r/Step3

tested june 23 and june 25, what day should i expect my score? thanks!

Best song to remember Maple syrup urine disease thought ill share :)

I am lost , and I need someone to guide me how to study for step3 in 2 months period and without UWorld subscription because it’s too pricy for me

I really need any advice ! Thank you

Hi everyone!
I have my OET Speaking test in 2 days, and I have a few last-minute doubts. I’d really appreciate any advice from those who have recently taken the exam.
Introduction: Do you always confirm the patient’s name (e.g., “Can I confirm your name, please?”), or is it okay to introduce yourself and go straight into the consultation depending on the scenario? For example, in an emergency department role play where the card already says you’re speaking to the patient or their relative, can I simply say:
“Hello, I’m Dr. Xxx , one of the emergency doctors looking after you today. I understand your father has been admitted…”
without confirming the name?
Is it okay to start with something like “How are you feeling today?”, or should the opening depend entirely on the scenario?

Finally, is everything that needs to be covered in the consultation included in the role-play card, or are the tasks just mentioned, or are there things the examiners expect us to ask or do even if they’re not mentioned on the card?

Also, if anyone could share how they felt immediately after their Speaking test and what score they eventually received, that would be really reassuring and helpful to hear.

Any last-minute speaking tips would also be greatly appreciated.

Do they take off for ordering a full exam and/or extra treatments for a known diagnosis? For example, ordering EDTA, dimercaprol, and penicillamine in lead poisoning (instead of just EDTA and dimercaprol) or ordering all the vitamin studies for ataxia even though it's really only Vit B12 and Vit E...

I took my exam on 26th and 30th of June, when should I expect the results to be out?

I am a US citizen IMG of 2018, ECFMG certified(expiring Dec 2026),STEP 1,2( pass on 2nd attempt but low scores), Step 3(2 attempts and yet to take again)... became mom of 2 under 2 this year(no help and spouse is not willing for daycare etc) so nothing new on profile since last September application, 3 unmatched cycles...

Looking for genuine/ realistic approach:

1. Should I take Step3? (even its hard to manage with all the responsibilites but I can try atleast?)

2)Take a break and let go this year and recertify and take the exam in a year or two?

3)Completely let go of this residency dream and consider plan B(which i don't have any but anything within healthcare system such as... Ultrasonograpy, Research, MA, MPH...?)

Any advices please! please help anyone who went or going through same situation, resident, PD etc
As I am on verge of mental and physical breakdown by keep thinking between my career and family...

TIA

Needed to take step 3 urgently for a program deadline I didn’t realize I had.

Did 50% of Uworld with a 65% average and half the CCS cases with a 75% average

Did not do any NBME exams of Uworld practice exams

Ask me anything!

Kindly share what should I study for day 2 other than practicing ccs cases.my biggest fear is the mcq part.
Please share !!

Hello guys I'm an 2023 visa requiring img graduate applying for my second season I have pass/241 going to write step 3 in August have a decent job experience in India. And 6 months of usce have 2 published paper and 4 submitted paper in which 3 are review article 1 orginal study and 1 case report. Should I apply this year and wait for match or should I look for postdoctoral jobs or research position. Can Anyone give insight according to current condition of imgs?

Hey Everyone,

Done and dusted with Uworld Biostats, Do I need to study from Amboss as well or Uworld is enough?

Genuinely don't think I passed the MCQs on Day 1 and Day 2 :(

I mark a lot but I pretty much marked 15-18 questions per block because I felt so unsure about my answers and for a lot of them, had no clue what they were talking about. The MCQs were absolutely horrendous and it blows my mind how people think Step 3 is easy and needs less prep. It was definitely the hardest and vaguest of them all for me. So many close sounding answers and so many small details I would never have guessed would show up. I prepped for months, and I literally cannot see how I will pass this.

I have my CCS cases on a different day because of accommodations, 3 days left to study for them. Is there any hope for passing if CCS cases go well despite tanking the MCQs?

I am planning to do all 180 of the cases (already did 90 of them), and will repeat them again before test day.

Trying to give myself some grace and hope before completely giving up.

Can someone give me detailed advice on how to score high on Step 3?
Aiming for 240-250
My ccs cases are pretty great I’m getting good scores on ccs cases.com

US MD

Step 1: Pass (2023)

Step 2: 259 (2024)

Step 3: 237 (pass)
Day 1: 6/8 and Day 2: 6/20

UWorld: 45% completed, 64% correct

CCS: 45 cases

UWSA 1: 204

UWSA 2: 215

NBME 6: 74%

Free 137: 70%

Surgical subspecialty intern, studied inconsistently for 2 months pre test. First day was step1/2ish (HEAVY biostats) and the day 2 MC questions were much more step 2/3 management based.

Cases felt pretty easy, the CCS cases were much harder but good practice. Get a system down and stick to it!

