Perhaps the only thing more nerve-wracking than studying for high-stakes exams and sitting for the USMLE exams is waiting for your score report to be released. If you have some jitters post exam, trust me—you’re not alone! I’ve tutored USMLEs for a few years now and some of the common questions I get each year are, “What happens after I leave the testing center?” and “How long will it take for me to receive my score, and what happens in between?”
Asking yourself these questions, so long as you’re not overly anxious, isn’t necessarily bad. It’s important for everyone taking the USMLEs to understand what to expect after you take your exam, to stay informed about changes to score reporting, and how these changes could impact your residency applications. For IMGs, understanding how these changes align with ECFMG requirements is crucial.
To help calm your nerves and provide you with current information on USMLE score reporting (updated for 2025), let’s answer some FAQs about USMLE score reporting.
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1. What happens after I sit for my exam?
Once you complete your exam, your responses are electronically transmitted to the NBME. The process then involves several steps:
- Your raw score is calculated based on the number of correct answers.
- The raw score is converted into a three-digit scaled score using a proprietary formula.
- The NBME runs statistical analyses to ensure fairness and detect any irregularities such as unusual response patterns or suspected misconduct.
- A final quality assurance check is performed before the score is released.For example, if there’s a significant technical issue at a testing center affecting multiple students, the NBME may delay score release while they review exam integrity.
- Finally, your score report is posted to the registration entity’s (NBME, ECFMG, or FSMB) secure website and made available for you to review.
2. How long will it take to receive my USMLE Step 2 results?
Scores for all computer-based USMLE exams are typically released within 4 weeks of your test date.
How will I be notified?
You’ll receive an email from the registration entity.
Are there potential delays?
Yes, delays can occur due to holidays, system updates, or statistical analyses. Allow at least 8 weeks for notification.
Do my scores expire?
Your score report will remain available for approximately 365 days. After that, you may request your scores in the form of an official transcript, for a fee.
3. What about USMLE Step 1 & Step 3?
Results for Step 1 and Step 3 generally follow the same 4-week timeline. However, Step 3 may take longer if you take the exam in late December or early January, as this period can have delays due to administrative updates in preparation for the new year.
4. What is the USMLE score report and what’s in it?
The USMLE score report is the official document that provides your performance results for one of the USMLE exams. The report indicates whether the examinee passed or failed the exam. For Step 1, after January 26th, 2022, it only indicates pass/fail, and no longer provides a numerical score. For other exams, a three-digit score between 1 and 300 is provided.
The report includes information about areas where the examinee performed relatively higher or lower than their overall performance. It also provides a chart showing the performance distribution of examinees who sat for the exam, allowing candidates to see how they compare to others.
5. What are the 2025 minimum passing scores for each USMLE exam?
The current minimum passing scores are:
- Step 1: Pass/fail (as of 2022)
- Step 2 CK: 214
- Step 3: 200
6. What are competitive Step 2 scores for each specialty?
For more competitive specialties such as dermatology, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, ENT, and plastic surgery, you’ll want a Step 2 score of 250+ to be competitive.
As for primary care specialties like family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics, a Step 2 CK score in the mid 220s can be competitive if you also have strong clinical experience and good letters of recommendation.
For other specialties (such as emergency medicine) a Step 2 CK score of 230-240 is considered good.
Check out this Match Day 2025 retrospective for a closer look at the data per specialty!
7. Are there any recent USMLE score report format changes?
As mentioned, Step 1 officially transitioned to a pass/fail system in 2022. The reporting format for Step 2 and Step 3 remains unchanged, continuing with numerical scores. Future changes to reporting formats will be announced by the USMLE.
8. Can I contest my USMLE score?
If you suspect an error in your score calculation, you may request a score recheck through your registration entity (NBME or ECFMG). The request must be submitted within 90 days of the score release, though keep in mind that rechecks rarely result in score changes.
For example, a student who received a Step 2 score of 219 but was expecting a much higher result may request a recheck. However, since the scoring process is automated and verified multiple times, the score is unlikely to change.
9. How do I report my results to a third party?
To send your USMLE scores to medical boards, residency programs, or other institutions, request an official transcript through NBME or ECFMG. Additional copies cost extra.
If you’re an IMG applying for residency, ensure your ECFMG certification is complete before sending transcripts to residency programs. Missing this step can delay your application processing.
10. What if I have other questions?
Feel free to ask, whether it’s a question related to USMLE scoring, what a good score is for different specialties, how scoring impacts your residency application, or even how score reports work. Check out this page for more information.
Final Thoughts
Waiting for your USMLE results can be stressful, so take this time to relax! Catch up with family, travel, or enjoy a hobby. Getting to this point is a big accomplishment, so be sure not to spend all of your time worrying about your score.
If one of our FAQs didn’t address a question you have, feel free to reach out. Otherwise, take this post-exam time to relax—you’ve earned it!
