The latest announcement from http://www.usmle.org/announcements contained some significant changes relating to score reporting and the exam format for those taking the Step 1 exam over the next couple months. The update stated, “the target date for reporting Step 1 scores for most examinees testing the week of May 11th through late June will be Wednesday, July 8, 2015.” So, if you need your Step 1 score prior to July 8, the USMLE recommends you take Step 1 no later than Friday, May 8, 2015.

Secondly, the number of Step 1 questions will decrease from 322 to 308. When this change occurs, around May 11^th, the transition will probably take around 6 weeks; however, there may be some locations where the changes take slightly longer to complete. The following changes were included in the USMLE’s announcement:

• “Scores on new and old forms will be comparable; the decrease in the number of items per form will be accounted for in scoring the examination results.
• The length of the examination day will remain unchanged. The test day will continue to be divided into seven 60-minute blocks, administered in one seven-hour testing session.
• The number of items per block will decrease from 46 to 44. There will be a total of 308 items on each examination. “

References: http://www.usmle.org/announcements