Trust the curve

I’m a second year general surgery resident who studied for Step 3 within 2 weeks. Tbh i’m not sure how i passed, i’m very religious so i owe it to God. Essentially, I needed to pass Step 3 before i could advance to PGY3, & my grueling schedule as a surgery resident, combined with the general surgery internal exam (ABSITE) that we have to take yearly, and another endoscopy exam (FES) that i had to take before the end of second year, did not make it an easy year in the slightest. I prioritized my Absite exam, did well on it but was absolutely knackered by the time it was time for step 3. My step 3 was initially schedule for 10 days after my ABSITE exam, I ended up just not showing up for the step 3 exam cos i couldn’t find a date to reschedule it to, then my permit expired. Had to pay another $1000 for a new permit, & got it re-scheduled in May.

I studied for step 3 during my 2 week vacation. I essentially studied with the Uworld self assessment 1 & 2. I did not feel like spending $500 on the Uworld practice questions cos i knew i wouldn’t get through even 20% of it before my exam date. I did the free nbme 137 or 167 i forget exactly, but got through maybe the first 20 questions & gave up. I relied on the fact that I was 2 years into being a doctor, had taken step 1 & 2 in 2021 & 2023, & this test was essentially asking me to combine all of these. This would be even easier for an internal medicine resident for example, because i haven’t done much medicine in the last 2 years. For CCS, i will say that i had completed a full pass in 2024 (just before graduating medical school when i was initially planning on taking Step 3). I paid for a months worth of it TWICE in the last 6 months when i was trying to get myself to take Step 3, but im not sure i completed up to 50 cases both times. You might read this & say well this post isn’t helpful, and that’s fine, but if more than anything, I’m trying to tell you that it is not as scary an exam as it is made out to be, especially if you’ve taken step 1 & 2. I was literally remembering answers to questions based off of sketchy images i went through for Step 1 (Eg: someone has milk coming out of their breasts & they’re asking which meds they’re on - I literally remembered seeing milk come out of someone’s nose/head in the pharm sketchy images - Lurasidone/Ziprasidone or something similar). There were a bunch of weird experimental drug trial/biostats questions, but all around it was doable. I can answer specific questions but yes, it’s doable.

Passing score - 214, and I didn’t need a good score. I just needed to pass.

WARNING:
This is NOT the advice for those who aim for high scores on step3

I felt like i failed for sure, but i passed
I don’t care about the score.
I know everyone’s different and some people are gonna disagree with my strategy but i hope this helps relieving some of you’s stress from studying

I’m an US IMG and just wanted to be done with usmle before the start of the residency

My step3 score is 213 (released yesterday)

I passed both step1 and 2 on first attempts

For step3, i only completed like less than 10% of the Uworld questions

Never done any of the NBME or UWSA questions

But did finish ALL CCS cases

Did the most recent Free 137, and i only got the half of them right

Again,
I don’t care about the score
Just wanted to pass on the first attempt before i start my residency

If you have the same goal like me,
what i wanna tell you is:

Don’t sweat it
Don’t be too hard on yourself

Don’t panic even if you get negative updates on the pts on CCS cases

I got at least one negative update on every single case of my CCS and i still passed

Oh and i also ordered lots of invasive interventions that turned out to be unnecessary which i’m sure got many points deducted

Don’t panic, just keep up the good work, finish the marathon, and you WILL pass!

I’m very happy with my score

BUT if you are an over-achiever or gunning for a competitive fellowship, please do NOT listen to my advice lol

New PGY-1 IM intern here. Planning to take Step 3 around end of intern year like next May or so. I am wondering about getting a full year's Step 3 UWorld to start early; it's marginally more expensive compared to the 3- and 6-month subscriptions, and doing an avg of 5-10 questions per day would maybe be manageable. But the main reason for spreading out the UWorld is it'd possibly help with learning/refreshing my knowledge and hopefully help me with being a better intern. Is this a good idea?

I also have the MKSAP 19 books passed on to me; would spending time reading these chapters be better to learn medicine? I feel like just reading may not stick in my head, and I looked at the questions in it and they're way too advanced for me. I still plan to read a few of the cards chapters as an aspiring cardiologist.

USMD unmatched anesthesia applicant reapplying this cycle. I’m planning to have my step 3 score by September 23rd when ERAS sends apps to programs. When’s the latest I can take the exam? I know it’s a two day exam so I was thinking I need to take my second portion of the exam by Friday Sep 11 based on how long it took for my step 2 score release. Can anyone confirm this is also true for step 3? In other words If I take the second portion on a Friday will I have my score by the Wednesday of the following 2 weeks?

Hi everyone,
I’m offering help to anyone going through the residency match process this year. I know how overwhelming the entire journey can feel, especially with tight timelines, and constant uncertainty.
If you need support with any of the following, feel free to reach out:
Residency application strategy (ERAS)
CV review and modification
Personal statement editing or rewriting
Interview preparation (mock interviews + common questions)
SOAP application guidance
Program selection and ranking strategy
Guidance for IMGs navigating USMLE/ECFMG-related steps
I can also help with structuring your story in a way that highlights your strengths clearly and professionally, especially if your path has been non-traditional.
Wishing everyone the best in this process