Which USMLE Step is the most difficult?

I think it depends if the student is old grad or fresh grad

Fresh grads find step 2 CK more difficult
Old grads find step 1 more difficult

Step 3, because it's not life deciding and critical, residents find it easy as they just need to pass

Step 2 CK is totally of different level than step 1. Of so much higher level... Step 1 is like a test for students, where u don't have to think, (sometimes have to), but basically you just have to know the answer. The answer is just looking at you and screaming " Pick me! Pick me!". Step 2 is the whole different story... You have to be a doctor here, not a second grade student anymore and you have to think...

steptaker said:

Me and my friends have all noticed that step 1 is the most difficult of all steps, however, today I met a new friend who insisted that step 3 is the most difficult one!

So let's start a poll and see what you think about it..

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step 3 is the most vague and difficult

How bout we put it this way, which step did you spend the most time studying for?

lemontea88 said:

How bout we put it this way, which step did you spend the most time studying for?

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There are threads for this question, check them out here:
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-s...s/364-time-needed-prepare-usmle-step-1-a.html
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-s...hreads/366-time-needed-prepare-step-2-cs.html
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-s...hreads/363-time-needed-prepare-step-2-ck.html
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-s...48-how-long-takes-prepare-usmle-step-3-a.html

CK is probably the most difficult

Looking at this official USMLE.org web page
http://www.usmle.org/Scores_Transcripts/minimum_passing.html

We can see that the minimum passing score is lowest for Step 2 CK (184) and it's 185 and 187 for Step 1 and Step 3 respectively.

This indicates a statistical evidence that Step 2 CK the hardest to pass!!

I guess that students and specially old IMG grads are most overwhelmed by Step 1 as they have forgotten the basic sciences and the material is huge but when it comes to passing it would probably be that CK is the real hurdle.

Sabio said:

Looking at this official USMLE.org web page
http://www.usmle.org/Scores_Transcripts/minimum_passing.html

We can see that the minimum passing score is lowest for Step 2 CK (184) and it's 185 and 187 for Step 1 and Step 3 respectively.

This indicates a statistical evidence that Step 2 CK the hardest to pass!!

I guess that students and specially old IMG grads are most overwhelmed by Step 1 as they have forgotten the basic sciences and the material is huge but when it comes to passing it would probably be that CK is the real hurdle.

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specially when we consider the fact that CK has more questions than Step1 so 184 in CK is far easier than 185 in Step1

I think the CS exam is the most difficult one specially for those who do not have English as a native language

Can't believe it how Step 2 CS is being regarded as the easiest

Hanadi said:

Step 2 CK is totally of different level than step 1. Of so much higher level... Step 1 is like a test for students, where u don't have to think, (sometimes have to), but basically you just have to know the answer. The answer is just looking at you and screaming " Pick me! Pick me!". Step 2 is the whole different story... You have to be a doctor here, not a second grade student anymore and you have to think...

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You have to be a doctor here, not a second grade student anymore and you have to think.

There is no second grade
all the steps are extremely difficult
but more importantly exhausting
even Step 1 requires logical
thinking and analysis
Step 3 probably because it is the longest

I think step 1 is the most difficult one, because it needs more basic science than the rest.

Step 2 CK

For IMGs it is Step 2 CK, trust me, do not underestimate it if you are an IMG!!! For AMGs it is Step 1. Again it has to do with the way Medical Schools are structured in the US and outside of the US.

As a IMG's point of view Step 2 CK is more difficult then Step 1 or Step 3. Don't take it easy.

Well according to me the USMLE Step 1 itself is very difficult and if one can get through the USMLE Step 1 with more than 90% then certainly obtaining the residency or fellowship becomes easier in most of the reputed hospitals.

Perla431 said:

I think the CS exam is the most difficult one specially for those who do not have English as a native language

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I agree with you. Even student know the theory, it will be harder to pass the test if he is not native speaker (english lang). But also, I guess 2d is the most difficult to pass

i think now a days step 2 cs has become hardest exam to pass for IMG s because many students who score good in all step s they can also fail at cs ... student think cs is easiest one and that has mislead many.CS is most unpredictable.. coz u dont know people with same mistakes have different score report, some passed and others failed... any input over it is appreciated

step 1 most likely

Step 1 is definitely the hardest and most important test that any medical student will ever take.