USMLE Passing Scores Quick Summary
Step 1 is reported as pass/fail. Step 2 CK needs a 3-digit score of 218 (from July 1, 2025) and Step 3 needs 200 (from January 1, 2024). Scores are reported on a 1-300 scale, and USMLE does not publish a percentage of correct answers needed to pass. Results usually arrive within four weeks.
How do you pass the USMLE?
Each Step of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) has its own passing standard. Passing is not about answering a fixed share of questions correctly. Your performance is converted to a 3-digit score, and you pass if that score reaches the minimum set for the Step. For Step 1, only a Pass or Fail outcome is reported. Passing standards are set by the USMLE Management Committee, which reviews them about every four years.
Current USMLE passing scores
The passing score that applies to you is the one in force on the day you test. For what each Step covers and how long it takes, see our guide to the three USMLE Steps.
What do USMLE scores look like?
These averages come from the USMLE Score Interpretation Guidelines and are based on first-time takers from US and Canadian medical schools. They describe how scores are spread, not targets you must reach.
What is a good Step 2 CK score?
Any score of 218 or more is a pass. Beyond that, USMLE does not define a "good" score. Since Step 1 became pass/fail, residency programs look more closely at Step 2 CK, so it makes sense to aim well above the minimum. A useful benchmark is the official average of 251 for 2025-26, with most examinees scoring within 15 points of it. How high you should aim depends on the specialty and programs you apply to, so check the data published for your chosen field.
USMLE pass rates
International medical graduates pass at lower rates than US graduates, especially on Step 1. That gap is the main reason to prepare with exam-style questions and a structured plan.
If you do not pass
- Review your score report, which shows your relative strengths and weaknesses by content area.
- Remember that you have a maximum of four attempts at each Step, including incomplete attempts. See our guide to USMLE retake limits.
- Rebuild your plan around your weakest areas and practise with timed question blocks.
- Re-apply for the Step once you are ready. A Step you have passed cannot be retaken to improve your score.
Frequently asked questions
> What is the passing score for USMLE Step 1?
Step 1 has been reported only as Pass or Fail since January 26, 2022. No 3-digit score is reported for Step 1.
> What is the passing score for USMLE Step 2 CK?
218, for exams taken on or after July 1, 2025. It was previously 214.
> What is the passing score for USMLE Step 3?
200, for exams taken on or after January 1, 2024. It was previously 198.
> What percentage of questions do I need to answer correctly to pass?
USMLE does not publish a percentage-correct passing threshold. Your performance is converted to a 3-digit score, which is compared with the passing score for that Step.
> How many times can I take each USMLE Step?
A maximum of four attempts per Step, including incomplete attempts. Once you pass a Step, you cannot retake it to improve your score.
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