Copyright © 1995 by the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME ®). All rights reserved.
PERFORMANCE ON 1994 USMLE EXAMINATIONS

USMLE Step 1

The number of examinees tested and the percent passing for Step 1 in 1994 are shown in Table 1; the NBME figures include examinees from osteopathic schools. The number of examinees registered by the NBME who sat for Step 1 in 1994 reflects a slight increase from 1993; however, the number of examinees registered by ECFMG® who sat for Step 1 in 1994 increased by approximately 40%.

In 1994, a three-digit score of 176 was required to pass Step 1. The scale was defined to have a mean of 200 and a standard deviation of 20 based on the performance of students in schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) who took the NBME Part I examination for the first time in June 1991 and were two years from graduation at the time they were tested. The overall pass rate of 86% for NBME-registered examinees is lower than in 1993 (88%). For ECFMG-registered examinees in 1994 the overall pass rate (44%) is slightly higher than in 1993.

Table 1-1994 Step 1 Administrations
Number Tested and Percent Passing
June 1994 September 1994 Total 1994
#Tested %Passing #Tested %Passing #Tested %Passing
NBME-Registered Examinees
First-Time Takers 15,580 92% 1,415 78% 16,995 91%
Repeaters 851 49% 1,396 58% 2,247 54%
NBME Total 16,431 90% 2,811 68% 19,242 86%
ECFMG-Registered Examinees
First-Time Takers 7,273 49% 10,176 52% 17,449 51%
Repeaters 4,160 31% 5,165 31% 9,325 31%
ECFMG Total 11,433 42% 15,341 45% 26,774 44%

USMLE Step 2: Examinee Performance on Step 2

The number of examinees tested and pass rates for the September 1993 and the March and August 1994 Step 2 Administrations are shown in Table 2. Traditionally, examinee counts for the Fall Step 2 have been larger than those for the Spring examination and this continues to be true for recent Administrations. Overall, counts for NBME-registered examinees have been slightly higher than in recent years; ECFMG counts, however, have increased significantly.

In 1994, a three-digit score of 167 was required to pass USMLE Step 2. The scale was defined to have a mean of 200 and a standard deviation of 20 based on the performance of students in schools accredited by the LCME who took the NBME Part II examination for the first time in September 1991 and were in their final year of medical school at the time they were tested.

Table 2 - 1993-94 Step 2 EXAMINATIONS
Number Tested and Percent Passing
September 1993 Step 2 March 1994 Step 2 August 1994 Step 2
#Tested %Passing #Tested %Passing #Tested %Passing
NBME-Registered Examinees
First-Time Takers 9,269 94% 6,555 91% 9,833 92%
Repeaters 354 60% 751 67% 564 56%
NBME Total 9,623 92% 7,306 89% 10,397 90%
ECFMG-Registered Examinees
First-Time Takers 6,141 49% 9,494 42% 7,380 47%
Repeaters 2,475 29% 4,043 23% 4,691 32%
ECFMG Total 8,616 43% 13,537 37% 12,071 41%

USMLE Step 3

USMLE Step 3 was administered for the first time on June 21-22, 1994. The inclusion of this Step in the USMLE sequence of licensing examinations reflects the importance of assessing the knowledge of physicians who are assuming independent responsibility for delivering general medical care to patients. Similar to Part III and the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX), the purpose of Step 3 is to determine if a physician possesses the medical knowledge and understanding of clinical science considered essential for the unsupervised practice of medicine, with emphasis on patient management in ambulatory-care settings.

A three digit score of 176 was required to pass USMLE Step 3. The scale was defined to have a mean of 200 and a standard deviation of 20 based on the performance of examinees taking the March 1993 NBME Part III examination for the first time.

Table 3 - 1994 Step 3 Administrations
Number Tested and Percent Passing
June 1994 December 1994 TOTAL 1994
#Tested %Passing #Tested %Passing #Tested %Passing
US/Canadian Medical School Graduates
First-Time Takers 183 96% 1,936 94% 2,119 95%
Repeaters* 23 13% 142 54% 165 49%
Total 206 86% 2,078 92% 2,284 91%
Foreign Medical School Graduates
First-Time Takers 392 78% 1,195 78% 1,587 78%
Repeaters* 258 12% 610 38% 868 30%
Total 650 51% 1,805 64% 2,455 61%
*Repeaters are those with any prior attempt at Step 3, NBME Part III, or FLEX Component 2