USMLE Step 3: Passing Score, Scheduling, Pass Rate, Tips and Prep Course
PASS YOUR USMLE STEP 3 ON YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT
All You Need to Know About USMLE Step 3: Pass Rate, Passing Score, Percentile, Average Score, Study Schedule, Questions, Preparation, Fees, Dates, Registration, Pricing, Scheduling, Registration, Reschedule, Exam Format, CCS, CCS Cases, Tips, Resources, Qbanks, Notes, MCQs, Books, Secrets, Practice Tests, Tutors, Videos, Review Courses, Strategies, Live Classes, Online Sessions, and Best USMLE Step 3 Prep Courses.
The USMLE Step 3 is the final exam leading to a license to practice medicine without supervision.
Step 3 consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), also known as items, and computer-based case simulations.
Step 3 is a two-day examination. The first day of testing includes 232 multiple-choice items divided into 6 blocks of 38-39 items; 60 minutes are allotted for completion of each block of test items. There are approximately 7 hours in the test session on the first day, including 45 minutes of break time and a 5-minute optional tutorial. Note that the amount of time available for breaks may be increased by finishing a block of test items or the optional tutorial before the allotted time expires.
There are approximately 9 hours in the test session on the second day. This day of testing includes a 5-minute optional tutorial followed by 180 multiple-choice items, divided into 6 blocks of 30 items; 45 minutes are allotted for completion of each block of test items. The second day also includes a 7-minute CCS tutorial. This is followed by 13 case simulations, each of which is allotted a maximum of 10 or 20 minutes of real time. A minimum of 45 minutes is available for break time. There is an optional survey at the end of the second day, which can be completed if time allows. Passing score is 198 for USMLE Step3, GoldUSMLE has passed all students for Step3 for 2022. Step 3 is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of physicians who are assuming independent responsibility for providing general medical care to patients, with emphasis on patient management in ambulatory settings. It is the final examination in the USMLE sequence leading to a license to practice medicine without supervision. The examination material is prepared by examination committees broadly representing the medical profession. The committees comprise recognized experts in their fields, including both academic and non-academic practitioners, as well as members of state medical licensing boards.
CALL 1-832-836-1330 TO REGISTER
PASS YOUR USMLE STEP 3 ON YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT
USMLE STEP 3 DATES AND PRICING FOR OUR LIVE AND ONLINE PREP COURSE
LIVE IN PERSON AND LIVE ONLINE INTERACTIVE USMLE Step 3 Review Course, Prep Course, and 2023 GOLDUSMLE Questions
Our Online INTERACTIVE USMLE Step 3 RAPID REVIEW OR EXTENDED PREP sessions via virtual classroom w/ flexible start and end dates w/ new classes starting every Monday**.
Upcoming USMLE Step 3 ONLINE EXTENDED MCQ + USMLE Step 3 CCS PREP SESSIONS
***For a FREE USMLE DEMO please add Skype ID goldusmlereview007
USMLE Step 3 Written Testimonials
I scored high on my STEP 3 . I excelled on my MCQ and CCS and improved my score substantially. I would like to strongly recommend GOLDUSMLE REVIEW FOR HELPING ME PASS MY STEP 3 exam.
The questions were extremely high yield for my exam and helped me push through the difficult blocks. The sessions were highly informative and covered all the topics necessary for the exam in an organized and succinct Manner.
I used the GOLDUSMLE FOR the 8 weeks course and it was a quick fix for my exam. Step 3 content was excellent to supplement going through practice questions when studying for Step 3, and it really helped me to go through specific topics from start to finish when I got questions on them. It also helped to see additional questions that might pop up with the various topics! The course instructors were extremely dedicated to include the most up to date information on these topics, which helps when trying to decide which resource is most correct when studying.
I scored high on my STEP 3 . I would like to strongly recommend GOLDUSMLE REVIEW FOR HELPING ME PASS MY STEP 3 exam.
The questions were extremely high yield for my exam and helped me push through the difficult blocks. The sessions were highly informative and covered all the topics necessary for the exam in an organized and succinct Manner.
I would like to strongly recommend the GOLDUSMLE 8 weeks STEP 3 program. I would like to thank everyone on the GOLDUSMLE staff for helping me through this step 3 exam. I am very happy with my score. The questions were very long but I got through it and finished each block on time. It is very difficult to wear a n95 mask the whole time, I strongly recommend bringing multiple masks that are very light. the KN95 is lighter and better.
