Not so long ago, students took the USMLE Step 1 the old-fashioned way, rifling through paper test booklets with No. 2 pencils clenched firmly in hand. By 1999, however, the Step 1 exam had become fully computerized, and in 2006 the USMLE completed its transition to computer-based testing with the introduction of FRED, its new test delivery software.

So what do FRED and the computer-based format mean to you?

To a large extent, the significance of computer-based testing hinges on your level of computer expertise. If you’re an unabashed geek, chances are you’ll adapt quickly to the FRED test interface. But if you’re downright computer-phobic, blanch at the sight of a Windows platform, or are slow to adapt to new software, you may want to hone your test-taking skills by tackling a few practice questions.

The good news is that to practice the exam, you need look no further than the CD-ROM you’ll receive upon registering, which contains approximately 150 sample questions presented in the FRED test delivery format. You can also download the same questions directly from the USMLE Web site at www.usmle.org/Orientation/2008/menu.html. Alternatively, for a fee of $42, you can opt to take a timed practice exam at an actual testing center. Note, however, that the test questions you’ll be asked will be no different from those available to you online. For more information, go to https://apps.nbme.org/CBTPSRegistrationWeb/jsp/usmle_CBTPS_registration.jsp.