The United States Medical Licensing Examination(USMLE) is a multi-part professional exam.Medical Doctors are required to pass this examination before being permitted to practice to medicine in USA.
The USMLE assesses a physicians's ability to apply knowledge,concepts,principles,and to determine fundamental patient-centered skills.
Students and graduates of medical school outside USA and Canada register for Step 1 and Step 2 through Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate(ECFMG)


Exam Format

The exam consists of three parts or famous "STEPS".

• Step 1
• Step 2 (CK and CS)
• Step 3

The Usmle first started out as a paper examination,converting in 2004 to a computer based multiple choice examination.The test can be taken at Thomson Prometric test centers worldwide.However,the step 2 CS and the step 3 can only be taken in the USA.


USMLE STEP 1

It covers the following subjects,in both systemic(general and individual anatomical characteristics) and procedural(functional,therapeutic,environmental , and abnormally) themes:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Pharmacology
• Interdisciplinary topics,such as nutrition,genetics,and aging
• Behavioral sciences
• Biochemistry
• Pathology
• Microbiology

Step 1 is an 8 hour computer-based exam consisting of 336 multiple-choice questions(MCQ's) divided into seven blocks each consisting of 48 questions.Some questions include audio and video.Each block must be finished withing an hour.The remaining hour is break time.

The step 1 score is frequently used in medical residency applications as a measure of a candidate's likelihood to succeed in that particular residency(and on the specialty's boards exams).More competitive residency programs such as radiology,ophthalmology,plastic surgery and dermatology are usually off limits to FMGs but they may have a fair shot if they have exceptionally high score.

The USMLE score is just one of many factors considered by residency programs in selecting applicants.
The overall pass rate for first time USMLE step 1 test takes is 73% for international medical graduates.


USMLE STEP 2

It is designed to assess whether medical school students or graduates can apply medical knowledge,skills and understanding of clinical science essential for provision of patient care under supervision.Step 2 is further divided into two separate exams.

Step 2-CK :-USMLE step 2 CK is designed to assess clinical knowledge through a traditional,multiple choice examination.The subjects included in this exam are clinical sciences like

1. Medicine
2. Surgery
3. Pediatrics
4. Psychiatry
5. Obs/Gyn

Step 2 CK is a 9 hour exam consisting of 8 blocks of 44 questions each.One hour is given for each block of questions.

Step 2-CS :- USMLE step 2 CS is designed to assess clinical skills through simulated patient interactions,in which the examinee interacts with standardized patients portrayed by actors.The cost for this test is approx 1200 US dollars, plus added expenses related to travel,lodging and food.The examination if offered in five cities namely,Philadelphia,Chicago,Atlanta,Houston and Los angeles.

There are 12 standardized patients(SPs) and has 15-minutes to complete history taking and clinical examination for each patient,and then 10 more minutes to write a patient note describing the findings,initial differential diagnosis list and a list of initial tests.



USMLE STEP 3


It is the final exam in the USMLE series designed to assess whether a medical school graduate can apply medical knowledge and understanding of biomedical and clinical science essential for the unsupervised practice of medicine.FMGs can take step 3 before starting residency in about 10 US states.
The first day of testing includes 336 multiple choice items divided into 7 blocks,each consisting of 48 items.Examinees must complete each block within sixty minutes.
The second day of testing includes 144 multiple choice items,divided into 4 blocks of 36 items.Examinees are required to complete each block withing 45 minutes.Approximately 3 hours are allowed to there multiple choice questions.Also on the second day,there are nince clinical case simulations.There, the examiness are required to manage patients in real-time case simulations.Examiness enter orders for medications and/or investigations into the simulation software,and the condition of the patient changes accordingly.Each case must be managed in a maximum of 25 minutes of actual time. 45-60 mins are available for break time on each of the two days of testing.