USMLE Step 3 Video Testimonials
DR ARNIKKA R.
DR BEYENE GEBRESELASSIE
USMLE Step 3 MCQs and Step 3 CCS
Step 3 content reflects a data-based model of generalist medical practice in the United States. The test items and cases reflect the clinical situations that a general, as-yet undifferentiated, physician might encounter within the context of a specific setting. Step 3 provides a final assessment of physicians assuming independent responsibility for delivering general medical care.
The Step 3 examination devotes attention to the importance of assessing the knowledge and skills of physicians who are assuming independent responsibility for providing general medical care to patients. The first day of the Step 3 examination is referred to as Foundations of Independent Practice (FIP), and the second day is referred to as Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM).
Step 3 consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), also known as items, and computer-based case simulations.
Step 3 is a two-day examination. The first day of testing includes 232 multiple-choice items divided into 6 blocks of 38-39 items; 60 minutes are allotted for completion of each block of test items. There are approximately 7 hours in the test session on the first day, including 45 minutes of break time and a 5-minute optional tutorial. Note that the amount of time available for breaks may be increased by finishing a block of test items or the optional tutorial before the allotted time expires.
There are approximately 9 hours in the test session on the second day. This day of testing includes a 5-minute optional tutorial followed by 180 multiple-choice items, divided into 6 blocks of 30 items; 45 minutes are allotted for completion of each block of test items. The second day also includes a 7-minute CCS tutorial. This is followed by 13 case simulations, each of which is allotted a maximum of 10 or 20 minutes of real time. A minimum of 45 minutes is available for break time. There is an optional survey at the end of the second day, which can be completed if time allows.

How to study and plan for Step 3 exam prep
1. Realize that USMLE Step 3 is not like the others.
Step 3 is different from the other components of the USMLE in many ways. As a result, preparing for it requires a tailored approach that may not be the same as what you utilized for Step 1 or Step 2 CK.
First of all, the exam is divided into two separate days that can be, but do not have to be, contiguous. The first day consists of your standard multiple choice questions in a timed setting, while the second day is similar but with the addition of clinical cases. The cases cover a variety of clinical scenarios from emergency, to acute care, to chronic care, and you’ll need to familiarize yourself with triage as well as treatment. Overall, Step 3 heavily emphasizes triage and the delivery of care. And of course, don’t forget to study ethics and biostatistics.
2. Establish a timeline and a test date.
The first step in any study plan is to develop a timeline to establish boundaries regarding when you plan to take the exam and how much time you will have to prepare.
We must reiterate that leaving an open-ended Step 3 test date is strongly discouraged, as the associated perception that you have an unlimited amount of time to study may lead to inefficiency and procrastination.
Moreover, when you later attempt to book your test date, you may find that the dates previously available are no longer options and you have to defer your exam to later or travel to a distant testing center.
Which dates to select for the exam should be based on consideration of your schedule and when would be reasonable for you to both prepare for the test and have two days off to take it.
Specifically, you should be realistic about when you will have time to study. If you have a series of challenging rotations on which you will be putting in long hours, it’s probably not wise to schedule your exam at the end of said block. What would be preferable is to identify a period of time when you may be off or have a lighter workload, during which you may have nights and/or weekends available for studying.
Finally, one last aspect is how you want to schedule the two days relative to each other. Many people elect to take both parts back to back and finish the exam in two days, while others might prefer to have a break in between the days. The decision is personal, though I’d recommend taking a few days in between to recuperate and prepare a bit more for the clinical cases as they are lengthy, have a difficult user interface, and are something you have not yet encountered in your career.
3. Don’t neglect practice questions and practice tests.
The single most important component of any study plan is incorporating practice questions. Among qbanks, the best and go-to option is UWorld which, much like it did for Step 1 and Step 2 CK, incorporates the highest-yield concepts into questions with well-written and researched explanations. In fact, this is the best place to start your studying, and you should make it a priority to get through a first pass with reasonable efficiency to afford time to return to these questions and do as much of a second pass as possible. One great advantage to the UWorld qbank is that it accounts for, and will test you on, the higher-level ethics and biostatistics questions that you will encounter in the first test day.
