The Final Exam of Medical School
Despite Step 3 being the exam that ultimately allows physicians to practice medicine in the United States, it is generally regarded as the least important of the 3 USMLE exams. This is because USMLE Step 3 is taken after internship/residency has already begun making it much less stressful than the others. However, this exam is nearly twice as long as Step 1 and Step 2CK, and contains an unfamiliar component (to most) known as the clinical case simulations (CCS). Due to this, some students may struggle with the length of the exam overall and the CCS in particular making working with a USMLE Step 3 tutor a great option.
What is USMLE Step 3?
USMLE Step 3, the final examination in the USMLE series, is designed to assess whether or not students should be allowed to partake in the unsupervised practice of medicine. Passing USMLE Step 3 allows you to practice medicine in the United States of America.
How is USMLE Step 3 scored?
USMLE Step 3 is scored on a scale of 120 to 300 with the national average for first time test takers being 226±15 (for 2018). The lowest passing score for Step 3 is 196 (as of January 2020).
How is USMLE Step 3 administered?
Unlike USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK, USMLE Step 3 is a two-day exam. Day 1 is 7-hours long and tests using 232 multiple-choice questions divided into six 1-hour blocks of 38-40 questions each. Day 2 of Step 3 is 9-hours long and tests using 180 multiple-choice questions divided into six 45 min blocks of 30 questions each and 13 case simulations (CCS), approximately 10-20 minutes each.
The Elite Difference is in the Details
There are several different USMLE Step 3 tutoring options available to students, so what makes Elite the best? When you sign up to work with a Step 3 tutor, you are getting much more than access to our world class MD tutoring services. 24/7 email support, a student success team, organized custom curriculum, and our 100% unused hour refund gurantee are just a couple reasons our students love us.
Who Actually Needs a USMLE Step 3 Tutor?
Receiving 1-on-1 help from a USMLE Step 3 tutor is always helpful, but it isn’t necessary for everyone.
Students with Anxiety/ Poor Testing Skills
If you historically have high test anxiety and/or are a poor standardized test taker, a couple USMLE Step 3 tutoring sessions focused on strategy and wellness can be very beneficial to your success.
Students with a Previous Exam Failure
If you have previously failed USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, or USMLE Step 3 you are at risk for another failed exam if you do not make major changes to your study habits. USMLE Step 3 tutoring can help evaluate where you went wrong last time and make sure that this time you have a successful outcome.
IMG Students
IMG students have significantly lower chances of being accepted into US residency programs. Often, USMLE scores are one of the only ways for non-US medical students to stand out on their applications. Especially after Step 1 becomes pass/fail, a high Step 3 score may help residency acceptance. Therefore, we recommend considering USMLE Step 3 tutoring.
Students Applying to Competitive Specialties
Some medical students may have the option to take Step 3 before applying to residency. After Step 1 becomes pass/fail, a high score on Step 3 may help bolster your application making a USMLE Step 3 tutor a good idea.
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Step 3 Information Resources for Students
Have a question about USMLE Step 3 or Step 3 tutoring? Visit the Elite Medical Blog for a collection of articles written by our MD and MD Candidate tutors covering a variety of popular topics.
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