The same 2026 change that shortened the blocks also changed the break and tutorial allowance. On both Step 1 and Step 2 CK, USMLE now sets a minimum of 55 minutes of break time and a 5-minute optional tutorial. This guide lays out the time budget for test day, what the official pages say about extending your break, and how to plan breaks without guessing.
The official numbers
| Element | Before the change | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum break time | 45 minutes | 55 minutes |
| Optional tutorial | 15 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Step 1 effective | Exams on or after May 14, 2026 | |
| Step 2 CK effective | Exams on or after May 7, 2026 | |
How the day adds up
These totals are arithmetic from the official figures, not a separate USMLE statement.
- Step 1: fourteen 30-minute blocks (7 hours) + 55 minutes of break + 5-minute tutorial = 8 hours, matching the 8-hour session.
- Step 2 CK: sixteen 30-minute blocks (8 hours) + 55 minutes of break + 5-minute tutorial = 9 hours, matching the 9-hour session.
Before the change, the same sums worked out the same way: for Step 1, seven 60-minute blocks plus 45 minutes plus 15 minutes also equalled 8 hours. Ten minutes moved from the tutorial into the break allowance, and the total did not change.
You can add to your break time
USMLE states: "The amount of time available for breaks may be increased by finishing a block of test items or the optional tutorial before the allotted time expires." So the 55 minutes is a minimum, not a fixed cap. Finishing a 30-minute block early, or finishing the optional tutorial early, adds time to the break pool.
The official pages we checked do not spell out every detail, such as exactly how unused time is counted. Read USMLE's break time page before test day for the current rules.
Planning your breaks
These are suggestions, not official guidance.
- Know your average. Fifty-five minutes spread evenly is about 4 minutes between each of Step 1's 13 gaps between blocks, or about 3.5 minutes between each of Step 2 CK's 15 gaps. In practice most people take uneven breaks.
- Keep one longer break. One approach is short breaks for most gaps and a longer one for a meal or stretch about midway. Decide this plan in advance.
- Finishing early is optional, not a goal. A little banked time helps, but do not rush answers to create it.
- Rehearse the routine. Practice stepping away, eating, and returning in the same time you will have on exam day.
Test-day timeline
- Arrive early with your scheduling permit and matching government photo ID. See exam security and accommodations for the check-in rules.
- Start the exam. The 5-minute tutorial is optional, and finishing it early adds to your break time.
- Work through the blocks, using your break plan.
- Results follow later. See USMLE results, rechecks and transcripts.