If you are a medical student from India, this question often pops up. What is the difference between NEET (Indian PG) v/s USMLE. The purpose of this article is not to determine which exam is better/worse rather it highlights the fundamental ways in which these two exams are different. Pick the one that works best for you!
1. Cost!
This is the number one factor that must be considered. Giving the USMLE is a long process and apart from the exam itself you are looking at a number of other expenses including electives, interviews, stay abroad, etc.The costs can be exorbitantly high.
2. Sprint v/s Marathon
NEET PG is a one day exam with 300 odd questions over 3 hours spanning 19 subjects. These are the subjects that you cover throughout your MBBS.
People usually begin preparing during their last year (Internship). Think of this as a sprint where you have to have one solid effort to crack this exam.
The USMLE on the other hand is divided into different steps that you need to give before you can apply for a residency – Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS.The process is generally quite long. Each exam is between 8-9 hours in duration.
3. The type of Questions
Although both exams test you on the basic stuff that you learn (or are supposed to learn) throughout medical school, they are different in the way the questions are framed.
The questions in NEET PG are generally shorter and ask you a direct question. For example “What is the most common cause of pleural effusion in India?”. You either know the answer or you don’t. Even the conceptual questions can be solved quickly within a few steps since it is a shorter duration exam.
Most questions on the USMLE are presented in the form of a clinical scenario with a brief history and some labs. At the end of this you will be required to make a diagnosis or answer a question. You have to put together multiple steps to have a differential diagnosis and then answer the question.
This article was written to help you get an idea of the ways in which the two exams NEET PG v/s USMLE are different from each other. Ultimately, the goal for you will be to crack whichever exam you choose to take. All the best!
To read more of my USMLE posts click here. You can also check out my eBook on How to Study for USMLE Step 1.
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