USMLE Step 1 Passing Score 2026: What Counts as a Pass
Written by Dr Zartasha Ali, MBBS, FCPS (Medicine). Reviewed by Dr Ammar Hussain, MBBS, FCPS (Pediatrics), MRCPCH.
The USMLE Step 1 passing score is 196 on the three-digit score scale, but you will never see that number on your report: Step 1 is reported as pass or fail only. USMLE states on its scoring page that all Step 1 outcomes are reported as pass/fail for exams administered on or after 26 January 2022, and that the passing standard is 196 on the three-digit scale.
Everything below comes from usmle.org, read on 14 October 2026.
USMLE passing scores for all three Steps
| Exam | Minimum passing score | In effect from | How the result is reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | 196 on the three-digit scale | Pass/fail reporting since 26 January 2022 | Pass or fail only |
| Step 2 CK | 218 | 1 July 2025 | Three-digit score and pass/fail |
| Step 3 | 200 | 1 January 2024 | Three-digit score and pass/fail |
Source: USMLE, Examination Results and Scoring, usmle.org.
The Step 3 figure may change soon. On 2 September 2026 USMLE announced that its Management Committee will review the Step 3 passing standard at its November 2026 meeting.
If the committee approves a new standard, it will apply to everyone who takes Step 3 on or after 1 January 2027. Until USMLE posts a decision, 200 is the published figure.
What is a pass on Step 1?
A pass means your performance met or exceeded the standard set by the USMLE Management Committee. That is the whole result. There is no numeric score, no percentile and no grade.
USMLE’s common questions page confirms how this appears later. For exams taken since 26 January 2022, a transcript shows Step 1 as a pass/fail outcome only, without a numeric score.
Two points about the number 196:
- It describes where the pass line sits on the scale USMLE uses for all Steps. USMLE has said that future reviews of the Step 1 standard will not be reported as a three-digit score.
- It is not a count of correct answers and it is not a percentage.
How many questions you need to get right
USMLE does not publish an exact number. The 2027 Bulletin of Information says examinees typically must answer approximately 60% of questions correctly to achieve a passing score. It adds that the percentage required varies by Step and by exam form.
The Bulletin also states that no predetermined percentage of examinees passes or fails. Step 1 is not graded on a curve. You are measured against a fixed standard, not against the other people who tested that month.
Treat 60% as a rough guide and not as a target. Exam forms differ in difficulty, and a practice score near the line leaves no room for a hard form or a bad day.
To see what your own practice result means, enter it in our NBME score calculator. It works for NBME self-assessments, the Free 120 and UWorld self-assessments.
How many questions are on USMLE Step 1?
USMLE Step 1 has up to 280 multiple-choice questions, taken in one 8-hour session. The layout changed on 14 May 2026, when USMLE moved Step 1 to new test delivery software. USMLE’s announcement says the exam content, the total number of items and the overall length of the test did not change.
| Exams before 14 May 2026 | Exams on or after 14 May 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total questions | Up to 280 | 280 (no change) |
| Blocks | 7 | 14 |
| Time per block | 60 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Questions per block | Up to 40 | Up to 20 |
| Minimum break time | 45 minutes | 55 minutes |
| Optional tutorial | 15 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Session length | 8 hours | 8 hours |
Sources: USMLE Step 1 page and the USMLE announcement of 9 March 2026 on the software update, usmle.org.
USMLE says the number of questions in a block may vary on a given form, up to the limit of 20. Time you save by finishing a block or the tutorial early is added to your break time. If you use more break time than you have, the extra is taken from your testing time.
If you studied from material written before May 2026, its advice on pacing seven long blocks is out of date. The pace per question is the same, 30 minutes for up to 20 questions, but you now have 14 shorter blocks. RecallsGuru’s USMLE Step 1 recalls are written by our own authors for timed practice.
How the passing score is set
The USMLE Management Committee sets the minimum passing score for each Step. Its announcement about the Step 3 review describes the process, and USMLE says reviews of each Step’s standard typically take place every three to four years. The committee looks at:
- recommendations from standard-setting panels of physicians and educators who are not part of USMLE
- surveys of groups such as state licensing representatives and residency program directors
- trends in examinee performance
- the precision of scores
The Bulletin warns that the minimum passing level may change at any time, with notice posted on usmle.org. A change applies from a stated date and affects people who test on or after that date.
How many attempts do you get at Step 1?
Four. The USMLE attempt limit page states: “The total number of attempts allowed per Step is four (4).” Before July 2021 the limit was six.
| Rule | What USMLE says |
|---|---|
| Total attempts per Step | Four |
| What counts as an attempt | Incomplete attempts count |
| After four attempts without a pass | You are ineligible to apply for any Step |
| Retaking a Step you passed | Not allowed, except in limited cases approved for licensing time limits |
| Retaking to improve a result | Not allowed |
The 2027 Bulletin’s eligibility section is the source for the second row. It says the limit applies to four or more attempts “including incomplete attempts”. Starting the exam and leaving part-way can therefore use up an attempt.
