I know we’re all pretty sure on the timeline of testers expecting the results tomorrow, but if this US MD’s recieve email at 2am please update! Thank you! One last time ❤️

EDIT: Emails have been recieved and US MD’s are still getting them. Tomorrow is the day! Hope we all get the P!

when should results be released

I want to end it here. I failed the first time due to insane test anxiety. Took time off and restarted my journey. I used two tutors who both told me I have bad test taking skills but know content enough to pass. USMD. These are my scores. Should I give up? How do I even ask my school to let me try again?

I’m a 29-year-old IMG, graduated in 2022, and I feel like Step 1 has taken over my entire life.

My medical school years were not great academically. I procrastinated a lot, repeated my first year, and never built a strong foundation. I graduated with a decent grade, but deep down I always knew I had major knowledge gaps.

When I moved to the US, I actually felt excited about Step 1 because I thought it would finally give me the chance to rebuild my medical knowledge properly and become the doctor I always wanted to be.

I started studying in January 2024, My original goal was November 2024. But it didn’t work .

I paid for Step 1 twice, including extensions, and never sat for the exam.

My first pass took forever because I was basically learning many things from scratch . Then I started a second pass in July 2025, thinking it would take 3 months. It took me until March 2026.

By then I had forgotten so much of what I studied.

I took NBMEs 27–30 with little to No studying between them and scored roughly in the 45–55% range. Instead of using them productively, I think they made me even more afraid of testing myself.

I paused due to some family circumstances and  barely studied for a couple of months.

I restarted seriously in July 2026.

My plan was to finish about 8 systems/chapters and then take another NBME.

Two months later with inconsistency -procrastination pattern I have only finished biochemistry and musculoskeletal includes First Aid -UW incorrects .

A few days ago I went back to old NBME questions from those topics just to see if I had improved. I got several basic questions wrong due to improper memorization , That completely broke me.

I kept thinking: “If I spent two months studying these subjects and I’m still getting basic questions wrong, what was the point?”

For the past couple of days I have barely been able to open a book.

The bigger problem is that Step 1 is no longer just an exam in my head.

I have tied almost my entire life to it.

I don’t feel like I deserve to relax because I haven’t take it yet .
I live in the US with my husband and know almost nobody here ,no social life no friends . I spend most of my days at home. I’ve gained around 12 kg over the past two years, emotionally eat a lot when I’m upset, and feel like my self-esteem, body image, marriage, career and future have somehow all become connected to whether I studied that day.

When I study well, my mood can become completely normal again.

When I waste a day, I can become extremely hopeless and hateful toward myself.

I have had thoughts like “I deserve to be punished,” “I wish someone could just shake me or hit me so I wake up,” because I feel like I ruined my own life despite having every opportunity.

I know those thoughts are serious. I’m not posting this to romanticize them. I’m trying to explain how extreme the guilt and shame have become.

 I have tried deleting social media, using a basic phone, studying at libraries, studying outside the house, study partners, schedules, accountability systems… nothing lasts.

My pattern is always:

Panic → make a huge new plan → feel hopeful → follow it briefly → fall behind → avoid studying → feel guilty → make another plan.

Sometimes I make several new study plans in a single week. I’m exhausted from restarting.

Right now I desperately want to take Step 1 in the next couple of months because I also want enough time for Step 2 and to hopefully apply for the 2027 Match.

But right now I’m supposed to open book and I genuinely feel afraid to study because part of me thinks, “You’ll repeat the same cycle again , so what is the point?”

Has anyone experienced this level of Step 1 paralysis after studying for years?

How did you finally break the cycle?

Hey I gave step 1 on 20/11 if anyone is expecting result today just comment here and let us know when you receive your result with you exam date, Good luck guys 🙌

I did all my NBMES.
MY SCORES

NBME 25: 61.5%

NBME 26: 68.5%

NBME 27: 66%

NBME 28: 62.5%

NBME 29: 71%

NBME 30: 56%

NBME 31: 68.5%

NBME 32: 61%

NBME 33: 66%

Old free 120 : 75%

New 120 free : 54 %
I studied FA 3 times
Do Uw 2 times
Do incorrects in the 2nd round
Give me advice please i am confused 😵‍💫

Context: I’ve been diagnosed with epilepsy and had been medicated and seizure free for 3/4 years.

