October 7, 2020
The Difference Between COMLEX and USMLE: A Deep Dive into Level 1 vs Step 1
Your USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 scores are critical components in your academic journey. With the many study methods and resources out there, it is important to develop a study plan that works best for you. But before you chart your course to high USMLE and COMLEX exam scores, you need to have a thorough understanding of both exams.
See below for a breakdown of the key differences between the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 exams. We hope it’s helpful!
COMLEX Level 1 vs USMLE Step 1
| Exam Feature | COMLEX Level 1 | USMLE Step 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Passing Score | 400 | 194 |
| Number of Test Items | 400 MCQs | 280 MCQs |
| Length of Exam | Two four-hour sections consisting of four 50-question blocks each; 8 hours of total exam time | Seven 60-minute blocks; 8 hours of total exam time |
| Number and Length of Breaks | Two 10-minute breaks and one 40-minute lunch break | 45-minute break, self-scheduled and must be taken between blocks. If you complete the tutorial or other testing blocks early, the remaining time will be added to your total break time. |
| Topic Emphasis | Greater emphasis on microbiology, pharmacology, MSK, and neurology compared to USMLE Step 1. | Greater emphasis on biochem compared to COMLEX Level 1. Step 1 also places a big emphasis on Pathology (~50% of exam). |
| Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) | Yes | No |
| Management Emphasis | Approximately 5% of exam may be questions concerning management. | Currently 7-12% of questions categorized as Patient Care: Management; however, the content distribution is set to change in October 2020 |
| Videos | Longer in length, some exceeding 60 seconds, almost entirely MSK and OMM | Some items have associated images, audio clips, or video clips. Some of these media may be interactive. |
| Stems | COMLEX stems may have information in them that is extraneous (not necessary to answer the question) | Step 1 stems avoid “window dressing” (extraneous material not needed to answer the item) and “red herrings” (information designed to mislead the test-taker) |
| Sentence Construction | COMLEX constructions are more varied. | USMLE has a conserved syntax and grammatical consistency that is not seen in COMLEX |
| Exam Interface | Preview the interface and prepare for exam day with this Tutorial. | Preview the interface and prepare for exam day with this Tutorial. |
| Content Outline | Follows the NBOME Blueprint | Follows the USMLE Content Outline |
Ready to get started preparing for these exams? Check out our TrueLearn SmartBank subscriptions.
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