Taking USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3 at KUSM-W

Who are You?
Don't Leave Home Without It
Planning Ahead
Checking In
Breaks
Managing Your Time
Exam Procedures
When Will I Receive My Score?
What do You Think?

Who are You?

When you arrive at the test center, you'll be asked to present your scheduling permit and a government-issued ID (e.g., a driver's license or passport) that includes both a recent photo and your signature. Here's how to avoid being turned away because of ID problems:

• Your ID must be current. An expired driver's license, for example, is not an acceptable form of ID for USMLE testing purposes.
• The name on your ID must exactly match the name on your scheduling permit. If you recently changed your name and your ID reflects that (but your permit doesn't), remember to notify the NBME as far in advance of your test date as possible. Your written notification to NBME must be accompanied by two documents: a copy of the official document which verifies the change (such as a marriage certificate or court order) and a copy of your new ID. You'll then receive a letter verifying the change which you must bring to the test center along with your scheduling permit.

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Don't Leave Home Without It

The scheduling permit shows your confidential candidate identification number. Test center staff do not have access to this number. It is printed only on your scheduling permit. You will enter this number on your workstation computer in order to start your exam and begin each block of questions.

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Planning Ahead

• Confirm your testing appointment and center location at least two weeks in advance.
• Make sure you know how to get to the test center and how long the trip will take. You can call the test center (316-293-2603) for directions. Arrive at the test center at least thirty minutes before your scheduled testing time.
• Bring your lunch or stop by the White Coat Canteen which is open 24 hours a day located on the second floor of the west wing. There is not a restaurant or fast food establishment near the KU School of Medicine-Wichita.
• Don't bring a lot of "stuff" to the test center. You'll have a locker for all of your personal belongings, but storage space is limited. You may not bring any personal items such as watches, food, or drink into the testing room. You will be given a locker key to keep with you during the day.

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Checking In

• When your name is called, show your Scheduling Permit and form(s) of identification. You may have to wait until you can be seated at your workstation since examinees are started one at a time.
• A digital photo will be taken of you. You'll be offered a set of earplugs - it's probably a good idea to take them. You may find yourself distracted by a ringing phone, staff, or other examinees entering and leaving the testing area (which is normal), or test-taking "idiosyncrasies" of other examinees.
• Two double-sided, laminate, erasable writing boards (8 1/2 " X 11") and a marker will be given to you for taking notes. These must be left at your workstation when you leave for breaks and returned to the proctor at the end of the exam.
• The proctor will escort you to your designated workstation.

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Breaks

You'll have a minimum of 45 minutes of break time to take at your own pace throughout the day. If you need to take a short break after the first block of questions, go ahead. Or, if you want to get through as many blocks as possible before taking a break you can do that too.

You may add to your overall break time (but not your testing time) by exiting out of the 15-minute tutorial (then you're up to 60 minutes) and by finishing exam blocks early.

You are responsible for keeping track of the amount of break time you use throughout the day.

You may take breaks between blocks of questions only. Be sure that the break screen shows on your monitor before you leave your workstation. (If you leave your workstation in the middle of a block of questions, this will be reported as an irregularity). It's OK to use study materials during a break, but only if the break screen is showing on your computer.

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Managing Your Time

Your minimum 45 minutes of break time is used for all between-block activities. This includes not only the usual concept of a break (i.e., when you leave your workstation), but also the time it takes for you to make the transition to the next block, such as entering your CIN or even taking a quick stretch.

Also, there are two scenarios in which you could inadvertently shorten your break time and/or total testing time. If time runs out in the block you are working in and:

• a test question is on the monitor. You will be able to enter a response to that question, but the block won't end until you click the mouse or use the keyboard. (Also, you will not be able to go back and answer any additional questions in that block.)
• the Item Review Screen is on the monitor. The block will not end until you click the mouse or use the keyboard.

Time is not suspended while the computer is waiting for you to use the mouse or keyboard. The clock for the entire exam day is still running. The same amount of time you spend deciding your next move is also being subtracted from your break time and/or total testing time. Be sure to exit quickly if the time allotment for a block runs out before you have completed the block.

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Exam Procedures

Starting the Exam

The computer will prompt you to enter your confidential candidate identification number. The number is required to launch your exam.   A 15-minute tutorial the will be the first session you see. If you are already comfortable with how to navigate through the exam screens because you practiced with the sample test questions available on the CD-ROM or the USMLE web site, you can exit out of the tutorial right away.

During the Exam

If you need to take a break, you must sign the Test Center Log. When you return, you must sign the log, show your photo ID, and a fingerprint will be required to be readmitted.

If your screen goes blank or the mouse stops working - don't panic! Notify a proctor right away. If your computer crashes, the proctor should be able to restart your exam within a few minutes. Your resurrected screen will show the same question you were working on at the time of the crash, with no loss of testing time.

If your exam can't be restarted or the power goes out in the test center and Prometric can't get the exam working again or if fixing the problem is out of their control, then you'll be sent home and rescheduled at no additional charge. Your rescheduled exam will be a full day of testing, not just the exam blocks you weren't able to finish the first time.

Ending the Exam

After you finish the last block of questions, a brief on-line survey will appear if your testing time has not expired.  Sign the log book as you leave. The proctor will give you a printed verification that you sat for the exam. Keep this until you receive your score report.

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When Will I Receive My Score?

Step 1 and Step 2 scores are now released on a weekly basis. With routine processing, your score should be reported about three to four weeks after your test date. However, there are many factors that may delay it - if you still have not received your score six weeks after your test date, contact NBME.

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What Do You Think?

The USMLE Quality Assurance Program, created to monitor compliance with USMLE standards for test administration, is now in full swing. Shortly after you take your exam, you may receive a survey about the quality of your test-taking experience in areas such as whether or not you experienced distractions or had a problem with your computer, the number and length of your breaks, etc. Please take a few minutes to complete and return this survey - your feedback is important to ongoing enhancements to the test administration process.