If you finish UWorld once, or even twice, and have time remaining in your study period, you may be looking for more questions. GOLDUSMLE offers newer question sets that we cover during classtime and we also offer Step 3-specific questions through which you can work. The Goldusmle questions covered during class tend to be slightly more challenging and more realistic in difficulty to the exam in that we require you to pick up on minute details in longer vignettes in order to arrive at the right answer.
Regarding practice tests, your choices are the same as they were for the previous board exams and specifically are the NBMEs and UWorld Self-Assessments. It is worthwhile to at least do the latter and then consider also purchasing the former as time permits. While these tests will result in a three-digit conversion of your raw score, you should note that they are not full-length and only cover concepts tested in the multiple choice components on the exam days; they do not incorporate the CCS component which you will have to practice separately as described below.
4. Buy a textbook to assist your Step 3 studying.
Regarding textbooks for Step 3, much like Step 2 CK, a single stand-alone textbook does not exist as the go-to resource in the way that First Aid is for Step 1.
To that end, there is no single option that you should feel compelled to use. One textbook that is worth looking into is First Aid for the USMLE Step 3. While it’s not realistic or practical to read this or another similar resource from cover to cover, one way that it may be incorporated is by using it as a secondary resource to take a deeper dive into certain topics you self-diagnose as areas of opportunity.
For example, if you feel like you are consistently getting questions about the indications for different classes of antiarrhythmics wrong and, despite the question explanations, still do not have a clear framework for how to think about these medications, it may be worthwhile to review this section in the textbook you choose. What is not necessary or advisable is spending excess time reviewing the entire cardiology chapter to relearn concepts with which you already felt comfortable.
5. Use computer-based case simulations.
A unique aspect of Step 3 is the Primum® Computer-based Case Simulations (CCS) component of the exam. While the multiple choice components of Step 3 may be very similar to what you had experienced on Step 1 and Step 2 CK, this part will be very different. The single most important recommendation for approaching these cases is to become familiar with the software and how you will be timed and scored.
Specifically, on the day of the exam, you will be presented with thirteen cases which start with a brief patient vignette including whether the context is an emergency department or an outpatient clinic and routine vitals signs. It is then your responsibility to perform a physical examination and begin to order diagnostic tests and begin to develop a therapeutic plan.
As you work through these cases, there are two simultaneous clocks running. One clock counts down how much real-world time you have remaining in the simulation which generally starts at ten or twenty minutes. The other clock moves forward in simulated time to correspond to the evolution of the condition of a patient.
If this seems confusing, you should rest assured that it is not intuitive for most people. However, for that reason, it is all the more important to do the practice cases within the UWorld interface to develop dexterity with placing orders in this simulated context and hone your clinical reasoning. If you finish these with time to spare, there are so-called printable cases that walk through additional examples so that you can continue to familiarize yourself with the rubrics with which you will be scored.
When should you take USMLE Step 3?
In short, Step 3 is not the same as Step 1 or Step 2 CK and therefore requires a specialized approach. While practice questions and supplementary textbooks remain the backbone of tackling the multiple choice questions, handling the CCS cases and the logistics of having the test span two days create added levels of complexity to the testing experience.
Success with Step 3 requires confidence, dedication, and time. Create a timeline and gather your resources and then get started. Check out our USMLE Step 3 Prep Course and other blog posts for a detailed study timeline, resources, and contact us if you have any questions. We’re always here to help!
- Our Online LIVE INTERACTIVE USMLE Step 3 sessions will take place via our virtual classroom.
- You will be sent a private link to your email to access the virtual classroom.
- GOLDUSMLE USMLE STEP 3 LIVE ONLINE RAPID REVIEW AND QUESTION BASED REVIEW WILL COVER ALL NEW 2023 CHANGES IN PROTOCOL
CALL 1-832-836-1330 TO REGISTER
PASS YOUR USMLE STEP 3 ON YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT
USMLE Step 3 FAQs
When can students take USMLE Step 3?
When do you take USMLE Step 3?
USMLE Step 3 is customarily taken during the initial one or two years of residency, following the successful completion of USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK and CS. Learn more about when you take USMLE Step 3.
What is USMLE Step 3?
How to study for USMLE Step 3?
When can you take USMLE Step 3?
How long is USMLE Step 3?
How to apply for USMLE Step 3?
How much is USMLE Step 3?
How to register for Step 3 USMLE?
How to register for USMLE Step 3?
To register for USMLE Step 3, navigate to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) website, create an account, complete the application form, and pay the examination fee.