USMLE Step 1 Vocabulary Game
Exam terms with clues and explanations by OpenExamPrep.
About the USMLE Step 1 Vocabulary Game
A free word game for the USMLE Step 1 exam. Each round shows a clue for one of 20 exam terms across 11 topics. Recall the term, spell it out, then read a short explanation. Rounds pick a random term, so you can keep playing as long as you like.
How to Play
- 1Read the clue and type a term with the right number of letters (3 to 6). Abbreviations count: type the letters only.
- 2Press Check Answer or Enter. Each letter changes color to show how close you are.
- 3You have 6 tries. Stuck? Need a hint? asks the AI tutor for a nudge without giving the term away, and Skip moves to a new term.
- 4After the round, read the explanation, ask the AI to explain it, share your result, or press Next.
- ARight letter, right spot
- AIn the term, wrong spot
- ANot in the term
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Topics in the USMLE Step 1 Vocabulary Game
Human Development
Blood and immune
Brain and behavior
Bones, joints, and skin
Heart and vessels
Lung and kidney
Digestive system
Hormones and reproduction
Multisystem disorders
Study design
Clinical communication
Sources for these terms (19)
- Anemia · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Sickle Cell Disease · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Stroke Overview · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Autism Spectrum Disorder · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Gout · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Angina (Chest Pain) · Source checked 2026-11-04
- How Blood Flows through the Heart · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Asthma · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Sleep Apnea · Source checked 2026-11-04
- The Urinary Tract & How It Works · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Celiac Disease · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Colon Polyps · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Enlarged Prostate (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Graves' Disease · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Sepsis · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Cancer Epidemiology Cohorts · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Tool: SBAR · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Apgar score (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia) · Source checked 2026-11-05
About the USMLE Step 1 Exam
USMLE Step 1 assesses foundational understanding of health, disease, and therapeutic principles across organ systems. Current official system ranges include 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 (6-9%), Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Population Health (4-6%), and Human Development (1-3%). Discipline coverage is mechanism-heavy, with pathology (45-55%) and physiology (30-40%) carrying the largest ranges.
Exam sponsor: FSMB and NBME. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
280 questions
Time Limit
8 hours; 14 x 30-minute blocks (since May 14, 2026)
Passing Score
Pass/Fail (since January 2022)
Reported exam pass rate: 93%. 2025 first-taker pass rate for U.S. MD students; U.S. DO first-taker pass rate was 89% and the first-taker pass rate for examinees from non-U.S. schools (including Canadian schools from 2025) was 75% This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the USMLE Step 1 vocabulary game free?
Yes. The game is free to play with no sign-up. Signing in adds AI explanations for any term.
How does the USMLE Step 1 vocabulary game work?
Each round shows a clue for one of 20 USMLE Step 1 terms. Guess the term in six tries: green means the right letter in the right spot, yellow means the letter is in the term but in another spot, and gray means it is not in the term. After the round, read the explanation and play the next term.
Where do the USMLE Step 1 terms come from?
OpenExamPrep researched each term from the FSMB and NBME content outline and primary sources, listed under Sources on this page. The game is independent study material, not an official exam resource.
What is the USMLE Step 1 pass rate?
In 2025 USMLE performance data, Step 1 first-taker pass rates were 93% for U.S. MD examinees, 89% for U.S. DO examinees, and 75% for examinees from non-U.S. schools (Canadian schools are grouped with non-U.S. schools from 2025). Pass/fail scoring began for exams administered on or after January 26, 2022.
How is USMLE Step 1 scored?
Since January 26, 2022, Step 1 outcomes are reported as Pass/Fail only. USMLE notes that the passing standard corresponds to 196 on the prior three-digit scale, but future Step 1 passing-standard reviews will not be reported as three-digit scores.