New Test Delivery Software
[Posted March 30, 2009]
A new version of the software used to deliver the computer-based USMLE Step examinations was introduced in mid-August 2008. The Step 1 Examination is scheduled to be migrated to the new version in May 2009.
The migration is expected to begin on or about May 15, 2009 at a small number of test centers, and will then be phased in at remaining test centers over a period of several weeks. If you plan to take the Step 1 examination in May 2009 or later, you should familiarize yourself with both the current test delivery software (FREDv1) and the new (FREDv2) version.
Orientation and practice materials using both the current and new versions of the software are available for downloading by clicking here.
The change to the test delivery software will be accounted for in scoring the examination results, so that scores will be comparable to those of exams using the older software. Because of this change, as well as routine modifications to the test item pool, it will be necessary to delay the reporting of scores for some examinees. The normal turnaround time for reporting scores to Step 1 examinees is 3 to 4 weeks. However, during this transition, turnaround time for some examinees may be as long as 6 to 8 weeks.
The target date for reporting Step 1 scores for most examinees testing from mid-May through late June will be Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
- Complete announcement about the new test delivery software: click here
- Orientation and practice materials using both the current and new versions of the software are available for downloading: click here
- New Features in the new test delivery software: click here
- FAQs about the new test delivery software: click here
The Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) examination migrated to the new software in August 2008, and the Step 3 examination migrated to the new software in March 2009.
Previous announcements:
Updated: January 22, 2009
A new version of software used to deliver the computer-based USMLE Step examinations is scheduled to be introduced in mid-March 2009 in the Step 3 examination. This change will affect the multiple-choice question (MCQ) portion of the examination. The computer-based case simulation (CCS) portion of the Step 3 examination will not be affected.
The migration is expected to begin at a small number of test centers on March 9, and will then be phased in at remaining test centers during the week of March 16.
- Complete announcement about the new test delivery software: click here
- Orientation and practice materials using both the current and new versions of the software are available for downloading: click here
- New Features in the new test delivery software: click here
- FAQs about the new test delivery software: click here
The Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) examination migrated to the new software in August 2008.
Posted: August 1, 2008
A new version of the software used to deliver the computer-based USMLE Step examinations is scheduled to be introduced in mid-August 2008. Migration to the new version will occur first in the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) examination. The migration is expected to begin at a small number of test centers on August 14, and will then be phased in at remaining test centers throughout the remainder of August and into September.
- January 8, 2009 - Update to Notice Regarding Calculator Function in New Test Delivery Software for USMLE: click here.
- Complete announcement about the new test delivery software: click here
- Orientation and practice materials using both the current and new versions of the software are available for downloading: click here.
- New Features in the new test delivery software: click here.
- FAQs about the new test delivery software: click here.