USMLE Step 1 Live + Center Prep - $4,399

Study in the US for the USMLE Step 1 with this comprehensive course option.

Combining both Center based and Live preparation you'll receive the most comprehensive USMLE Step 1 Preparation. Our Live Lectures, with expert Medical Faculty, focus on high yield USMLE Step 1 exam content, while our Center-based preparation offers you the opportunity to study with over 230 hours of audio-visual Step 1 lectures and guide your study with our USMLE Step 1 Personal Learning System (PLS).

Studying a Live + Center Prep course in the US allows you to apply for a US Student Visa. Kaplan Medical will provide you with an I-20, documentation required to apply for the visa. Kaplan Medical Europe can help you with the application for this. Contact us to find out more.

USMLE Step 1	Live + Center Prep
Course Dates & Locations	Downloadable Course Dates
Course Price	$4,399
Course Length	7 weeks Live Prep & 3 months Center Prep
Course Materials	Full set of USMLE Course Books Personal Learning System USMLE Step 1 Quizzes 230+hours of audio-visual lectures Qbank Plus

Live Prep USA Application Form

USMLE Live + Center Overview - $4,399

To book our USMLE Live + Center Prep in the US, you'll need to complete a Medical Admissions Application Form and send it to kaptest.europe@kaplan.com.

You will choose from one of our Center Prep locations in the US and provide us with a start date. You'll then also pick a Live Prep location and course date (fitting into your 3 month Center Prep dates). If you require a visa you will need us to provide you with an I-20. To receive this, you will need to send us:

Proof of English Language competency
Copies of Bank Statements proving you can survive financially in the US
Proof and details of your Medical Diploma/Degree or Qualifications
Signed letter of Sponsorship if you are being supported by a family member/institution
Proof of Nationality and copies of your passport

Once you have compiled all relevant information, paid for your course in full and sent us your application, we will forward it to Medical Admissions who will process your application. The date you state on your application is binding for your Visa and cannot be changed. Once enrolled you'll be sent a welcome pack for your Center and details of your course.

USMLE Live + Center Materials

Study at a Kaplan Medical Center in the US and combine 7 week Live Preparation with 3 months of Center Prep to get the most comprehensive preparation. You'll receive the following materials:

USMLE Step 1 Lecture Notes
230+ hours of USMLE Step 1 audio-visual lectures
7 weeks of Live Lectures with expert Kaplan Medical Faculty
USMLE Step 1 Diagnostic Test
USMLE Step 1 Simulated Exam
USMLE Qbank Plus with over 2,400 USMLE Step 1 exam style questions

USMLE Step 1 Exam Overview

The USMLE exam series is required for all International Medical Graduates to gain ECFMG certification and ultimately secure a US Residency Program. USMLE Step 1 & 2 CK scores are used by Residency Program Coordinators as an initial screening process for applications. Competitive scores help your application to get noticed, and based on your application you will be invited to interview.

The USMLE Step 1 exam is typically taken by US Medical Students at the end of their second year at Medical School. The exam focuses on the Basic Sciences, testing the following disciplines:

Anatomy
Biochemistry
Microbiology
Physiology
Pharmacology
Immunology
Behavioral Science
Medical Genetics
Pathology

The struggle for many International Medical Graduates is going back to basics and thinking like a medical student again. There are also marked differences in the emphasis on subjects for US Medical Students. In the US, a far greater emphasis is placed on Behavioral Science than anywhere else. The USMLE Step 1 format means that you should be able to link information from a number of different disciplines in order to make conclusions based on the information in the question.

You will see questions in Clinical Vignette format, with multiple choice answers. This means that questions will require you to make a number of conclusions based on limited information in questions. This requires you to pull on information from a range of disciplines and organ systems. If you are unfamiliar with one area or part of the question, it is likely you will pick the incorrect answer.

USMLE Step 1 Exam Format

The USMLE Step 1 Exam Format

The USMLE Step 1 is a computer based exam, administered by the Thompson Prometric Center.

Test Day Timing

Total Test Time: 8 hours

Break Time: 45 minutes

Tutorial Time: 15 minutes (optional)

Time per Block: 60 minutes

Question Format

Total Questions: 336 Questions

Number of Blocks: 7 Blocks of 48 questions

Question Type: Multiple Choice questions, 5 or more possible answers

Question Format: Clinical Vignette questions, using lab results, images or multimedia

USMLE Step 1 Exam Scores

USMLE Step 1

Minimum Passing Score: 188 (75)
Percentage of Questions Answered Correctly: 60-70%
US Medical Student Average: 220-240

There is no negative marking on the USMLE Step 1 exam, it is one best answer, so if you’re running out of time, or are unsure of the answer – then guess.

188 is the three digit passing score for the USMLE Step 1, a two digit passing score (75) is also provided. The two digit score is a percentile, used by some Medical Schools, you may hear reference to a passing score of “75”.

International Medical Graduates should note that 188, is the minimum passing score. This is not high enough to gain residency. US Medical Graduates pass with average scores between 220 & 240 and you will be competing with these people for Residency places. A high score is important to gain a competitive Residency.

You can only retake the USMLE Step 1 if you fail – so passing with only 185 means that you can’t retake to improve your score, and high USMLE scores open the way for admission to competitive Residency Programs.

Register for the USMLE Step 1

International Medical Graduates must first register with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) online at www.ecfmg.org. To start a Residency Program all IMG’s must have certification from the ECFMG. Due to the differing standards of Medical Degrees globally, Program Coordinators need to compare you to be at the same level as US Graduates to compare your applications, the ECFMG works to do this.

To book your exam, you should first register with the ECFMG to get an “ECFMG Token” – this is an identification number that you need to book your exam. To register for your exam you will need to send of a notarized identification form (Form 186). When you know the date you want to take your exam, you can book your 3 month eligibility period through the ECFMG. At this point you will need to pay a $740 application fee, plus an International Test delivery charge ($130-$330) depending on the country you’ll be taking your exam in.

Once you have registered for your USMLE Step 1 Eligibility Period you will be sent a Scheduling Permit. This stipulates the dates that you should take your exam between, and details of how to book your exam. The USMLE Step 1 is administered by the Prometric Center. Visit their website to find out the locations you can take your exam.

The exam is available on any day of the week bar Sunday’s. You book in for an available slot and take your exam on computer. Results can take between 3-6 weeks to receive, remember this when booking your exam and planning your application.

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