This blog was originally published in September 2021, and updated on August, 2025 by Dr. Karissa Libson.

Congratulations! You did it! You took USMLE Step 1, the test you spent months studying for, and now you’re anxiously awaiting that email notification telling you that your Step 1 report is available. What are your next steps after the USMLE Step 1 report release?

FAQ

• When will I get my score?
• How will I view my report?
• What will my report look like?
• What happens if I fail?
• I passed! Now what?
• How soon after passing can I take USMLE Step 2?

When will I get my score?

According the the NBME, Step 1 (as well as your USMLE Step 2CK and USMLE Step 3) reports are usually available within 4 weeks after of your exam date.Unofficially, most people report receiving their scores on a Wednesday around 11am EST, 2-3 weeks after their exam date. In my experience, I took my exam on a Friday. I received my report about 3 weeks later on a Wednesday around 11am. However, sometimes results may be delayed. If you are testing around any national US holiday, your Step 1 report release may be delayed 1-2 weeks. Occasionally, the Step 1 report release has been delayed up to 8 weeks. It can be really difficult to wait, but patience is key during this process. Focus on something else to get your mind off your exam during this time. 

How will I view my report?

On either the Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning prior to your Step 1 result release, you will receive an email from the NBME telling you that your report s pending, and within 24 hours you will receive an email on how to access the USMLE Step 1 report, which will be available online for up to one year. We recommend downloading and saving your report as soon as your receive it. 

What will my report look like?

The current score to pass Step 1 is 196 and students will only receive a pass/fail designation. 

Passing reports will say “pass” in large letters at the top of the page. They will also give a percentage based representation of what subejcts your specific exam tested the most. For example, if your exam emphasized cardiology and didn’t have many questions on gastroenterology, cardiology will be at the top of the chart and gastroenterology at the bottom with the percentage of each subject on the exam. Notably, there is no indication of how well you did on the exam, beyond scoring above 196. You will not know how close you were to that number or how well you did relative to peers. 

Failing reports will say “fail”in large letters at the top of the page. However, they are different from passing reports in that there will be a graph of your performance compared to peers and the passing score of 196. This is helpful to see how close you were to the passing score and distrubition of peers that passed or failed the exam. There will also be a breakdown by subject of the amount of questions on your test in each subject category (similar to passing report), however there will be an indication of if your score was higher or lower than your peers. 

Click here to see examples of passing and failing score reports from the USMLE website. 

What happens if I fail?

If you are looking at a failing report, take a deep breath. The first thing you should do is contact your medical school. Every school has different policies regarding retaking step 1 and it is essential to discuss with your school and learn about what support and resources are available for you during this time.  

Students who fail Step 1, can retake USMLE Step 1 up to 4 times. You can take Step 1 a maximum of three times within 12 months after your exam, which means after your first failed attempt you may retake the exam twice within one year. The 4th attempt must be at least 12 months after the first failed exam.

After discussing your situation with your school, the most important thing to keep in mind is that this is no reflection on your ability to become a phenomenal physician. Most students who fail Step 1 didn’t have the most effective study approach. For those who find themselves in this situation, consider how tutoring through Elite Medical Prep could help prepare you for your next attempt. 

I passed! Now what?

If you are looking at a passing report, congratulations! Even if you don’t have a 3-digit score to quantify your performance, take a moment to reflect on and celebrate all the hard work that went into your passing score. 

Depending on where you are at in your medical education, you may be returning to medical school didactic curriculum, clinical rotations, or starting to study for Step 2. Wherever you are at in your journey, it is important to consider which residencies you are applying to and seek out advice and mentorship in your area of interest.  

How soon after passing can I take USMLE Step 2?

The next exam in the STEP series after Step 1 is Step 2CK. Because Step 1 has become pass/fail in recent years, there may be a larger emphasis placed on Step 2 as the only scored standardized exam many students will have when they apply for residency. 

Traditionally, students take USMLE Step 2CK during their 3rd or 4th year of medical school, after completing required clinical rotations and NBME shelf exams. It is ideal to have you score prior to submitting residency applications as some people use their score as a gauge to help them decide which programs to apply to. .  You should discuss ideal timing with your medical school, if there is not already a designated time set aside to study for and take the exam.

While there is no set time period between Step 1 and Step 2, it is important to think through the process, discuss with medical advisors and other key parties (mentors) to plan when you will take the exam.While USMLE Step 2CK and USMLE Step 1 have a lot of overlap in content, but Step 1 is more focused on basic sciences and Step 2 is focused more on clinical aspects.The most important thing is that you take the exam when you feel ready and have dedicated sufficient time to learning the material. 

Final words of advice 

• If you are still waiting for your report, be patient and focus on other things while you wait. Your report will most likely be available on a Wednesday morning at 11am EST 2-3 weeks after your test day. 
• If you fail Step 1, the most important thing is to get in contact with your medical school to discuss next steps. Take some time to reflect on what went wrong and regroup. Consider working with EMP for study planning and tutoring. 
• If you pass Step 1, take some time to celebrate a milestone in your journey! Make a plan for your upcoming medical school curriculum and prepare for Step 2.