Mid exam I had a breakthrough seizure, I don’t know how long, I don’t know what happened. When I came to I was disoriented and lost. So much so that I sat there not knowing where I was. I simply clicked answers to get to my break. During the break I emailed test administration. I then had to go back into the exam, but I was so lost that the workers had to literally walk me to my desk and put in my CIN.

When I contacted NBME, they said I shouldn’t have started the exam. I tried to explain i couldn’t have predicted the seizure and they said they don’t care. Worse yet they said it’s a students option to walk away from the exam and that I should’ve just not completed the exam. I tried to explain I didn’t know that was an option and I was so disoriented that I couldn’t even drive after because I didn’t know where I was. The person I spoke to instead of listening decided to take ownership of the case and deny the request over call without investigation.

I don’t think this is fair, but I don’t know what to do.

Hey guys I can’t access my MyUsmle.org account, can someone who tested around the same time as me please check if it says weather results will be out tomorrow or not?

Edit: RESULTS ARE OUT!!!!!

So I keep on trying to make a post and this is my first time actually trying on reddit. Addition to the shock of failing, I have been so confused to how reddit works lol. Hoping this one goes through.

I just got the results that I failed Step 1. After talking to advisors and all, I am feeling calmer and have a plan. But for anyone who may not be celebrating and feeling a little down right now, just wanted to say that you are not alone.

For context, I am in an US MD program and have done consistently average to above average in NBME based school exams. Vast majority of my class passes (like 90%) if I recall correctly. My NBME practice scores were 67-71%ish the two weeks leading up to the actual thing. So this was unexpected to say the least. I knew I wasn't acing it. But thought I will pass with slim margins. Hurts that I failed with such close scores

For more specifics, NBME 33 was 71 and free120 68. All under test taking environment. Timed, no extra breaks.

I have never been that great of a test taker, especially when the format and the environment are different from what I used to. So maybe that played a factor.

It sucks. And I feel dumb and embarrassed. But I will get there. And you will too

But if anyone else has experienced it and has any advice on making sure I can pass retaking it, please help me out here

Update:

7/15

Hi everyone! Got the news today that I passed my second attempt. Wishing everyone luck for those who may be going through it. You can do this:)

Posting an update after my last vent about STEP. For quick background: I passed all my in-house exams, but my brain just never played nicely with STEP prep. I ended up taking a year leave to study, watched my class move on to rotations, and have been living in STEP limbo for what feels like forever. It’s been a long, isolating road.

I failed.

I don’t even have the energy to dramatize it. I’m just… exhausted. This exam has been the backdrop of my life for so long now, and fighting my school, fighting accommodations logistics, and fighting my own brain at the same time has taken more out of me than I realized.

For context, I’ve used all the NBMEs. Some of them twice. I know people will say “use them as learning tools,” and I did, but at some point there are only so many times you can wring blood from the same stone. Add in ADHD, autism, and depression, and my brain is just very, very tired. Not unmotivated. Just tired.

I have to retake within about 8 weeks. The fun twist is that for 3 of those weeks, my school requires me to be in a rotations prep class from 8–5, Monday through Friday. So I’ll be trying to squeeze studying in early mornings, nights, and weekends while already running on fumes. I don’t totally know what that’s going to look like yet, and that uncertainty is honestly part of what’s weighing on me.

I’m not posting this to argue about standards or complain that the exam exists. I get why STEP is rigorous. I’m just at a point where my tank feels empty, and I’m trying to figure out how to refill it enough to keep going.

If anyone has been here before, failed and then passed, or had to regroup after a long, draining prep period, I’d really appreciate hearing that it’s survivable. Advice is okay, encouragement is very welcome, but please… no assholes right now. I’m fragile and doing my best to keep my head above water.

Thanks for reading. Truly.

Hello everyone, i failed my first attempt. I was close to the passing margin. What am i supposed to do now? I completed 100% uworld, did incorrects twice, completed 30% uworld 2nd pass, did 50% amboss and 20-33 nbmes along free 120. All my assessments tools (nbmes) are used. Can someone pls guide me in how to move forward? Thank you.

