So when it comes to their website and student portal? It’s extremely important that users understand how to navigate this high-stakes testing journey with experiences that are intuitive, reliable, and accessible to all.

USMLE.org 

Project Highlights

Because the USMLE is already an essential resource for a fixed-size audience of medical students seeking a license, the project goal was to transform it into a more helpful resource, enhance overall UX, and improve engagement metrics such as reduced support inquiries and bounce rates; and increased visits, session lengths, and average page views.

Visual & UX Design

To reposition USMLE in a more favorable light for users, we created a more modern design and guided journeys that reflect the user expectations and communication preferences uncovered through a deep discovery phase.

To help new examinees prepare to successfully navigate the complex, multi-year pathway to licensure, we paid close attention to pointing them to engaging and informative materials about the process.

To make examinee user flows as clear and intuitive as possible for necessary functions — like application, payment, scheduling, score reporting and requesting transcripts — we created guided, efficient, and frictionless pathways while prioritizing structured information architecture that reduces user frustration.

Content Strategy

We wasted no time presenting the most important information right up front in an engaging way, especially for the primary audience of examinees: what USMLE is, why licensure is important, and why they have to take the tests.

Then we arranged content to lead them to FAQs that simply and quickly explain:

To get our arms around their content collection, we conducted a comprehensive content audit. By evaluating existing all assets for context, flow, value, relevance and presentation, we were able to determine how to categorize and sequence the delivery of the information so that it guides specific types of users to where they need to go at the right time without overwhelming them. For examinees, we did this by considering where they are in the multi-year process.

Leaning into analytics data and internal discussions, we crafted a full migration plan that determined the fate of each page and file: Would it be migrated directly to the new website, be rewritten, or disappear entirely? With careful planning and documentation, we preserved the search positioning of all key pages.

Going forward, an intentional, user-focused content strategy will help USMLE:

Exam Portal Solutions

The goal for the portal was to make it easy for people to find the right test to match their stage of the testing journey, log in using integrated SSO technology, get information, and use the application. Since there are 3 tests in the USMLE series, we created 3 very clear starting points with calls to action so students don’t have to guess at where to begin — or where to go next.

In approaching the UX, we considered the intent of real-world users going through the experience of registering, taking the exam, checking the status, getting scores & more.

Working with the client’s internal team, we created mockups reflecting an updated aesthetic that more closely matched their newly defined corporate brand standards for logo, colors, and typography.

Because NBME was on an organization-wide accessibility journey, we helped them ensure equitable experiences for all users.

When the designs received final approval, we transferred them to the USMLE team for execution, ensuring they rendered as intended and reflected our vision to help the client reach their goals going forward.