Understand everything about how, when, and where to take practice tests for Step 1 of the USMLE!

If you’ve already started studying for Step 1, have your routine of doing questions, use Anki regularly, and are battling through your first pass of UWorld, you’ve probably asked yourself how, when, and where to start doing practice tests for Step 1. Just when you thought you had things under control, you come across another curveball in the US medical licensing process.

Let’s go over the possible practice tests and the recommendations our team gives to students inside the Scrubs Community.

First practice test: UWSA1 (UWorld Self-Assessment 1)

“UWorld Step 1 self-assessments consist of four 60-minute blocks containing 40 questions each. This is similar to the real USMLE, which consists of seven 60-minute blocks containing up to 40 questions each.”

This is your first practice test and you should take it after finishing your first pass. (You may want to do about two weeks of second-pass questions in timed and random mode to get used to the format before UWSA1, especially if you were doing your first UWorld pass in tutor mode, as we recommend.)

Second practice test: NBMEs (any except 31)

Take one about 3–4 weeks after UWSA1, if you’re managing to keep up with at least one block of UWorld per day in timed and random mode. If you’re able to study significantly more than that, you can shorten the interval between NBMEs.

The idea is to buy and take NBMEs every 2–4 weeks while maintaining that pace, until you’ve had at least two consecutive practice tests scoring above 90% probability of PASS (which translates to at least 65% correct).

UWSA3

Do this in between NBMEs, but keep in mind that it’s not very predictive and will likely bring your score down. It’s less about measuring readiness for the real test and more about exposing yourself to new questions.

UWSA2

Take it 10 days before your actual exam.

Free 120

Take it 3 days before your exam — pay close attention to the questions and especially the images!

Where to find these practice tests?

• UWSA1, 2, and 3 are included in the annual UWorld subscription.
• NBMEs can be purchased for $62 each on the NBME website.
• The Free 120 is available for free on the NBME website: orientation.nbme.org/launch/usmle/stpf1.

Now you’re ready to create your proper study schedule!

Leave your questions in the comments!

See you next time.