As a result of its review, the Step 1 Committee decided to raise the three-digit score recommended to pass Step 1 from 185 to 188. The new minimum passing score will be applied to Step 1 examinations for which the first day of testing is on or after January 1, 2010.

Click here for the link to the original page

Attention students! For a limited time Amazon.com is offering our 20th anniversary edition of First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 2010 at HALF price! Click here to get in on this deal!

Happy new year!
The First Aid Team

As of January 1, 2010 the minimum passing for USMLE Step 1 will increase from 185 to 188

At its December 2009 meeting, the Step 1 Committee conducted such a review for USMLE Step 1. During the meeting, the Step 1 Committee considered information from multiple sources, including: 1) results of content-based standard setting exercises conducted with three independent groups of physicians in 2009; 2) results of surveys of various groups (e.g., state licensing representatives, medical school faculty, samples of examinees) concerning the appropriateness of current pass/fail standards for Step examinations; 3) trends in examinee performance; and 4) score precision and its effect on the pass/fail decision.

As a result of its review, the Step 1 Committee decided to raise the three-digit score recommended to pass Step 1 from 185 to 188. The new minimum passing score will be applied to Step 1 examinations for which the first day of testing is on or after January 1, 2010.

Brand new Errata has been posted. Please click here for the errata page.

Errata for additional other First Aid titles are available by the link above as well.

Attention students! Have you taken Step 1? Do you remember searching the Internet and seeking advice from upperclassmen and women for study schedule advice? We do, too.

Each month the First Aid Team will be selecting a “best practice” Step 1 study schedule based on submissions that will be publicly shared in our repository.

A $10 Amazon gift card will be awarded to the student that submits the winning schedule. For all others, you have the advantage of sharing your wisdom and unique approach with students actively preparing for the exam. Submissions can be sent to first.aid@ucla.edu; please indicate whether or not you are willing to share your schedule on the site and whether or not you would like to remain anonymous. Thanks!

Best wishes,
First Aid Team

After November 2, 2009, international medical schools will be provided with performance data for their students that take the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK and/or Step 2 CS. Students will have the opportunity to opt out of this provision should they so desire. More information on this new policy and information for foreign medical graduates can be found at the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates website at http://www.ecfmg.org/.

USMLE 2010 orientation materials are now available at the link below. These are essentially “required reading” for anyone taking the USMLE in the future so definitely take a look.

Please click here to access the orientation materials

Most people know the big number: 45 million. That’s the generally accepted tally of Americans currently without health insurance. Here are 12 others that may open eyes to the magnitude of the health-care debate.

The upshot is simple: A few thousand trial lawyers are blocking reform that would benefit 300 million Americans. This is not just your normal special-interest politics. It’s a scandal—it is as if international-trade policy was being crafted in order to get fees for customs agents.

Click here for Article from Wall Street Journal