What happens if you fail USMLE Step 1
Here is what follows a fail, according to USMLE.
You receive a report with feedback. USMLE says the Step 1 score report for failing examinees shows whether you scored below, about the same as, or above a low pass in each content area. It also includes a visual that shows how close you were to the passing standard.
You can apply again. A retake needs a new application and a new fee. Current amounts are on our USMLE exam fees page.
You have used one of four attempts. Three remain after a first fail.
You can ask for a recheck, but it is unlikely to help. A score recheck must be requested within 90 days of your result being released, with a service fee paid to the organization that registered you. USMLE states that the recheck is a re-scoring by a separate system, not a manual review, and that no recheck has changed a score to date.
How soon can you retake Step 1?
USMLE sets two timing rules. Both come from the 2027 Bulletin of Information.
| Attempt | Timing rule |
|---|---|
| Second and third | No more than three attempts at the same Step within any 12-month period |
| Fourth | At least 12 months after your first attempt, and at least six months after your most recent attempt |
You wait for your result, which typically takes two to four weeks. Then you submit a new application, receive a new scheduling permit, and find a Prometric seat inside your new three-month eligibility period. Our page on USMLE Step 1 exam dates explains each of those stages.
You wait for your result, which typically takes two to four weeks. Then you submit a new application, receive a new scheduling permit, and find a Prometric seat inside your new three-month eligibility period.
There is also a longer clock. USMLE says most medical licensing authorities require Steps 1, 2 and 3 to be completed within a seven-year period that begins when you pass your first Step.
Questions people ask
Is 260 a good USMLE score?
That question applies to Step 2 CK and Step 3, which report three-digit scores. Step 1 reports only pass or fail, so there is no 260 on Step 1.
Is 196 a good Step 1 score?
The question no longer applies. Since 26 January 2022 nobody receives a Step 1 number. There is a pass and there is a fail.
What percentage do you need to pass USMLE Step 1?
USMLE says examinees typically need to answer approximately 60% of questions correctly. The exact percentage varies by exam form and is not published.
Are some Step 1 questions unscored?
Yes. The USMLE common questions page refers to items on the exam “whether scored or unscored”. You cannot tell which are which, so answer every question as if it counts.
Does the USMLE use experimental questions?
USMLE answers this with “No.” It says it does not include unreviewed questions or questions outside the content outline, and that scored and unscored items pass through the same review by subject experts.
Do residency programs see a Step 1 score?
For exams taken on or after 26 January 2022 they see a pass or fail outcome only, according to USMLE.
What are the Step 2 CK and Step 3 passing scores?
Step 2 CK is 218, in effect since 1 July 2025. Step 3 is 200, in effect since 1 January 2024. The Step 3 standard is under review in November 2026, with any change applying from 1 January 2027.
Can I retake Step 1 after passing?
No. USMLE says you may not retake a passed exam to raise your score. The only exceptions concern licensing time limits approved by USMLE.
Does leaving the exam early count as an attempt?
Yes. The Bulletin counts incomplete attempts towards the limit of four.
When do I find out whether I passed?
Results are released on Wednesdays and are typically available two to four weeks after the test date. USMLE asks you to allow up to eight weeks.
Has the Step 1 pass line changed since 2022?
The usmle.org pages we read give 196 as the current standard and list no later change for Step 1.
Sources
Pages opened on 14 October 2026:
- USMLE, Examination Results and Scoring: https://www.usmle.org/scores-transcripts/examination-results-and-scoring
- USMLE, Bulletin of Information 2027, Scoring and Score Reporting: https://www.usmle.org/bulletin-information/scoring-and-score-reporting
- USMLE, Bulletin of Information 2027, Eligibility: https://www.usmle.org/bulletin-information/eligibility
- USMLE, Common Questions, Scores: https://www.usmle.org/common-questions/scores
- USMLE, Common Questions, Step 1: https://www.usmle.org/common-questions/step-1
- USMLE, Step 1 Common Questions (experimental items): https://usmle.org/common-questions/step-1-common-questions
- USMLE, Common Questions, Attempt Limit: https://www.usmle.org/common-questions/attempt-limit
- USMLE, Step 1: https://www.usmle.org/step-exams/step-1
- USMLE, Test Delivery Software Updates for Step 2 CK and Step 1 Coming in May 2026 (9 March 2026): https://www.usmle.org/test-delivery-software-updates-step-2-ck-and-step-1-coming-may-2026
- USMLE, Test Delivery Software Updates in Place for Step 1 (14 May 2026): https://www.usmle.org/test-delivery-software-updates-place-step-1
- USMLE, Scheduled Review of USMLE Step 3 Passing Standard (2 September 2026): https://www.usmle.org/scheduled-review-usmle-step-3-passing-standard-0
- USMLE, Score Rechecks: https://www.usmle.org/scores-transcripts/score-rechecks
- USMLE, Exam Day Information, Break Time: https://www.usmle.org/what-to-know/exam-day-information/break-time