The USMLE
The United States medical licensing examination (USMLE) is an exam in three steps. Once you have decided on your intended area of specialization and have a resume in place with good references, you will begin the process of preparing for the USMLE. This preparation test will be the most important part of your medical school application.
The importance of the USMLE cannot be underestimated. Your scores on the USMLE will be weighted heavily by all the schools to which you are applying. In fact, your USMLE test score will likely be weighted more heavily than your GPA. This is because standardization offered by the USMLE means that it eliminates different institutional practices such as Bell curving or grade inflation. It also eliminates differences between standards held among different institutions.
Complete preparation for the USMLE will almost certainly require you to familiarize yourself with sample questions. We can give you a good amount of information for free here, but there are some nearby links to paid services that will more fully prepare you for the USMLE.
The three steps of the USMLE are all very different from each other, in format and in expectations.
You will have to pass each step before you move onto the next one, and each step is very different in format and style from the others.
The USMLE Step 1 is a multiple choice exam designed to test how well you understand basic science applicable in clinical scenarios.
Learn more about the USMLE Step 1 Test
The USMLE Step 2 test is divided over two days, testing clinical knowledge and clinical skills.
Learn more about the USMLE Step 2 Test
The USMLE Step 3 is also two days and includes a multiple choice test and computer simulations of clinical situations in various stages.
Learn more about the USMLE Step 3 Test
We can only provide you with basic preparation information for the USMLE. You will find much more help by clicking on links nearby or investigating our directory of USMLE Test Preparation Services.
