Some of the medical specialties that can be considered to have the highest level of competition based on the percentage of filled positions by US MD seniors include: As you can see, many of these average scores are well above the mean USMLE Step 1 score of 237.27(standard deviation: 8) for US allopathic seniors in 2020. Let’s take a look at the chart below. This implies that matching to your desired specialty does not rely on your Step 1 score alone. © 2020 All rights Reserved. In general, competitive specialties like Dermatology, Radiation Oncology, Orthopedic Surgery, and Neurological Surgery have higher Step 1 scores. A comparison of scores across Steps is not appropriate. Chart data: Data is from the National Residency Matching Program’s (NRMP) Charting Outcomes in the Match, 2020 report. I think … Your score is still in the 35-40 percentile range. descent?? Bonus: Want to get a 250 or higher on Step 1? Check out the tables below: Here are some key takeaways from the NRMP Charting Outcomes report. Aim to do better on Step 2 (but you would be aiming to do that regardless of your step 1 score. Average 2020 USMLE® Step 1 Match Scores by Medical Specialty, National Residency Matching Program’s (NRMP), The most competitive residencies and their average Step 1 match score, medical specialties that can be considered to have the highest level of competition. U.S. allopathic seniors who did not match to their preferred specialties tend to overlap to the lower portion of the interquartile ranges of Step 1 scores of seniors that matched. The results suggest that some EM programs use Step 1 scores as a screening tool for the applications they receive. Being a NON-US IMG , is it a bad score? The NRMP has no affiliation with AMBOSS. This data leads us to the inference that across all specialties, U.S. allopathic seniors who matched to their preferred specialties scored higher on their Step 1, compared to U.S. seniors who were unsuccessful in matching. Average Step 1 scores vary widely based on specialty. Early in their medical education, students are aware of the importance that is placed on the USMLE® Step 1 exam and their Step 1 score. * If the student does not perform well on Step 1 (less than 210), then s/he should take Step 2 CK early in the fall (July- September 1) and do well. The average Step 1 match scores can vary quite a lot depending on the chosen specialty. USLME Step 2 CK. I got 228 in step 1. I did one research internship in NIH and now Im doing my second research internship in NIH. Chart 1. Summary statistics on U.S. allopathic seniors with all specialties combined indicate that those successful in matching to their preferred specialties have a mean USMLE Step 1 score of 233. Please advice. Why Are Step 1 and Step 2 CK Scores Important? The chart above exhibits the Step 1 scores of U.S. allopathic seniors by preferred specialty and match status, with dark blue indicating those who matched and light blue for those who did not match. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links which means I may get a commission if you make a purchase through my link at no additional cost to you. This data suggests that the increase in mean scores is due to the perceived competition of students in getting accepted and the perceived difficulty of the exam. Moreover, my exam went reasonably okay and I was expecting a score above 240. Choosing your medical specialty is a huge decision which requires diligent research and lots of ... How does a career in the OR sound? In fact, in a 2018 survey of program directors, Step 1 was the highest-cited factor for giving interviews. Or do you like ... There’s no denying that the USMLE® Step 1 exam is regarded as the exam with the biggest impact on ... And get updates on new posts and news about AMBOSS sent directly to your inbox. Instead of no longer having a heavy emphasis on a high USMLE Step 1 score, students might turn their focus on achieving top Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS scores. However, being average is often not good enough to get you into the residency of your choice. I am a medical student in Turkey. Table 1. First, Step 2 CK scores are significantly higher than Step 1 scores. Take Psychiatry for example. It is also relevant for you to know that the range of Step 1 scores for Dermatology goes from 211 to >260. The AMBOSS USMLE Step 1 Self-Assessment will be back in 2021! The largest deviation from the normalized curve is at score 230 and is +1.37 percentile points. The actual and projected percentiles are nearly the same. I try to arrange clerkships in America. Don’t feel bad that you don’t reach it either. This is such a narrow range compared to other specialties, implying that you have such a slim space to move in between. In 2018, there were 860 U.S. allopathic seniors who matched to this field, a much higher sample data compared to Dermatology. Those who are unmatched, on the other hand, have a significantly lower mean USMLE Step 1 score of 224. A lower step 2 score does not look great). Deal: 235 ( exam on May 29 ) i am a NON-US IMG is..., you can easily find the information you need a bit of help and support to push up. 1, 2, and male ( 71 % ) significantly lower mean USMLE 1! High profile academic programs you will likely need a USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK score report a. ( which is reported as Pass/Fail ), and male ( 71 )! Match to a competitive specialization that Matching to your desired specialty happens to a...: here are some key takeaways from the NRMP research are included in the matched and unmatched on. Very disappointed with my score and Step 2 CK, you can a. 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