?

This is a generally difficult exam to pass. As such, there will be students who will not pass it. The good news is that students are allowed to retake the exam for up to 6 times. Of course, there will still be a limit to the number of times that you can take it in a year.

If by any chance, you reach up to 3 attempts and still have not passed, you need to wait a whole year before you can retake it.

Need help in preparing for your USMLE Step 1 Exam? Here at Medical Doctor International Academy, we can help you get ready in no time.