CBT Registration: Some New Policies and Procedures
An Overview of Registration & Scheduling: What You Need to Do
Examinees with Documented Disabilities
Computer-based USMLE:
An Introduction for
Students and Graduates of Foreign Medical Schools
Introduction
When Steps 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™) were introduced in 1992, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG®) administered these exams to students and graduates of foreign medical schools in paper and pencil format. Test questions were presented to examinees in paper test booklets, and examinees wrote their responses on paper answer sheets, which were collected and scored.
Beginning in 1999, ECFMG began registering eligible students/graduates of foreign medical schools for computer-based administrations of Step 1 and Step 2. With the introduction of computer-based testing (CBT), the test questions are presented to examinees on a computer screen. Examinees choose their answers using the computer's mouse or keyboard, and their responses are recorded by the computer, rather than on an answer sheet.
About This Brochure
Computer-based testing has many advantages over the former paper and pencil format. Some of these advantages are discussed in Why Computer-based Testing? However, along with these benefits come many changes for applicants. One obvious change is that examinees will the exams using a computer. There are also significant differences in the registration process for computer-based USMLE. For example--students and graduates of foreign medical schools will continue to apply for these exams through ECFMG, but they will schedule their own testing appointments with Prometric, Inc.®, a subsidiary of Thomson Learning™. Prometric is the entity that actually administers the exams in its test centers.
We at ECFMG realize that many of you have questions about CBT. We also know that the idea of taking Step 1 and Step 2 by computer is a source of anxiety for many of you, especially if you have limited or no experience with computers. ECFMG has developed this brochure to address these questions and concerns by:
-
Explaining the new policies and procedures that apply to computer-based Step 1 or Step 2;
-
Reviewing what you need to do to register, schedule and take the exam;
-
Describing the format of computer-based Step 1 and Step 2; and
Although this brochure provides an introduction to computer-based Step 1 and Step 2, applicants for these exams must read the appropriate editions of the ECFMG Information Booklet / USMLE Bulletin of Information for detailed information on policies and procedures. The current editions of these publications are available on this website. They are also available in printed format from ECFMG at no cost. The information in this brochure is subject to change. Notice of any such changes will be posted on the USMLE web site or on the ECFMG web site. In the event that any information in this brochure differs from the corresponding information in the ECFMG Information Booklet / USMLE Bulletin of Information, the latter publications will contain the most current and accurate information.
For information and application materials for computer-based Step 3, you should contact the individual licensing authorities or the Federation of State Medical Boards, Department of Examination Services, 400 Fuller Wiser Road, Suite 300, Euless, Texas 76039-3855, USA; Telephone: (817) 571-2949.
Copyright © 1999-2002 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. All rights reserved.
Portions reprinted, with permission, from the USMLE 1999 Bulletin of Information on Computer-based Testing (CBT). Copyright © 1998 by the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc. and the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®).