What Is Considered A Good Score On the USMLE? A passing score on your first attempt is considered a good score on each USMLE Step. Of course the higher you score on the USMLE, the better the score is.
Residency programs are looking for prospective residents with no failures on any USMLE Step. They want candidates who have passed with scores in the highest percentiles. For example, General Surgery residency programs look for applicants who have passed their USMLE Steps in the 90th percentile or better on their first attempt.
Residency programs look favorably at applicants who show improvement from each Step taken. Currently a passing score on the USMLE Step 1 is 192, and this is considered at the 75th percentile. If students can improve their score on their USMLE Step 2 to be in the 80th or 90th percentile of passing, program directors will see the growth of your knowledge and understand your grasp of test-taking, which will make them feel more comfortable with hiring you. Programs look for candidates who they feel will not have difficulty passing their specialty board examination upon completion of their residency training.
Unfortunately, not all medical students and doctors pass their USMLE Steps on their first attempt, so prepare carefully for each Step thereafter. Attend a review program seeking assistance with passing to ensure you have mastered whatever concepts that were deficient during your previous attempt. From that Step on, guarantee your passing of every other USMLE by seeking help because you will have to convince residency programs from then on that you are just at competitive as the other candidates who have passed on their first attempt. Your passing scores should therefore be in the upper 80th to 90th percentiles to show you have overcome all obstacles that hindered you from passing initially.
So all passing scores are good scores, but remember the higher your score is with the least amount of attempts to pass is considered the best score.
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