[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":352},["ShallowReactive",2],{"STORED_CATEGORIES":3,"content-/usmle-step-1-pass-rate":94,"related_posts__usmle-step-1-pass-rate":337},{"tips":4,"features":27,"updates":44,"resources":61,"tutorials":77},{"id":5,"title":6,"body":7,"description":14,"extension":15,"meta":16,"name":20,"navigation":21,"path":22,"seo":23,"slug":24,"stem":25,"__hash__":26},"categories/categories/astuces.md","Astuces",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":10},"minimark",[],{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":13},"",2,[],"Tips for medical students and IMGs preparing for medical licensing exams","md",{"uri":17,"categoryId":18,"parentId":19},"/allqbanks/blog/category/tips/","6","null","Tips",true,"/categories/astuces",{"description":14},"tips","categories/astuces","jnCzTibPg-D-sfxzDOWknpYMUD5a3NJF65BLYE6B1_Q",{"id":28,"title":29,"body":30,"description":34,"extension":15,"meta":35,"name":38,"navigation":21,"path":39,"seo":40,"slug":41,"stem":42,"__hash__":43},"categories/categories/fonctionnalites.md","Fonctionnalites",{"type":8,"value":31,"toc":32},[],{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":33},[],"All features that AllQbanks offers to help you pass your medical licensing exams",{"uri":36,"categoryId":37,"parentId":19},"/allqbanks/blog/category/features/","1","Features","/categories/fonctionnalites",{"description":34},"features","categories/fonctionnalites","xSe7PR9s_GIjy5B_sAr1yNuHV5fvnXWRxQegNk9JjVI",{"id":45,"title":46,"body":47,"description":51,"extension":15,"meta":52,"name":55,"navigation":21,"path":56,"seo":57,"slug":58,"stem":59,"__hash__":60},"categories/categories/mises-a-jour.md","Mises A Jour",{"type":8,"value":48,"toc":49},[],{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":50},[],"Stay informed with the latest feature releases, platform updates, and medical exam news from AllQbanks.",{"uri":53,"categoryId":54,"parentId":19},"/allqbanks/blog/category/updates/","3","Updates","/categories/mises-a-jour",{"description":51},"updates","categories/mises-a-jour","hG_sOU7ROAh3OB-gEtM6bnK_D6OxLXfWaiSFsrQ5j5U",{"id":62,"title":63,"body":64,"description":68,"extension":15,"meta":69,"name":63,"navigation":21,"path":72,"seo":73,"slug":74,"stem":75,"__hash__":76},"categories/categories/resources.md","Resources",{"type":8,"value":65,"toc":66},[],{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":67},[],"Free and paid resources for medical students and IMGs preparing for medical licensing exams",{"uri":70,"categoryId":71,"parentId":19},"/allqbanks/blog/category/resources/","8","/categories/resources",{"description":68},"resources","categories/resources","dE_XE6ncvI16FXzsWIGKrZOhFrPkmfDRywoQqhHX968",{"id":78,"title":79,"body":80,"description":84,"extension":15,"meta":85,"name":88,"navigation":21,"path":89,"seo":90,"slug":91,"stem":92,"__hash__":93},"categories/categories/tutoriels.md","Tutoriels",{"type":8,"value":81,"toc":82},[],{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":83},[],"Step-by-step tutorials and guides to help you prepare for your medical licensing exams",{"uri":86,"categoryId":87,"parentId":19},"/allqbanks/blog/category/tutorials/","4","Tutorials","/categories/tutoriels",{"description":84},"tutorials","categories/tutoriels","hRZ1xzXve8-MhCWXxP9CtriTTB0XCxWRxVHtnPUdOsc",{"id":95,"title":96,"author":97,"author_slug":98,"body":99,"categories":323,"date":325,"date_mod":325,"description":326,"extension":15,"featured":327,"featured_image":328,"featured_image_alt_text":329,"meta":330,"navigation":21,"path":331,"seo":332,"sitemap":333,"stem":334,"tags":335,"updatedAt":335,"__hash__":336},"content/content/usmle-step-1-pass-rate.md","USMLE Step 1 Pass Rate & Passing Score Breakdown [2026]","Dr. Leila Haddad","leila-haddad",{"type":8,"value":100,"toc":314},[101,113,138,143,146,166,174,178,181,258,263,266,273,277,280,295,299,311],[102,103,104,105,112],"p",{},"Navigating the USMLE Step 1 pass