On Friday, April 3rd, the NBME sent an e-mail to students registered for the USMLE Step 1 emphasizing previously released announcements of the new software (FREDv2) migration in mid-May 2009. The migration will be phased in across the country over a course of several weeks. If you are taking the exam between May 15 and July 15, you may wish to contact your Prometric center to inquire about the migration schedule.

Features of FREDv2 include:

• Improved highlight and strikeout
• Easier to use, searchable lab values
• Calculator
• Sequential item test format

For FREDv2 screenshots of the new features click here

The sequential item set comprises a series of questions that must be answered in order. Once you choose to “Proceed to Next Item,” the question is locked: while you can still return to the question to view the item, you cannot add an answer (if previously left unanswered) or change your answer. There will be no more than five sequential item sets in a single examination. A screenshot of the tutorial description of the sequential item set is available here.

The Step 1 multiple choice tutorial and practice test items in the new software format are available here.

The final note from the NBME e-mail discusses scoring. Because of the change in software, students taking the test in the affected migration period should expect score reporting delays as long as 6 to 8 weeks.