The Bar has been raised once again!
The USMLE announced that starting Jan 1 2018, the passing score for Step 1 will increase from 192 to 194. 
It doesn't matter for us... cause we are gunners!!! 
Passing is not good enough. In fact forget 240, we are shooting for 260! 
FYI: The last time the USMLE Step 1 score was raised was on Jan 1, 2014 where the passing score increased from 188 to 192.
Mis diez mejores consejos para los que van a dar el step 1 proximamente:
Read more: Step 1 Tips from a Recent Test Taker
"The number of items per block will decrease from 46 to 44. There will be a total of 308 items on each examination. The length of the examination day will remain unchanged. The test day will continue to be divided into seven 60-minute blocks, administered in one seven-hour testing session." - USMLE.org
A lot of students have been asking for my opinons about the recent changes to the step 1 Exam. So here is my two cents:
The exam is always evolving and getting more difficult. The length of questions has increased along with more clinical and lab data to sort thru. In addition, the exam is asking more multistep questions that require you to figure out one fact to answer the question about another fact. This is not new. This is always happening. These types of questions require more time so reducing the number of questions must be done from time to time. This is not the first time that the exam has reduced questions. The exam used to be 2 days 800 questions and will now be down to one day 308 questions.
The bottom line is that you need to take the exam when and where you are the most ready to get the highest score that you can. High Scores open doors! That's all that matters.... so take the time that you need to Rock the Exam!!!
That said... the exam is always getting more difficult so taking it sooner is better then later. Waiting another year means more "tinib" drugs to learn. Yikes! Another reason to take it before the change (May 11th) is that you will have to wait a lot longer for the results which is excrutiating!!! 
On the other hand, rushing to get it done and getting a lower score is certainly not the thing to do either! 
The much more important issue for you is the addition of quality improvement principles and safety science! Do you know what a Fishbone Diagram or root cause analysis is all about?!?!?!? 
Wishing you the best!
John
There are 110 Practice questions available to download for Step 1 for free from www.USMLE.org
These questions are from the guys who write the exam so make sure to do them!!!
Download 2018 Practice Questions PDF 
Version
Another option is you can take the same exam at a Prometrics center. I highly recommend this to students who want to get familiar with the test taking environment before going in for the real deal. It costs ~$75 and gives you the opportunity to go to the same prometrics center that you will take your exam at.... go thru the sign in procedure, use their computer and equipment, and have the same experience as your will on exam day. This can really help reduce some of the stress and axiety as you have been there before and gone thru it once already. You can find out more here.
It's a great idea to use these normal lab values provided by the boards when your doing Questions.
Print out the sheet and start using them so when the exam comes your ready to "rock and roll"!
"I had tons of questions that gave me lab values and it takes time to check the table if we don't know them, so learning them would make students more time efficient and have extra time for the tough questions "
- Roberto R. 2016
Download Dr. Barone's Key Lab Values
Related Mnemonic: Biochemistry: Normal Lab Values
Related Mnemonic: Normal Differential Mnemonic
Here are some new changes to the step 1 USMLE exam that go into effect May 9, 2016.
> The total number of items will decrease from 308 to 280.
> The number of items per block will decrease from 44 to 40.
> The length of the examination day will remain unchanged.
> The scores from the old format (308) and new format (280) will be comparable.
> The passing scores for the exams have not changed and are:
Step 1: 192
Step 2 CK: 209
Step 3: 196
This is not a surprise.... they did the same thing last year. The exam questions are gradually getting longer and more complex so a decrease in the number of questions allows you more time to handle each question. With less questions, it means that each question is worth more. The exam is always getting more difficult. If you could go back 10 years and take the exam it would be a piece of cake. Anyone got a time machine?
Ultimately, it doesn't matter may questions they throw at us... focus on slaying the Dragon!!! This shouldn't affect your prep.... master the content and do lots of questions. You got this!
I will be rooting for you as always!
Warmly,
John
* The USMLE Step 1 passing score was raised from 188 to 192 on Jan 1, 2014 which would correspond with the slight increase in failures from 2013 to 2014.
This means that 22% of first time IMG test takers don't Pass on their first attempt!!! This really kills your chances of matching. Don't let this happen. Be prepared to slay the Dragon!
Remember passing is not enough!! We are shooting for 260!
Source: USMLE.org website
