"A new version of the software used to deliver the computer-based USMLE Step examinations was introduced in mid-August 2008. The Step 1 Examination is scheduled to be migrated to the new version in May 2009.
The migration is expected to begin on or about May 15, 2009 at a small number of test centers, and will then be phased in at remaining test centers over a period of several weeks. If you plan to take the Step 1 examination in May 2009 or later, you should familiarize yourself with both the current test delivery software (FREDv1) and the new (FREDv2) version.
Orientation and practice materials using both the current and new versions of the software are available for downloading by clicking here.
The change to the test delivery software will be accounted for in scoring the examination results, so that scores will be comparable to those of exams using the older software. Because of this change, as well as routine modifications to the test item pool, it will be necessary to delay the reporting of scores for some examinees. The normal turnaround time for reporting scores to Step 1 examinees is 3 to 4 weeks. However, during this transition, turnaround time for some examinees may be as long as 6 to 8 weeks.
The target date for reporting Step 1 scores for most examinees testing from mid-May through late June will be Wednesday, July 15, 2009."
http://www.usmle.org/General_Information/announcements.html
