USMLE Step 1 · 11–15% of the exam
USMLE Step 1 renal questions
Respiratory & Renal/Urinary Systems makes up 11–15% of Step 1 on the official content outline. That share covers respiratory and renal questions together. Argonaut has 44 Step 1 renal and urinary questions.
Free to try
Free Step 1 renal questions
Full explanations, no account. Each opens on its own page.
What to expect
What Step 1 asks in renal questions
General guidance from the content outline and how questions on this subject are usually built.
- Nephron physiology: what each segment reabsorbs, and where each diuretic acts.
- Acid-base disorders, including the renal tubular acidoses, worked from the numbers.
- Glomerular disease: telling nephritic from nephrotic syndrome, and the biopsy findings for each.
- Water and electrolyte disorders, including diabetes insipidus.
- Congenital anomalies, cystic disease, stones, obstruction and urinary tract infection.
- Renal and bladder tumors.
Share from the official USMLE Step 1 content outline, checked 11 October 2026.
Coverage
Topics in the bank
17 topics, with the number of Step 1 questions on each. Topics with a chapter link to the Library.
- Congenital renal anomalies8
- Nephritic syndrome8
- Renovascular hypertension4
- Chronic kidney disease3
- Urinary obstruction3
- Urinary tract infections3
- Diabetes insipidus2
- Renal neoplasmsFree2
- Renal tubular acidosis2
- Renal tubular disorders2
- Acute interstitial nephritis1
- Bladder injury1
- Glomerular diseaseFree1
- Nephrotic syndrome1
- Proteinuria1
- Renal cysts1
- Urinary tract trauma1
Keep going
Read, then practice
- Glomerular diseaseConnect type IV collagen’s role in basement membranes to glomerular barrier injury and cochlear dysfunction. Recognize how one inherited structural defect can cause findings in multiple organs.Free chapter
- Renal neoplasmsRenal oncocytomas arise from collecting-duct intercalated cells, and their abundant mitochondria produce eosinophilic, granular cytoplasm. Distinguish this appearance from the perinuclear clearing that favors chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.Free chapter
- Step 1 cardiology questions7–11% of Step 1
- Step 1 neurology questions10–14% of Step 1
- Step 1 gastrointestinal questions6–10% of Step 1
- Step 1 biostatistics questions4–6% of Step 1
Renal questions, answered.
01How many Step 1 renal questions does Argonaut have?
44 in the bank today, each a full clinical vignette with every answer choice explained. 2 of them are free to try on this page.
02How much of Step 1 is renal content?
The official Step 1 content outline puts Respiratory & Renal/Urinary Systems at 11–15% of the exam. Shares are ranges because items can count toward more than one area. Read the outline.
03Are these renal questions free?
The questions listed here are free, with full explanations and no account. The rest of the Step 1 bank comes with Full access: $48 once, which also covers Step 2 CK. See pricing.
04What's the best way to practice renal questions?
Do a mixed block first to find your weak topics, then drill them, and read every explanation, not only the ones you missed. Our guide on reviewing USMLE questions shows how. In Full access, ARGO picks those topics for you.
All 44 renal questions, for $48.
Full access unlocks the whole Step 1 bank and the Step 2 CK bank, with ARGO drilling your weakest topics.
$48 · once · Step 1 + Step 2 CK