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Step 1 NBME 28: what's on it and how hard it is

NBME 28 has 190 questions in our copy. The average question is 69 words long and 77% take two or more steps to answer. It leans most on blood and immune system, brain and nerves and heart and vessels.

Difficulty (0–100)
65
Average question
69 words
Take 2+ steps
77%
Have an image
27%

When to take it

Middle of dedicated (weeks 3–4), once you have a first score to compare with.

Students say it feels harder than the questions really are.

Our original practice exams

Systems it tests most

Share of the questions in each system.

  • Blood and immune system12%
  • Brain and nerves11%
  • Heart and vessels11%
  • General principles10%

The full breakdown

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

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