rates is essential for medical students planning their dedicated study strategy. Since transitioning to Pass/Fail reporting, candidates receive a pass/fail outcome rather than a 3-digit numerical score, but understanding the underlying performance benchmarks remains critical (",[106,107,111],"a",{"href":108,"rel":109},"https://www.usmle.org/",[110],"nofollow","USMLE Bulletin",", 2026).",[114,115,116,122],"blockquote",{},[102,117,118],{},[119,120,121],"strong",{},"Key Takeaways",[123,124,125,132,135],"ul",{},[126,127,128,129,112],"li",{},"The official passing threshold for USMLE Step 1 is set at 196 on the 3-digit scaled score system (",[106,130,111],{"href":108,"rel":131},[110],[126,133,134],{},"First-time pass rates for US/Canadian MD students sit at approximately 92%, US DO students at 89%, and International Medical Graduates (IMGs) at 52–58%.",[126,136,137],{},"Official score reports provide performance feedback across individual content areas if a candidate does not pass.",[139,140,142],"h2",{"id":141},"what-is-the-official-usmle-step-1-passing-score","What Is the Official USMLE Step 1 Passing Score?",[102,144,145],{},"The USMLE Composite Committee sets the passing standard for Step 1. Although your transcript displays only \"PASS\" or \"FAIL\", the internal score calculation relies on a standard scaled score system:",[123,147,148,154,160],{},[126,149,150,153],{},[119,151,152],{},"Passing Score Standard",": 196 (out of a theoretical maximum of 300).",[126,155,156,159],{},[119,157,158],{},"Percentage Correct Equivalent",": Roughly 60–65% of scorable items answered correctly, depending on block difficulty calibration.",[126,161,162,165],{},[119,163,164],{},"Scored vs Experimental Items",": Out of 280 items on test day, approximately 80 items are unscored pre-test questions used for future exam calibration.",[102,167,168,169,173],{},"To understand how Step 1 fits into overall USMLE preparation, read our master overview in the ",[106,170,172],{"href":171},"/usmle-step-1-guide","Complete USMLE Step 1 Guide",".",[139,175,177],{"id":176},"how-do-usmle-step-1-pass-rates-differ-by-candidate-group","How Do USMLE Step 1 Pass Rates Differ by Candidate Group?",[102,179,180],{},"Pass rates vary significantly depending on educational background and candidate category:",[182,183,187],"figure",{"className":184,"style":186},[185],"chart-container","margin: 2.5rem auto; max-width: 600px; text-align: center; padding: 1.5rem; border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.08); border-radius: 12px; background: rgba(0,0,0,0.02);",[188,189,194,198,202,210,220,226,231,235,239,243,247,250],"svg",{"viewBox":190,"style":191,"role":192,"ariaLabel":193},"0 0 560 250","max-width: 100%; height: auto; font-family: 'Inter', system-ui, sans-serif;","img","USMLE Step 1 Pass Rate by Group",[195,196,197],"title",{},"USMLE Step 1 Pass Rates by Cohort",[199,200,201],"desc",{},"Grouped bar chart showing Step 1 first-time pass rates for US MD, US DO, and IMG test takers.",[203,204],"rect",{"x":205,"y":206,"width":207,"height":208,"rx":87,"fill":209},"150","30","340","32","#38bdf8",[211,212,219],"text",{"x":213,"y":214,"textAnchor":215,"fontSize":216,"fontWeight":217,"fill":218},"140","51","end","12","600","currentColor","US MD Seniors",[211,221,225],{"x":222,"y":214,"fontSize":216,"fill":223,"fontWeight":224,"textAnchor":215},"480","#ffffff","bold","92%",[203,227],{"x":205,"y":228,"width":229,"height":208,"rx":87,"fill":230},"85","320","#22c55e",[211,232,234],{"x":213,"y":233,"textAnchor":215,"fontSize":216,"fontWeight":217,"fill":218},"106","US DO Seniors",[211,236,238],{"x":237,"y":233,"fontSize":216,"fill":223,"fontWeight":224,"textAnchor":215},"460","89%",[203,240],{"x":205,"y":213,"width":241,"height":208,"rx":87,"fill":242},"200","#f97316",[211,244,246],{"x":213,"y":245,"textAnchor":215,"fontSize":216,"fontWeight":217,"fill":218},"161","IMG