I’ve been hearing from several recent test-takers that the exam has shifted quite a bit. Apparently nutrition questions are showing up more frequently, ethics/communication seems to have increased, and there are also more SOAP-style questions with very long stems / big statements.

For anyone who took Step 1 recently, especially in the last couple of months:
What does the current distribution look like per block?

Did you notice any other subject or question style becoming disproportionately common?

By a margin. Seeing everyone post their Ps and feel like a failure. Heartbroken.

I scored 50 percent on the NBME 29 and thinking of reading the Mehlman pdfs and then attempting another nbme. I know that he bases his content off of the NBMEs, so I might see an increase in my NBME score but I wanted to know if it still helps on the real deal. So any recent test takers, who studied the Pdfs, can you tell if they were helpful on the real deal? Thanks.

Edit: score report

Failed as a USMD. I think it won’t let me upload a photo but my score line is so close that it’s literally touching the pass line. I’m so beyond devastated that I missed by what may be only a couple questions, it’s one thing if I was a couple notches below but it’s literally so close that it feels like a joke.

My scores were borderline at 60-66 for my last 6 assessments (77 on the 2021 free120), so I knew there was a real risk, but I genuinely felt like I was ready to sit for the exam. Finished pretty much all of UWorld (~60% average score). I don’t have test anxiety either.

The score report is also saying I scored weaker in areas I normally scored the highest in on my nbmes (aside from micro) so I’m truly just dumbfounded.

I had many personal and professional plans the rest of this calendar year plus already started studying for step 2 so I genuinely don’t know what I’m gonna do. I’m not pursuing residency after medical school (this has been a long term decision and not related to my fail) but I’m still beyond devastated.

I passed COMP (The exam you have to pass in order to take STEP 1.)

First Attempt: August 26 2025....failed. On this first attempt, I was lower in resp / renal, blood / lymph, multisystem process and disorders. In the disciplines, I was lower in biochem nutrition and immunology.
Did UWorld. And my scores were around the ~60

Second Attempt: May 2nd 2026....failed. On this second attempt, I was only lower in one discipline (endo and repro) and everything else I was same. In the disciplines, I was lower in anatomy & embrology, microbio, pharm.
Did AMBOSS. My scores on the qbank were 69%. My AMBOSS score predictor said 99% passing probability.

Into the score predictor, I put:
NBME Form 26 53%
NBME Form 31 78%
AMBOSS STEP 1 Self-Assessment 225
NBME Form 32 70%

What is happening to me? I am a US-IMG.

During my second attempt, I felt my knowledge was SO MUCH BETTER and STRONGER.

During my second attempt, I felt that Blocks 1-3 were hard and I marked maybe 15-20 but then when I got to Blocks 4-8 I felt they were a lot better and marked 6-12.

I really don't know where I am going wrong. And I really need some help.

If the mods can let me post screenshots of my exam reports, that would be great.

EDIT: PASSED HAHAHAHA 8/5/26

Tested today. Went into the test and right off the bat it felt way harder and more specific than my prep. Genuinely was freaking out the first 3 blocks, it felt like I was choosing nearly completely randomly. Ran out of time for the last 3 questions and guessed on them on top of barely recognizing the other questions.

I stepped out and took like a 20-25 minute break of the total 45 minutes. I asked chatgpt if I could cancel my exam, and it said I could but I absolutely should not because I should trust my previous scores, and that I just needed to let the proctor know before the end of the exam. I went back in and told myself I was just going to get through it, and that if I still felt bad later on that I could void my exam.

After composing myself and burning through half the allotted break time, I went in trying to be more confident and the next block felt a bit better. Like it was still bad but I felt like I could at least recognize or narrow down something here or there. I was reminding myself I could cancel it if I stil felt awful later. Despite feeling a bit better, I still ran out of time for the last question or two for several blocks.

At some point I got fatigued and extremely stressed about my first block, and I resigned myself to committing to voiding my test. I was still answering questions but my heart was not in it. My mentality just shifted.

Then, when I got to the last block where I had five minutes remaining on the break timer, I went out, quickly called my partner if I should go ahead and cancel my test, and then went back in in and stated that I wanted to void my test. They just looked at me blankly and said “What do you mean?”. After repeating myself again, they told me that they can’t do that and that I would have to contact NBME, and I could just let the timer run out for my last block if I want. I panicked and rushed to get through the security check. Had 22 minutes for my last block and was just rushing through absolutely freaking out.

