USMLE Exam Prep

Practice Quiz presents 90 free review questions and explanations for the United States Medical Licensing Examination given by the National Board of Medical Examiners

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The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a 3-step exam administered to physicians so that they may begin practicing medicine in the U.S. The exam is sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME®).

Step 1 is an 8-hour computerized exam that includes 322 questions, focusing on:

  • Pharmacology
  • Microbiology
  • Anatomy
  • Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology

Step 2 is a 9-hour exam featuring 8 sections of 44 multiple-choice questions, focusing on:

  • Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology

Step 3 is 16 hours and is given over two days, with approximately 480 multiple-choice questions focusing on medical knowledge and clinical science.

The steps are offered throughout the year, and test takers must schedule them with their nearest testing centers. Scores are scaled between 140 and 260.

Need to brush up on your biology and chemistry? Check out our MCAT Biology and Chemistry review set with hundreds of practice questions.

Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only. It has not been edited, fact checked or updated. This content is neither affiliated nor endorsed by the FSMB or NBME® or any other official agency. These questions were written by a third party test prep company and licensed by PracticeQuiz for use on this site. Please use at your own discretion.

FAQs

There are 322 questions on the USMLE Step 1 exam, divided across the following eleven categories: General Principles (12%-16%), Blood & Lymphoreticular/Immune Systems (7%-11%), Behavioral Health & Nervous Systems/Special Senses (9%-13%), Musculoskeletal, Skin & Subcutaneous Tissue (6%-10%), Cardiovascular System (5%-9%), Respiratory & Renal/Urinary Systems (9%-13%), Gastrointestinal System (5%-9%), Reproductive & Endocrine Systems (9%-13%), Multisystem Processes & Disorders (6%-10%), Biostatistics & Epidemiology/Population Health (4%-6%), and Social Sciences: Communication and Interpersonal Skills (6%-9%).

The USMLE Step 1 exam is 8 hours long.

Earning a passing score on the USMLE Step 1 exam helps the test taker towards achieving USMLE licensure. The license is granted after passing all three of the USMLE exams (Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3).

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Ted Chan

Ted Chan

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Ted Chan is the Managing Editor of PracticeQuiz.com. Ted has experience as a journalist and a writer, including editorial or content production roles at ESPN, Better Business Bureau, The Boston Globe, and Forbes. Ted holds a BA from Swarthmore College with High Honors, and a MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Ted also studied at the Harvard Business School, earning a Certificate in Value-based Health Care Delivery.

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