Candidates",[211,248,249],{"x":207,"y":245,"fontSize":216,"fill":223,"fontWeight":224,"textAnchor":215},"55%",[211,251,257],{"x":252,"y":253,"textAnchor":254,"fontSize":255,"fill":218,"opacity":256},"280","220","middle","11","0.5","Source: FSMB & NBME Official Performance Summary Data (2026)",[259,260,262],"h3",{"id":261},"why-do-international-medical-graduate-pass-rates-differ","Why Do International Medical Graduate Pass Rates Differ?",[102,264,265],{},"International Medical Graduates face unique challenges, including differences in medical curriculum timing, language nuances, and varying familiarity with NBME-style vignette stems. IMGs should budget extra preparation time for QBank practice.",[102,267,268,269,173],{},"For registration details and international testing fees, consult our ",[106,270,272],{"href":271},"/usmle-step-1-registration","USMLE Step 1 Registration & Exam Cost Guide",[139,274,276],{"id":275},"how-do-official-step-1-score-reports-work","How Do Official Step 1 Score Reports Work?",[102,278,279],{},"When your Step 1 results are released (typically 2 to 4 weeks after your exam date), your official score report displays:",[281,282,283,289],"ol",{},[126,284,285,288],{},[119,286,287],{},"Result Status",": PASS or FAIL clearly printed on page 1.",[126,290,291,294],{},[119,292,293],{},"Performance Profile",": If a candidate fails, a detailed diagnostic chart shows relative performance (Same, Lower, Higher) across disciplines like Pathology, Pharmacology, and Cardiovascular systems.",[139,296,298],{"id":297},"what-step-1-score-do-you-need-to-be-safe","What Step 1 Score Do You Need to Be Safe?",[102,300,301,302,306,307,173],{},"To ensure your practice exam scores predict a safe passing buffer before test day, see our guide on ",[106,303,305],{"href":304},"/nbme-step-1-free-120-guide","NBME Self-Assessments & Free 120 Score Conversion"," and practice with ",[106,308,310],{"href":309},"/usmle-step-1-practice-questions","USMLE Step 1 Practice Questions",[102,312,313],{},"A common misconception is that a Pass/Fail exam allows you to cut corners on preparation. In reality, building a strong basic science foundation on Step 1 directly impacts your USMLE Step 2 CK performance, which remains numerically scored and heavily weighted by residency program directors.",{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":315},[316,317,321,322],{"id":141,"depth":12,"text":142},{"id":176,"depth":12,"text":177,"children":318},[319],{"id":261,"depth":320,"text":262},3,{"id":275,"depth":12,"text":276},{"id":297,"depth":12,"text":298},[324],"usmle","2026-07-28T19:30:00Z","Discover the 2026 USMLE Step 1 pass rate data, 196 passing score threshold, official NBME performance reports, and US MD vs IMG stats.",false,"/img/usmle-step-1-pass-rate.png","Comparison chart of USMLE Step 1 pass rates across candidate groups",{},"/usmle-step-1-pass-rate",{"title":96,"description":326},{"loc":331,"lastmod":325},"content/usmle-step-1-pass-rate",null,"cbyazYoWkfXAXF4Ql20wbCeYd-4Vjl2yo8UZHF5syfg",[338,345],{"title":339,"path":340,"stem":341,"date":325,"date_mod":325,"description":342,"author":97,"featured_image":343,"categories":344,"children":-1},"USMLE Step 1 High Yield Topics & Systems Guide [2026]","/usmle-step-1-high-yield-topics","content/usmle-step-1-high-yield-topics","Master 2026 USMLE Step 1 high yield topics with official NBME system weightings, Table 1 organ system specs, Table 2 physician tasks, and core disease concepts.","/img/usmle-step-1-high-yield-topics.png",[324],{"title":346,"path":347,"stem":348,"date":325,"date_mod":325,"description":349,"author":97,"featured_image":350,"categories":351,"children":-1},"USMLE Step 1 Pharmacology & Biochemistry Guide [2026]","/usmle-step-1-pharmacology-biochemistry","content/usmle-step-1-pharmacology-biochemistry","Master 2026 USMLE Step 1 pharmacology and biochemistry with 30%+ exam weightings, CYP450 tables, and glycogen storage disease notes.","/img/usmle-step-1-pharmacology-biochemistry.png",[324],1785275490116]