Monday, February 23, 2009

What USMLE scores do I need to get into the residency/specialty of my choice?

Who else is better to answer this question than the team from First Aid for USMLE? The list below is based on the Step 1 Scores for US Senior applicants:

Tier 1 (Median USMLE Step 1 Scores of 233-243):

  • Plastic Surgery
  • Dermatology
  • Otolaryngology
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Transitional Year

Tier 2 (Median USMLE Step 1 Scores of 217-222):

  • Internal Medicine
  • Pathology
  • General Surgery
  • Emergency Medicine
  • IM/Peds
  • Anesthesiology
  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics

Tier 3 (Medan USMLE Step 1 Scores of 208-213):

  • Ob/GYN
  • Family Medicine
  • PM&R
  • Psychiatry
How to Score Well on the Board Exams

In 2004, I listed a few tips on How to Score Well on the Boards and some of them are still valid:

- Practice makes perfect
- Read a concise book
- Practice with a lot of MCQs
- The formula "first line, last line, answers" works for many test takers
- Pace yourself
- Calculate 2 variables: the percent of correct answers and the seconds you spend on each question
- For those who like mnemonics, the best free resource is Medical Mnemonics.com

References:
What Score do I need for my Specialty? Firstaidteam.com.
How to Score Well on the Boards?
ABIM Issues Warning Regarding Scam “Certification Boards” Plus How to Score Well on the Real Board Exam

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