2003 USMLE Performance Data
As published in the 2003 NBME Annual Report,
Copyright 2004 by the National Board of Medical Examiners®

USMLE Administration, Minimum Passing Scores, and Performance

Continuous test administration of the USMLE is available to all examinees. Prometric, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc., provides scheduling and test centers for the USMLE. The examination is currently administered at more than 300 US/Canadian Prometric test centers and more than 200 international Prometric test centers. Additional test centers are located at eight medical schools in the United States. The Step 1 and Step 2 examinations are administered worldwide; the Step 3 examination is administered only in the United States.

After completion of the registration process and receipt of certification of eligibility, applicants for Step 1, Step 2, or Step 3 contact the Prometric scheduling network to make an appointment to take the examination at a location and time most convenient to the applicant's schedule. Examination results are processed continuously, and scores are reported weekly. Most Step 1 and Step 2 examinees receive their scores approximately three to four weeks after their test date and most Step 3 examinees, four to six weeks. Individual score reports are mailed to examinees; medical schools and state licensing authorities can receive score information by using a secure website.

The USMLE program recommends a minimum passing score for each Step of the USMLE. Minimum passing scores are based on achievement of specified levels of proficiency established prior to administration of examinations. Statistical procedures are employed to insure that for each Step, the level of proficiency required to pass remains uniform across forms of the examination. As noted in the USMLE Bulletin of Information and at the USMLE website, the score required to meet the recommended level of proficiency is reviewed periodically and may be adjusted without prior notice. Notice of adjustments is posted at the USMLE website. In 2003, both the Step 1 and the Step 2 Committees reviewed their standards.

Step 1

Details on the performance of examinees taking Step 1 in 2002 and 2003 are provided below. Data for 2003 are based upon examinees whose results were reported up through February 11, 2004. Approximately 16,400 and 16,600 first-time takers from US and Canadian medical schools that grant the MD degree were tested in 2002 and 2003, respectively. First-time takers from non-US/Canadian medical schools numbered approximately 11,800 and 12,400 for the same years. The pass rates for first-time takers from MD-granting US and Canadian medical schools were 92% and 93%, respectively. Because failing examinees generally retake Step 1, the ultimate passing rate across test administrations is expected to increase to approximately 99% for this same group.

TABLE 1 - 2002-2003 STEP 1 ADMINISTRATIONS
Number Tested and Percent Passing
2002 2003*
#Tested %Passing #Tested %Passing
Examinees from US/Canadian Schools that Grant
MD Degree 18,505 88% 18,565 90%
1st Takers 16,420 92% 16,633 93%
Repeaters** 2,085 59% 1,932 62%
DO Degree 949 67% 1,043 73%
1st Takers 892 70% 988 74%
Repeaters** 57 32% 55 44%
Total US/Canadian 19,454 87% 19,608 89%
Examinees from Non-US/Canadian Schools
1st Takers 11,821 64% 12,415 65%
Repeaters** 5,298 36% 6,098 42%
Total non-US/Canadian 17,119 55% 18,513 57%
* Represents data for examinees tested in 2003 and reported through February 11, 2004.
** ‘Repeaters’ represents examinations given, not number of different examinees.

Step 2

Details on the performance of examinees taking Step 2 in the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 academic years are provided below. First-time takers from US and Canadian medical schools granting the MD degree numbered approximately 16,100 for both the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 periods. First-time takers from non-US/Canadian medical schools numbered approximately 8,500 and 9,600, respectively. The pass rates for first-time takers from MD-granting US and Canadian medical schools were 97% and 96%, respectively. As noted with Step 1, given the opportunity for this same group to repeat the examination, the ultimate Step 2 passing rate across test administrations is expected to increase to approximately 99%.

TABLE 2 - 2001-2003 STEP 2 ADMINISTRATIONS
Number Tested and Percent Passing
2001-2002* 2002-2003*
#Tested %Passing #Tested %Passing
Examinees from US/Canadian Schools that Grant
MD Degree 17,058 95% 17,042 94%
1st Takers 16,060 97% 16,119 96%
Repeaters** 998 70% 923 64%
DO Degree 332 88% 354 88%
1st Takers 324 89% 346 88%
Repeaters** 8 50% 8 50%
Total US/Canadian 17,390 95% 17,396 94%
Examinees from Non-US/Canadian Schools
1st Takers 8,502 80% 9,636 79%
Repeaters** 2,833 54% 2,732 47%
Total non-US/Canadian 11,335 73% 12,368 72%
* Data for Step 2 are provided for examinees tested during the period from July 1 to June 30.
** ‘Repeaters’ represents examinations given, not number of different examinations.

Step 3

Details on the performance of examinees taking Step 3 in 2002 and 2003 are provided below. Data for 2003 are based upon examinees whose results were reported up through February 11, 2004. First-time takers who were graduates of MD-granting schools in the US and Canada numbered approximately 15,500 and 16,300 for calendar years 2002 and 2003, respectively. First-time takers who were graduates of non-US/Canadian medical schools numbered approximately 6,900 and 8,000 for the same years. For 2002 and 2003, the pass rates for first-time takers who were graduates of MD-granting US and Canadian medical schools were 95% for both years. Like Steps 1 and 2, the ultimate Step 3 passing rate, accounting for repeat attempts, is expected to increase to approximately 99% for this same group.

TABLE 3 - 2002-2003 STEP 3 ADMINISTRATIONS
Number Tested and Percent Passing
2002 2003*
#Tested %Passing #Tested %Passing
Examinees from US/Canadian Schools that Grant
MD Degree 16,816 92% 17,540 93%
1st Takers 15,467 95% 16,299 95%
Repeaters** 1,349 65% 1,241 65%
DO Degree 89 96% 82 90%
1st Takers 87 97% 76 92%
Repeaters** 2 † 6 67%
Total US/Canadian 16,905 92% 17,622 93%
Examinees from Non-US/Canadian Schools
1st Takers 6,857 66% 8,074 68%
Repeaters** 5,658 50% 5,407 47%
Total non-US/Canadian 12,515 59% 13,481 60%
* Represents data for examinees tested in 2003 and reported through February 11, 2004.
** ‘Repeaters’ represents examinations given, not number of different examinees.
† Performance data not reported for catagories containing fewer than 5 examinees.