# Week 1 to Exam Day: The Whole Road, Before You Start

> The USMLE Vault schedule now shows every block from week 1 to exam day, not just to the first NBME: the NBME checkpoints, what happens if NBME 1 is below 65% or 65-70%, how the exam date is set or checked against a booked one, and how to change your system order.

URL: https://vault-guides.vercel.app/road-to-exam-day.html
Canonical: https://usmlevault.com/blog/road-to-exam-day.html

## Summary

The USMLE Vault schedule builds the entire plan on day 1, from week 1 to exam day. The 'Road to exam day' page shows every block and checkpoint (NBMEs, full-length mocks, Vault Assessment 1) with Today and Done markers. At NBME 1: above 70% nothing changes; 65–70% adds a 15-day Patch and the plan resumes; below 65% adds a Rebuild block and moves the exam date. Phase 2 after NBME 1 is normally 33 days; the exam date is set 35 days after the first NBME. A booked exam date can be entered in Reset: the app says whether the plan fits, condenses Phase 2 at 12+ hours a day (to 23 days at 12h, 22 at 15h, keeping both mocks, the Free 120 and the rest day), or offers more hours or a later date. 'Study order' lets students change the system order and previews the new end date and first NBME date before applying.

## Key facts

- The whole plan is built on day 1, from week 1 to exam day — not only to NBME 1
- 'Road to exam day' shows every block and checkpoint (NBMEs, full-length mocks, Vault Assessment 1) with Today and Done badges
- NBME 1 above 70%: nothing changes. 65–70%: a 15-day Patch is added, then the plan resumes. Below 65%: a Rebuild block is added and the exam date moves
- Phase 2 (after NBME 1) is normally 33 days; exam date = first NBME + 35 days
- Reset asks 'When is your Step 1 exam?': fits with room / fits by condensing Phase 2 / doesn't fit (more hours, use the later date, or message Dr. Marish)
- Condensing only at 12+ hours a day; floor 23 days at 12h, 22 at 15h; both mocks, the Free 120 and the rest day never move
- 'Study order' changes the system order and previews 'Plan ends' and 'First NBME' before 'Apply the new order'; finished days are kept
- Road to exam day and Study order are part of the full Vault