Get advice from third- and fourth-year medical students who Will use, the study materials you will need, and how you will obtain your materials. You have planned your strategy for studying. Be sure that you are well informed about the examination and that If you haveĪny disabilities or "special circumstances," contact the NBME as early asīefore you begin to study earnestly, simulate the USMLE Step 1 under "real"Ĭonditions to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in your knowledge and test taking USMLE Step 1 continued on a year-round basis. Review test dates and the application procedure. It is risky and intimidating to use unfamiliar reviewīooks in the final two or three weeks preceding the exam. When Step 1 comes along, these books will be familiar and personalized to Year of medical school and use them as you study throughout the two years. We also recommend that you buy highly rated review books early in your first Predictors of performance on the Step 1 exam.5 Moreover, undergraduate science GPAs as well as MCAT scores are strong Have been shown to be highly correlated with subsequent Step 1 scores.4 Student scores on NBME subject tests (commonly known as "shelf exams") Years should provide the groundwork on which to base your test preparation. Your first two years of medical school and even during your undergraduate You may be tempted to rely solely on cramming in the weeks and months before Of concepts and principles in basic sciences." 3 We agree. "broadly based learning that establishes a strong general foundation of understanding The NBME asserts that the best preparation for the USMLE Step 1 resides in Healthy lifestyle with proper diet, exercise, and sleep. Number of breaks in your study schedule to avoid burnout. Plan your personalĪffairs to minimize crisis situations near the date of the test. You will need time for uninterrupted and focused study. On a few top-rated resources that suit your learning style-not on some obscureīooks your friends may pass down to you. Beware of feelings of inadequacy when comparing study Goal! Revise your schedule regularly on the basis of your actual progress. Review-reading Gray’s Anatomy in a couple of days is not a realistic Mistake of studying at a level of detail that requires too much time for a comprehensive Make your schedule realistic, and set achievable goals. To integrate the material across basic science subjects. Students prefer using a "systems-based" approach (e.g., GI, renal, cardiovascular) Require a longer time commitment and could be studied earlier. The end of your schedule, whereas other subjects (anatomy and pathology) Thus, these subjects could be covered toward With longer but quite comprehensive review books are microbiology, Behavioral scienceĪnd physiology are two subjects with concise review books. Which concise yet relatively complete review books are available. The "crammable" subjects for Step 1 are those for Subjects lend themselves to cramming, whereas others demand a substantial Recent studies show that a later testing date does not translate intoĪ higher score, so avoid pushing back your test date.2Īnother important consideration is when you will study each subject. When you have scheduled your exam date, do your best Students reserve about a week at the end of their study period for final review others MCAT).Typically, students allot between five and seven weeks to prepare for Step 1. In your own history in preparing for standardized examinations (e.g., SAT, Study time or concentrate it into 14-hour study days in the final weeks. Determine whether you want to spread out your With your objectives, your vacation time, and the difficulty of your ongoingĬoursework. Make a ScheduleĪfter you have defined your goals, map out a study schedule that is consistent Process can be a valuable resource in this regard. Indeed, many residency programs value other criteria more highly than a high score on Step 1.įourth-year medical students who have recently completed the residency application At the same time, your Step 1 score is only one of a number of factors that are assessed when you apply for residency. May wish to consider aiming for a very high score on the Step 1 exam. Placed on attaining a high score, so students who seek to enter these programs In such residency programs, greater emphasis may be Surgery and orthopedic surgery, have acknowledged their use of Step 1 scores Do your best to define your goals early so that you can prepareĬertain highly competitive residency programs, such as those in plastic Your specialty choice, your grades to date, and your personal assessment of the Your goal may depend on your school’s requirements, Your style and intensity of preparation can then be It is useful to define your own personal performance goal when approaching USMLE Step 1 Study Timeline Define Your Goal
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