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Is 60% enough to pass Step 1?

When it comes to passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, many medical students have one question on their minds: Is 60% enough to pass?

The answer to this question is not a simple yes or no.

The percentages of correctly answered items required to pass varies by Step and from form to form within each Step. However, examinees typically must answer approximately 60 percent of items correctly to achieve a passing score.

The USMLE Step 1 is a computer-based exam that assesses a medical student’s knowledge of the basic sciences. It is divided into seven 60-minute blocks, each containing 40 multiple-choice questions. The total number of questions on the exam varies, but it is typically around 280.

The USMLE Step 1 is scored on a three-digit scale, with a minimum passing score of 194. The exact percentage of questions that must be answered correctly to achieve a passing score varies from form to form, but it is generally around 60%.

In addition to the passing score, examinees are also given a percentile rank. This is a measure of how an examinee’s score compares to the scores of other examinees who took the same form of the exam. The average score for Step 1 is typically around 220, and the average percentile rank is around 50%.

It is important to note that the USMLE Step 1 is a very difficult exam, and it is not uncommon for examinees to score lower than the average. Therefore, while 60% may be enough to pass, it is not necessarily enough to achieve a competitive score.

In conclusion, the answer to the question “Is 60% enough to pass Step 1?” is yes, but it is important to remember that the exact percentage of questions that must be answered correctly to achieve a passing score varies from form to form. Additionally, while 60% may be enough to pass, it is not necessarily enough to achieve a competitive score.

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