The USMLE Step 1 tests you on the basic science subjects namely Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Bio statistics and Epidemiology and Behavioral sciences. A common question IMGs have is “Which is the best time to take the USMLE Step 1?
The timeline for American Medical Graduates (AMGs) is relatively standard and most AMGs take their Step 1 at the end of their second year in medical school and take Step 2 in their fourth year.
The situation for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) is quite different as the medical school curriculum in your home country may not be geared to taking the USMLE Steps.
This creates a lot of confusion about when to give the exam. Also, your medical school may schedule their own exams throughout the year. Considering all these factors, there is no fixed time when IMGs take the Step 1.
Having completed medical school from India, the tips that I provide in this article are in context to the medical education system in India. I would love to hear your perspectives from different countries in the comments section below. However, these tips can be adjusted to suit the timeline of your home country. Here is what I recommend.
The AMG route – Step 1 at the end of second year of medical school
The first two years of medical school in India cover the basic science subjects mentioned above that are tested on the Step 1. While many IMGs may not even have decided whether they want to pursue their residency in the US, if you have taken your decision early on then this is the best time to take the exam. Here’s why:
- You are relatively fresh with the basic science subjects.
- Second year of medical school in India is long (1.5 years) and you have plenty of time to study for Step 1 apart from your medical school exams and clinics.
- USMLE rules are changing. The board has announced that you will not be able to take the Step 2 CS without first passing Step 1. Note however, that this change will not come into effect before March 1, 2021. Check for announcements on the USMLE website.
- You will have a strong foundation in the basic sciences which will be an advantage before you enter the clinical years in medical school.
- It is rather frustrating to come back and study the basic sciences from scratch once you have already entered the clinical years in medical school.
- Having completed Step 1 early on, you have enough time in the later years of your medical school to engage in research, electives, and other extra curricular activities.
Considering these factors, I think that the best time to take the USMLE Step 1 is at the end of your second year or the beginning of your third year in medical school.
There are two pre requisites to this:
- You need to take a call early on and decide that you want to pursue USMLE and a residency in the US.
- You need to be able to make a timeline around the requirements of your medical school and find time to study for Step 1.
Update : Starting in January 2022, the board has decided to score the USMLE Step 1 as Pass/ Fail rather than the 3 digit score. Considering this, it will be best to get done with your Step 1 early on as you just need to pass. Note however, the 3 digit scoring is still valid for those taking the exam before USMLE officially declares the date of the change.
Read our article on the change in Step 1 scoring to Pass/Fail here.
Taking a decision early and planning out your USMLE timeline to fit your medical school schedule can go a long way in ensuring that you have enough flexibility to accommodate everything.
If you have any questions, use the comments section below. For personalized consultation and help with your timeline, resources and strategies, fill out the consult request form and I will get back to you.
This article has been written by Dr. Rohit Nathani who is a medical graduate from Seth GS Medical College. Ask your questions in the comments section below.
To submit your USMLE experience, go to the Contribute page. Your experiences can help other IMGs in their journey! You can also email us at theindianmedicalstudent@gmail.com
2 replies on “Which is the Best time to take the USMLE Step 1 for IMGs?”
This post is helpful. I’d like to know what if our mbbs is completed and now have the desire to do residency in US?
I am an IMG. I earned my MBBS degree and had completed internship by March 2020. Until before, I didn’t have the plan to do residency in US. But, now I do. The problem is I didn’t do clerkships in US and I was told I was supposed to do clerkship before I completed my Internship in India. I am not sure what to believe. Though, I have learned from my colleagues that we can still apply.
What I want to know is: What are my chances of giving USMLE exam? If I can, in what period I can give? And whether I can do clerkship still? If not, what are the other options?
Thank you in advance.
Is it wise to take step 1 in January 2021 without reading the first aid 2021?