The Humerus Daily

PHILADELPHIA, PA—The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) has updated its scoring system for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge exams to reflect students’ scores more holistically.  

“It has come to our attention that we have a moral obligation to provide more than a single score between zero and three hundred after a several-hour exam,” reports Dr. Peter J. Katsufrakis, president and CEO of the NBME. The score, ostensibly based on the examinee’s test performance, is generated by a proprietary algorithm over two to four weeks after an examinee’s test date. But, Katsufrakis says, “A lot of important qualities can be missed in the single number, like how funny the applicant is, or how many hours of Sketchy they visualized in their dreams.”  

“Our new proprietary algorithm uses video recordings of students taking the exam to generate the holistic portion of the score,” per the NBME’s website. The added portion includes an AI-generated meme to build a relatable image representing an examinee’s core personality, similar to a Bitmoji. “Additionally, we hope this new score will complement students’ residency applications and personal statements,” Katsufrakis noted. “Fortunately, this full-day exam allows our AI model to accurately see into the souls of our test-takers and create a perfect avatar to reflect their essential essences.” The new system will be implemented for applicants in the 2027 graduating class, and the NBME stated it will be collecting feedback to continue improving its exam process for all users via one45 forms emailed to each examinee’s institutional accounts.