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DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1800830
Assessing the Impact of USMLE Step 1 Going Pass-Fail: A Brief Review of the Performance Data
Funding This article received no specific grant or support from any public or private agencies.
Abstract
On January 26, 2022, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 exam transitioned to a pass-fail grading system instead of the conventional three-digit score. This move was intended to decrease the emphasis on Step 1 scores and facilitate a more holistic approach by programs in the residency selection process. However, since the implementation of the new grading system, we have seen a lower passing percentage among all medical students, including U.S. MDs, DOs, and international medical graduates. In this article, we assess the USMLE Step 1 performance data since the change in scoring and some factors that may have contributed to the lower passing rates among all medical students.
Publication History
Article published online:
24 December 2024
© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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