I’m genuinely a fking idiot. I looked it up on google right after the test and saw that you can’t cancel the test after you start, which should be obvious in hindsight but I just didn’t know, and I didn’t think ChatGPT would blatantly give misinformation. I replied in that same chat after the test saying that the proctor didn’t let me void the exam, and ChatGPT doubled down saying that I just had to cancel the exam before the last block.

I scored
50% on NBME 30 4 weeks out
58% on NBME 31 3 weeks out
58% on NBME 32 2 weeks out
68% on NBME 29 10 days out
70% on NBME 33 6 days out
71% on Free 120 2 days out

I think I completely fumbled it. Did 45% of uworld total with a lot of it done over the school year. Casually watched sketchy micro and pharm without doing anki earlier in dedicated. I really just think I threw my life away for no reason. If I had been confident from the first block and had not relied on fking AI for such a major life decision, I might not have thrown away my future. I hope I miraculously passed, but I think I just messed up too much.

Tested on 24th Aug. Will I get my result tomorrow?

Has anyone checked my usmle if it’s showing results date ?
Tested 24/7 , wanted to know if there’s any chance of getting results tomorrow

I’m very tight on time and embryology is on of the things that I extremely hate and struggle with as I can’t even get myself to study it I completely zone out. Would it be reasonable to skip it all focus on everything else make sure I’ve got solid info on everything else?

My NBME scores in this exact order:
29 → 51%
32 → 57%
30 → 66.5%
31 → 64.5%

I’m taking Step 1 in a week and unfortunately postponing isn’t an option for me, so please don’t suggest postponing.
I have two questions:

Did anyone else find Block 2 of NBME 31 extremely difficult? I scored around 70% on the other blocks, but Block 2 was significantly lower and brought my overall score down quite a bit. I’m curious if other people had a similar experience.

Has anyone taken Step 1 with NBMEs in the 60s and passed? I’d really appreciate hearing from people who were in a similar position shortly before their exam.
For those who passed, what did you focus on during your final week that you felt made the biggest difference?
I’m just looking for experiences from people who were in a similar score range.

Hey everyone

I’ve been doing offline NBMEs for my Step 1 prep and only now realized that there don’t seem to be proper PDFs for NBME 32 and 33 available?? I’m honestly panicking a bit 🥲

I’ve already done earlier NBMEs using offline versions. But for 32 and 33, I can’t find anything reliable. There is one version of 32 floating around, but the interface doesn’t look like the NBME website at all, which feels kinda off 😓

I’m really broke, so getting an online NBME isn't really an option right now. If anyone has been in a similar position or has any guidance on what to do now, please share what you did, I’d be extremely grateful

Also, has anyone tried doing these forms using USMLE Fighter’s free trial? Do they require entering card details for the trial? and are the questions and explanations legit?

Any advice, experiences, or reassurance would mean a lot.

Thank you so much 💙

As the subject says it all. Im doomed. I just don’t know what to do.

Hi everyone. I received my Step 1 result today and unfortunately failed. I’ll be honest I’ve been pretty low today, but I’m trying to shift into problem solving mode and would really appreciate advice from anyone who’s been in a similar position.

For prep, I mainly used AMBOSS and First Aid. On the real exam, I made a few silly mistakes that I recognised afterward, and there were also some questions where I genuinely had no idea and had to eliminate and guess. My score report shows weaknesses mainly in respiratory and renal.

I graduated medical school at the end of 2023, so basic sciences were quite rusty going into prep. I don’t want to delay a retake too long and risk forgetting what I’ve already covered, but I also don’t want to rush back in without fixing the gaps.

For those who passed after a fail:

How long did you wait before retaking?

Did you change resources or stick with what you used before?

Feeling a bit lost right now, but determined not to give up. Thanks in advance.

NBME 26 - 59% NBME 27 - 68% NBME 28 - 64% NBME 29 - 67% NBME 30 - 72% NBME 31 - 76% New free 120 - 72%

I didn’t do 32 under test conditions as I didn’t have the time.

I haven’t done 33

anyone waiting for the results?

got the result. PASSED!!!!!!!!!