Step 1 · Content outline
What Step 1 tests
The official outline is your syllabus. Open each table to see how the exam spreads its questions.
How questions are spread
The official outline
Open each table to see how USMLE distributes questions.
Systems: the official share of the exam
| Category | Share of exam (%) |
|---|---|
| Reproductive & Endocrine Systems | 12–16 |
| Respiratory & Renal/Urinary Systems | 11–15 |
| Behavioral Health & Nervous Systems / Special Senses | 10–14 |
| Blood & Lymphoreticular / Immune Systems | 9–13 |
| Multisystem Processes & Disorders | 8–12 |
| Musculoskeletal, Skin & Subcutaneous Tissue | 8–12 |
| Cardiovascular System | 7–11 |
| Gastrointestinal System | 6–10 |
| Social Sciences: Communication & Interpersonal Skills | 6–9 |
| Biostatistics & Epidemiology / Population Health | 4–6 |
| Human Development | 1–3 |
Physician tasks and competencies
| Category | Share of exam (%) |
|---|---|
| Medical Knowledge: Applying Foundational Science Concepts | 60–70 |
| Patient Care: Diagnosis | 20–25 |
| Communication & Interpersonal Skills | 6–9 |
| Practice-based Learning & Improvement | 4–6 |
Disciplines (questions often combine several, so totals exceed 100%)
| Category | Share of exam (%) |
|---|---|
| Pathology | 45–55 |
| Physiology | 30–40 |
| Nutrition | 15–20 |
| Gross Anatomy & Embryology | 10–20 |
| Microbiology | 10–20 |
| Pharmacology | 10–20 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 10–15 |
| Biochemistry | 5–15 |
| Histology & Cell Biology | 5–15 |
| Immunology | 5–15 |
| Genetics | 5–10 |
Source: usmle.org Step 1 content outline, read October 2026. Percentages are subject to change at any time.
From outline to practice
Practise by system
Our questions are tagged to these systems and subjects, so you can build blocks that match the weight of each area. Open the Start preparing page to see the thirteen subjects.
This page is the syllabus
Past papers and syllabus
USMLE does not release past papers, so the content outline on this page is the syllabus. Plan your weeks around the heavier systems first.
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