The Free 137 is the NBME's official free practice exam for USMLE Step 3. Think of it as the Step 3 equivalent of the Free 120 that you took for Step 1 and Step 2. It contains 137 multiple choice questions across 4 timed blocks, and it is the only official free practice material from the USMLE.
There is a lot of confusion about which version is the "new" one and which is "old," so this page breaks it all down.
What Is the New Free 137 vs. the Old Free 137?
If you are studying for Step 3 right now, the current version is the December 2023 update. This is what people mean when they say the "new free 137."
The "old free 137" refers to the November 2020 version, which was the standard from late 2020 through 2023. NBME quietly replaced it, which is why many of the explanation resources you find online no longer match the current questions.
There are also two older versions from November 2019 and November 2017 that can be useful as additional practice material if you want more official NBME questions.
Where to Find the Free 137
- Free 137: December 2023 (Current Version) - The "new" Free 137. 137 questions, 97 pages.
- Free 137: November 2020 - The "old" Free 137. 137 questions, 81 pages.
- Free 137: November 2019 - An older version with some unique questions. 137 questions, 71 pages.
- Free 137: November 2017 - The original version. 137 questions, 69 pages.
Where to Find Explanations
StudyCCS provides written explanations for each version of the Free 137 on the individual guide pages linked above. You will find detailed breakdowns and teaching content for every question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Free 137 the same as the NBME practice exam?
Yes, same thing. "Free 137" is just the informal name students use because there are 137 multiple choice questions.
How does the Free 137 correlate with the real Step 3 score?
Based on community data, scoring around 70 to 75 percent generally correlates with a passing score, though this is anecdotal and not officially validated by NBME.
Can I take the Free 137 more than once?
Yes, unlimited attempts on the online platform. But repeating inflates your score and reduces diagnostic value.
Why don't older explanations match the current Free 137?
NBME updated the Free 137 in December 2023 and replaced many questions. Explanations written for the 2020 version no longer align with the current question set.