AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment For Your School

Medical students across the nation attest to its rigor and exam-day accuracy

“AMBOSS’ self- assessment was a great transition from passive step studying through classes to focused dedicated study period. This exam gives you a taste of test day and a baseline of where you are going into dedicated...It's really hard to find good questions with good answer explanations, but this self-assessment has them!”

Aaishwariya G., class of 2023

University of Central Florida College of Medicine

“…[W]hen it came to Step 1 prep, the self-assessment was the perfect first step in getting ready for dedicated studying; not only were questions well made and the test at the perfect time to give me a "baseline" of where I was at knowledge-wise, but also, the in-depth explanations (linked to the AMBOSS library) provided an unparalleled review depth and integration after receiving the score report.”

Samuel C.,
MD-PhD Graduate Trainee (GS-1)

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine

“AMBOSS was really a one-stop shop for my [Step 1] study...I took the Self-Assessment in Feb (that AMBOSS provides to everyone for free!), and had a good idea of where I stood preparation-wise months before the actual exam. It was so helpful to know what I needed to work more on that much in advance, so that I could really pinpoint where I wanted to spend my time and tailor my schedule.”

Sandy S., class of 2023

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston School of Medicine

Frequently Asked Questions

AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment Week Access

What is the AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment?

The AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment is a simulation of the USMLE® Step 1 exam. It consists of four question blocks of 40 questions each and is presented in the NBME®’s official timed format. Once it starts, you can take the self-assessment any time during the selected 7 days.

Where can I start the self-assessment?

You can begin the Step 1 Self-Assessment within your account if you signed up during the registration phase. Once you follow the link, you’ll be directed to create an AMBOSS account if you don’t yet have one. Once your account is created, you can start the self-assessment. If you do have an account, you will be directed to the start of the assessment within the platform.

When does the AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment Week start and end? In which time zone?

As this self-assessment is provided by your school, you can refer to their instructions regarding the start and end date. Please note that you must register for the self-assessment by your school's stated deadline to get access.

Do I need an AMBOSS account to access the self-assessment?

Yes, you’ll need an AMBOSS account to access the self-assessment. If you don’t have an AMBOSS account yet, create yours for free here and make sure to activate your campus access as per instructions delivered by your school.

Taking the AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment

Where can I register and start the AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment?

You can register for the self-assessment at the top of this page. Please make sure to use the same email address as your AMBOSS account. If you don’t have an AMBOSS account yet, create yours for free here and activate your campus access as per the instructions delivered by your school.

Can I take the self-assessment earlier or later on?

Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to take the self-assessment before the advertised dates. The AMBOSS self-assessment is designed as a community-based event that is available for a limited time only. The unique self-assessment questions—that are representative of the exam distribution—are available on the platform only during the stated week. You will receive your score report on the advertised date, the same time as everyone taking the assessment with you.

Is the relative distribution of topics the same as in the actual Step 1 exam?

Yes, our self-assessment reflects the relative distribution of topics on the actual USMLE® exam. Accordingly, the Step 1 Self-Assessment will reflect the NBME®’s announcement that communication and interpersonal skills questions will feature more prominently on the exam.

How long do I have to complete the self-assessment?

You will have 60 minutes to complete each question block, so make sure to give yourself enough time to complete one before you sit down to take it. If you need to pause the exam for some reason, you are welcome to do so. That said, we recommend you complete the entire block in one sitting so that you are able to most effectively simulate the actual Step 1 exam.

Do I have to complete the entire self-assessment/all four blocks in one sitting?

You can, but you don’t have to. You can split the self-assessment up into chunks and take each block at any point throughout the week. That said, we recommend that you complete the exam in one sitting, since this is the best way to simulate the actual exam and build your stamina.

Will I be able to review my answers right away?

The self-assessment exam is made up of four blocks, each including 40 questions. After answering all 40 questions in a block, you will have the option to review the completed block’s correct answers and explanations or to continue with the rest of the exam.

You will also be able to go back and see your completed blocks and review your answers at any time during the self-assessment week.

Can I access my completed self-assessment even after AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment Week is over?

Please complete all four blocks by the deadline set by your school!
You’ll be able to access and review your completed self-assessment question blocks after the deadline is over, but be aware that this could count against your school performance. You won’t be able to change any of your answers, but you can review your recommended articles, and start a Qbank session based on those articles or your relative strengths & weaknesses.

Can I take the self-assessment on a mobile device?

The self-assessment is not available on mobile apps. Although it is possible to take it on the web browser of your mobile device, we strongly recommend taking it on your desktop device.

Taking the self-assessment on a desktop will better mimic the real testing environment of the USMLE® Step 1 exam, which will not be available on mobile devices.

Will I see the same questions as the current Step 1 material on the platform?

The questions were previously in our Qbank as dedicated Step 1 questions, however, we removed them from the Qbank a few months ago to ensure that students who take our self-assessment will be able to test themselves with fresh questions. Because of this, if you started preparing early, it may be possible that you see some of the same questions.

When will I get my score report?

You must complete all four blocks of the self-assessment by the stated deadline to receive your report. The report will be delivered by email two to three days after the self-assessment finishes and will also be accessible within the AMBOSS platform. The completed self-assessment and score report will be available for you as long as you have access to AMBOSS. Make sure your campus access is enabled so you can review your results anytime while the access is available.

Score Report and Analysis

Will I receive a detailed explanation of what my score means along with my report?

Yes! The results of this year’s self-assessment will be in the same format as the NBME®’s pass/fail report, so you can get an accurate estimation of how ready you are to pass Step 1.

Additionally, you will receive a list of recommended topics that is based specifically on your performance on the assessment and is optimized for the latest Step 1 format. These will help you focus on the high-yield topics that will have the greatest positive impact on your exam preparation.

How predictive is my self-assessment score relative to my actual Step 1 exam score?

The AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment scores are calculated using the performance of self-assessment-takers that are within weeks of their actual USMLE Step 1 exam date as a calibration reference. The calibration is performed using the official USMLE Step 1 score distribution, and our questions are tested and have been scrutinized by students in prior years.

We’re confident our questions are high-quality and representative of what you will see on the actual exam. Our chosen questions also reflect the relative distribution of topics on the actual USMLE® exam.

Check out this blog post for more details about how the score is calculated.

Will my score report include a 3-digit score?

Even though Step 1 is now pass/fail, over 95% of students surveyed said they’d still like to receive a 3-digit score! The score is a jumping-off point so you can gauge your progress and see what you need to do to comfortably pass Step 1 (and go on to score high on Step 2!).

How long will my question blocks be available for review after the self-assessment?

The completed self-assessment and score report will be available for you to review for one month after the self-assessment week has finished. As long as you have access to AMBOSS, you will be able to review your results anytime during this timeframe. Your free access will cover you for a few days after the score report is released.

Still have questions?

Find more information in our Help Center

Go to Help Center

AMBOSS Step 1
Self-Assessment

Take the Step 1 Self-Assessment

Gauge your knowledge

Adapt your study plan

Just like the real thing

Medical students across the nation attest to its rigor and exam-day accuracy

Go beyond a self-assessment

**Understand the why and how**

The next step in your prep

Ready to conquer on exam day

What to expect during Step 1 Self-Assessment Week

Frequently Asked Questions

AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment Week Access

Taking the AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment

Score Report and Analysis

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