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The Impact of a Pass/Fail USMLE Step 1 Exam on USMLE Step 2 Exam Study Time.
Leah Yuan1, Robert Vargas1, Carol Burke1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University, 1620 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60612 USA.
Medical Science Educator
|January 20, 2026
Summary
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 transitioning to pass/fail increased USMLE Step 2 study time for medical students. This change may impact future medical education and student well-being.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Licensing Examinations
Background:
- The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 transitioned to a pass/fail grading system in 2022.
- This change aimed to reduce the high-stakes nature of Step 1 and its influence on medical education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of the USMLE Step 1 pass/fail transition on USMLE Step 2 preparation.
- To analyze changes in study duration for USMLE Step 2 among medical students.
Main Methods:
- A comparative observational study was conducted at a single institution.
- Data were collected from over 750 medical students between 2017 and 2024.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in USMLE Step 2 study time was observed post-transition (4.10 weeks pre-transition vs. 4.92 weeks post-transition, p < 0.001).
- A significant year-over-year increase in study time was also noted from 2022 to 2024 (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- The USMLE Step 1 pass/fail transition appears to correlate with increased preparation time for the USMLE Step 2.
- Further research is warranted to explore the effects on student performance and overall well-being.
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