Is Step 1 the hardest exam in the world?

Asked by: Ms. Cydney Powlowski IV  |  Last update: August 25, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (18 votes)

Traditionally, Step 1 has been thought of as both the most difficult and most important USMLE Step exam. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, this exam is the first in the series, and students taking it will have had less experience with the types of questions that the USMLE asks.

What is the hardest exam in world?

1. Gaokao. The Gaokao is a college admission exam in China that is famed for being one of the top ten most difficult exams in the world. Due to the difficulty of the exam, some European and American colleges have begun to accept Gaokao marks.

Is Step 1 more difficult than MCAT?

In terms of exam difficulty, the MCAT is considered easier compared to the USMLE Step 1. It is because the MCAT only tests the basic science principles and skills of the individual if one fits the requirement to proceed or enter med school.

What is the world's first hardest exam?

Which is the toughest exam in the world?
  • Gaokao Exam in China.
  • IIT JEE Advanced.
  • Civil Services Exam (CSE)
  • GATE.
  • GRE.
  • Master Sommelier Diploma Exam.
  • ICAI CA Exams.
  • CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert)

Is Step 1 tougher than Step 2?

The majority of people do much better on Step 2 than on Step 1 even with less studying. This test focuses more on the next step in a patient presentation. Questions such as which lab or test to order next. There will also be plenty of diagnosis questions as well.

The Hardest Exam I've Ever Taken (STEP1)

16 related questions found

Has anyone failed Step 1?

However, we also want you to know that you are not alone. A few hundred students from America's top medical schools fail the Step 1 exam at every administration. Whether you are an MD or DO student from a U.S. medical school or an IMG, failure on the USMLE exam is not the end of the road.

How likely is it to fail Step 1?

According to the AMA, 98% of DO and MD students passed the exam on their first try in 2020. In 2022, the USMLE Step 1 pass rate for first-time takers was 93% in the United States.

Which is the top 1 toughest exam?

List of Top 10 Toughest Exams in India
  • National Defense Academy (NDA)
  • UGC-NET.
  • Indian Engineering Services (IES)
  • Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT)
  • Chartered Accountant (CA)
  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS PG)
  • Common Admission Test (CAT)
  • National Eligibility Entrance Test(NEET)

What is the most difficult test in the USA?

What are the hardest test exams in America to pass? The USMLE, the Graduate Record Examination, the Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert, Mensa, the California Bar Exam, the MCAT, the Chartered Financial Analyst Exams, the SAT, and IELTS are the toughest tests in America.

What is the hardest exam in America?

The hardest exams in the US are:
  • Graduate Record Examination.
  • MCAT ( Medical College Admission Test)
  • IELTS.
  • Mensa International.
  • SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
  • California Bar Exam.
  • Chartered Financial Analysts Exams.
  • USMLE, or United States Medical Licensing Examination.

Do most med students pass Step 1?

2022 USMLE Step 1 Overview

Allopathic students' passing rate dropped from 95% in 2021 to 91% in 2022. DO students' passing rate dropped from 94% in 2021 to 89% in 2022. IMG students' passing rate dropped from 82% in 2021 to 74% in 2022.

What happens if you fail Step 1 in med school?

Failing Step 1 will impact a student's application strategy, but it doesn't usually mean their pathway to becoming a physician is over. These students may want to consider additional specialties where they will be more competitive and should speak with their advisors about their individual circumstances.

How do I mentally prepare for Step 1?

The week before Step 1, adjust your sleep/wake schedule to coincide with the time you will be taking the test. Practice how you want the day to go when you take Step 1, so that on test day, nothing will seem out of the ordinary.

What are the 5 toughest exams in the world?

10 Toughest Exams in the World
  1. Gaokao. Conducted in China, the exam is deemed to be the most difficult exam in the world.
  2. IIT-JEE. ...
  3. UPSC, India. ...
  4. Mensa. ...
  5. GRE (Graduate Record Examination. ...
  6. CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) ...
  7. CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert) ...
  8. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) ...

What are the top 2 toughest exams?

Top 10 Toughest Exams in India to Crack in 2023
  • UPSC.
  • IIT JEE.
  • NDA.
  • UGC-NET.
  • Indian Engineering Services (IES)
  • CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
  • Chartered Accountant (CA) Exam.
  • NEET.

Which country has toughest education?

Frequently Asked Questions on Education System for International Students – Ques. Which are the hardest education systems in the world? Ans. The countries with the hardest and most difficult education systems include South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Finland, etc.

Which English test is easier for USA?

IELTS and TOEFL both test basic English proficiency tests. IELTS is considered to be easier than TOEFL by most of the test takers. Many students believe that the IELTS reading section is easier than TOEFL's reading section.

Why is CPA exam so hard?

Ultimately, it isn't any one topic or section that makes the CPA Exam difficult—it's the sheer scope of the exam in its entirety. The CPA Exam has 18 content areas divided into four sections. Within those content areas are almost 600 representative tasks.

What is the hardest official SAT test?

It depends on the student, but a consensus claims that Practice Test #3 could be the most difficult for a first-time SAT taker. It would help if you went over each practice test and ranked which one is hardest, so you can spend more time dealing with those before heading to the easier ones.

Which country has the hardest medical exam?

United States Medical Licensing Examination

This one among the 20 toughest exams in world has three stages. It is not easy to practise medicine in United States. A pass in USMLE is a must if one has to practise medicine in USA. USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) is said to be a very tough test.

Is the Series 7 harder than the bar exam?

Any state bar exam as well as the UBE (Uniform Bar Exam) is much more difficult than the Series 7 exam taken to become a stock broker. It takes 3 years of intense study to get through law school after which most take a 2 or 3 month bar review course prior to sitting for the bar exam.

Why is passing Step 1 so hard?

Traditionally, Step 1 has been thought of as both the most difficult and most important USMLE Step exam. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, this exam is the first in the series, and students taking it will have had less experience with the types of questions that the USMLE asks.

Why do people fail Step 1?

Commonly, students who fail Step 1 have tried to use all the Step 1 resources available, but haven't used the 2 primary resources thoroughly (namely, First Aid and UWorld). An additional primary resource should also be flash cards to help with that spaced repetition learning.

Why is it so hard to pass Step 1?

It's common for students who fail to try to use every single Step 1 resource available. The level of understanding required for the USMLE is challenging to achieve and will require dedication and plenty of hard work. For example, using flashcards is a great study resource, but creating too many makes it useless.