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Step 1 form guide Hard

Step 1 NBME 22: what's on it and how hard it is

NBME 22 has 101 questions in our copy. The average question is 69 words long and 83% take two or more steps to answer. It leans most on blood and immune system, brain and nerves and general principles.

Difficulty (0–100)
76
Average question
69 words
Take 2+ steps
83%
Have an image
6%

When to take it

Extra practice early on. It is an older form: shorter questions and more straight recall than today's exam, so don't read much into the score.

Students say it feels about as hard as it is.

Our original practice exams

Systems it tests most

Share of the questions in each system.

  • Blood and immune system16%
  • Brain and nerves14%
  • General principles12%
  • Kidneys and urinary10%

The full breakdown

Every system and subject, what the questions ask, and what changed from older forms.

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