Educational commission for foreign medical graduates

Taking the Examination 

Step 1 and Step 2 CK

 | 

Step 2 CS

 | 

Travel Status

 | 

Acceptable Identification

 | Testing Conditions | 

USMLE 

Program and Irregular Behavior

  

Testing Conditions 

Policies and procedures to govern the administration of the exams have been established to ensure that no 

examinee or group of examinees receives unfair advantage on the exam, inadvertently or otherwise. If there is a 

reason to believe that the integrity of the examination process is jeopardized, the USMLE parent organizations 

may invalidate all or any part of an exam. If information indicates that continued testing would jeopardize the 

security of examination materials or the integrity of scores, the USMLE parent organizations reserve the right to 

suspend or cancel test administration. See Testing in the 

USMLE Bulletin of Information

. 

 

 

Last updated: September 15, 2011 

 

Copyright © 2011 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. All rights reserved.

 

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Taking the Examination 

Step 1 and Step 2 CK

 | 

Step 2 CS

 | 

Travel Status

 | 

Acceptable Identification

 | 

Testing Conditions

 | USMLE 

Program and Irregular Behavior  

USMLE Program and Irregular Behavior 

The USMLE program’s definition of irregular behavior includes, “any action by applicants, examinees, potential 

applicants, or others when solicited by an applicant and/or examinee that subverts or attempts to subvert the 

examination process.” All USMLE exams are monitored through use of audio and video monitors, recording 

equipment, and by test center staff. Failure to adhere to the instructions of test center staff during the exam may 

result in a determination of irregular behavior and permanent annotation of your USMLE record and transcripts. If 

you are observed engaging in a possible violation of test administration rules or other forms of irregular behavior 

during an exam, you will not necessarily be told of the observation by a proctor at the time of the exam. See 

Irregular Behavior in the 

USMLE Bulletin of Information

.  

Important Notes: Postings and discussion of examination content on the Internet are violations of the 

USMLE Rules of Conduct. Examination content includes, but may not be limited to, questions, case 

content, and answers. If there is evidence that you have violated this or any other test administration 

rule, actions may be taken under the USMLE policies and procedures on irregular behavior. If you are 

found to have engaged in irregular behavior, information regarding this determination becomes part of 

your USMLE record. Your score report (if applicable) and USMLE transcript will contain a notation 

regarding the irregular behavior. You may also be barred from taking the USMLE in the future. 

Additionally, your exam results may be withheld or invalidated. See Testing Regulations and Rules of 

Conduct and Irregular Behavior in the 

USMLE Bulletin of Information

. 

Anomalous performance and/or unusual testing history may be indicative of irregular behavior or other 

issues that bear on your access to USMLE. If your performance raises concerns about your readiness 

to test or your motivation to pass, the USMLE program reserves the right to restrict your future access 

to its examinations and/or to impose conditions upon future access. If you are unable or unready to test 

on your scheduled test date, or if you are planning to take a Step administration to familiarize yourself 

with the examination format, or for any reason other than to pass, you should be aware that such 

behavior may result in a limitation on your access to USMLE in the future. 

 

 

Last updated: September 15, 2011 

 

Copyright © 2011 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. All rights reserved.

 

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Examination Results 

Minimum Passing Scores | 

Scoring

 | 

Reporting of Scores

 | 

Score Rechecks

 | 

USMLE Transcripts

 | 

CSA 

Performance History

 | 

Validity of Scores

  

Minimum Passing Scores 

For ECFMG Certification, you must obtain at least the USMLE-recommended pass outcome for each required 

Step or Step Component. The USMLE-recommended minimum passing level is reviewed periodically and may be 

adjusted at any time. Notice of such review and any adjustments will be posted on the 

USMLE website

. See 

Minimum Passing Scores in the 

USMLE Bulletin of Information

. 

 

 

Last updated: September 15, 2011 

 

Copyright © 2011 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. All rights reserved.

 

66

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Examination Results 

Minimum Passing Scores

 | Scoring | 

Reporting of Scores

 | 

Score Rechecks

 | 

USMLE Transcripts

 | 

CSA 

Performance History

 | 

Validity of Scores

  

Scoring 

NBME is responsible for determining the results of USMLE exams and for issuing the score reports. See Scoring 

and Score Reporting in the 

USMLE Bulletin of Information

. 

Important Note: The USMLE program routinely monitors examinee performance on the Step 

examinations for unusual results. If such review raises concerns, e.g., about your readiness to test or 

your level of motivation in trying to pass the examination, you may be contacted by representatives of 

the USMLE program. Unusual performance patterns may result in your being unable to reapply and/or 

retest and/or the imposition of conditions for retesting. Your score report and transcript will be 

annotated accordingly. If you wish to become more familiar with the USMLE examinations, you should 

utilize the orientation and practice materials available on the 

USMLE website

. You should not take a 

USMLE Step for purposes of becoming familiar with its format or structure. 

 

 

Last updated: September 15, 2011 

 

Copyright © 2011 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. All rights reserved.

 

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