Who else is better to answer this question than the team from First Aid for USMLE? The list below is based on the Step 1 Scores for US Senior applicants:Tier 1 (Median USMLE Step 1 Scores of 233-243):
- Plastic Surgery
- Dermatology
- Otolaryngology
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Radiation Oncology
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Transitional Year
Tier 2 (Median USMLE Step 1 Scores of 217-222):
- Internal Medicine
- Pathology
- General Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- IM/Peds
- Anesthesiology
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
Tier 3 (Medan USMLE Step 1 Scores of 208-213):
- Ob/GYN
- Family Medicine
- PM&R
- Psychiatry
In 2004, I listed a few tips on How to Score Well on the Boards and some of them are still valid:- Practice makes perfect
- Read a concise book
- Practice with a lot of MCQs
- The formula "first line, last line, answers" works for many test takers
- Pace yourself
- Calculate 2 variables: the percent of correct answers and the seconds you spend on each question
- For those who like mnemonics, the best free resource is Medical Mnemonics.com
References:
What Score do I need for my Specialty? Firstaidteam.com.
How to Score Well on the Boards?
ABIM Issues Warning Regarding Scam “Certification Boards” Plus How to Score Well on the Real Board Exam