USMLE Scoring - 2 digits vs. 3 digits

The USMLE phased out the use of a percentile based system in 1999. A score report is given as a three-digit and two-digit score. The three-digit score reflects the number of correct questions and the two-digit score is a representation of the three-digit score on a scale of 100%. A score of 182 or greater is required to pass. Those who take the exam on or after January 1, 2007, will need a score of 185 to pass in the exam. The national yearly average usually is around 220 with a standard deviation of around 20. Many residency programs have cutoffs for Step 1 scores below which applicants are unlikely to be interviewed.