School of Medicine

BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE TEST

If you have not already done so, become familiar with the information in the USMLE Bulletin of Information found at www.usmle.org. The Content Description and Sample Test Materials may also be downloaded from that site. The Content Description provides a detailed breakdown of content.

• Plan ahead. Testing sites and seats are limited.

• If you need special testing accommodations, you should also plan ahead as securing accommodations takes more time.

• For a fee, you can schedule a 3 1/2 hour time block at your Prometric center to take a practice exam in the same environment as your actual test. The questions on the Practice exam at Prometric are the same questions found on the USMLE website. You may schedule the practice exam as soon as you have your Scheduling Permit. If you are planning on taking a practice exam at the Prometric center, schedule it as soon as you have your exam date, since the centers do get booked. Plan to take the practice exam approximately a week before your scheduled exam date. Do not take the practice exam too close to your actual exam. If you choose not to do a practice exam, at least visit your site to become familiar with the set-up (parking, traffic, restrooms, etc.).

• Re-confirm your appointment with your Prometric center a week before the exam, and again a few days before the exam.

• Practice questions daily. Use resources that have questions close to the USMLE format. Practice timing for 72 seconds per question. A primary strategy is to KEEP MOVING. There is no penalty for wrong answers and no hierarchy of difficulty of the questions. You benefit most from doing questions in the tutorial mode . Read the question, answer it, immediately read the explanation of all the answers. Use the explanation to lead you to topics to review at that point. This immediate feedback and reinforcement helps retention.

ASSESS YOUR NEEDS

In reality, your preparation for the USMLE began when you entered medical school and has continued over the past two years. WSU's curriculum covers the exam content. It is impossible to LEARN the basic science years in one month, but it is possible to REVIEW the past two years. A broad review across subject content areas is considered preferable to one that concentrates on a limited number of subjects. A well-planned review is the key to achieving success in refreshing your broad knowledge base and in plugging any holes in your knowledge.

• The 335 multiple choice questions on USMLE Step I test integrated knowledge. They are not trick questions, nor do they try to lead you astray.

• Be honest in your evaluation of your knowledge base. Did you barely pass a certain course? If you are a student who has struggled, give yourself enough time to prepare. Consider a diagnostic test (available from commercial sources) to profile needs. Use the USMLE checklist is included to examine your academic progress over the last two years.

• Consider Commercial Prep Courses. While it is not necessary to take a commercial course to be successful, it can be helpful to offer structure and motivation in your study plan. Again, consider your knowledge base, academic success and learning style when making this decision. WSU does not endorse one commercial course over another.

• Princeton Review (800-876-5384) Offers live lecture course in LA, NY (and possibly, Chicago). Books and two full-length exams included. A question bank is available.

• Kaplan (800-533-8850) Offers Intense Prep (not in Detroit ): live lecture course, practice exam, MedPass: a videotape review, WebPrep online audio-streamed lectures with review book, question book, question bank, Organ Systems: self-study books, question book, question bank and practice exam. Question banks are also available separately.

• P.A.S.S. Program, Champaign , IL (217-378-8018) Offers small group lectures and test taking techniques.

• Northwestern Review (517-347-6917) Lansing based company offers live lecture review courses.

Nutrition/Exercise

Nutrition (remember your course?) is important to help keep you healthy during the study period and to maintain energy on the exam day. While many of you rely on caffeine and sugar to sustain your energy level, protein is a better choice to help you through the Step I "marathon." Think about snacks (cheese sticks, peanut butter with whole grain crackers or an apple, etc.) that you can eat mid morning and mid afternoon to keep energy level even. This is particularly important on the exam day.

You do not have to join a gym or begin Olympic training during Step I study, but exercise should be a part of your daily schedule. Simply walking outside or dancing to your favorite songs for half an hour can provide a break, clear your head, and offer an opportunity to re-connect with the world. The time it takes to exercise can provide the down time your brain needs for memory and learning.

Making a Schedule

Take time to determine your review sources and make a schedule. The sample schedule provided can be adapted for either a systems approach or a discipline approach to study and is adaptable for the four to six weeks you have available for study. Review basics and move to Pathophys at the end. Pharm and I/M (short-term memory subjects) are reviewed one final time the last day or two. The sample provides for in depth review/reading of your chosen source for 6 hours a day and 1.5 hours of questions for the first 3 or 4 weeks. The final 10 days provides a high yield review, using First Aid and/or Step Up for 2 hours of reading and 6 hours of Q Bank.

• To prevent burnout, schedule in leisure activities, exercise and other activities or responsibilities you will have during this time.
  
  
• Set reasonable study goals. A 20-hour study day is not productive. Your brain needs time to process information.
  
  
• When to start your study? Some will want to start the day after Pathophys ends; most will take 3 or 4 days off before beginning to study.
  
  
• Year 3 begins on June 30, 2011. It's a good idea to plan a day or two off before you begin Year III, so the last day to take the exam would be June 24, 2011.

Daily Review/Study Plans

In order to make the most efficient and effective use of time, SET UP A DAILY ROUTINE THAT YOU WILL STICK TO THROUGHOUT THE REVIEW WEEKS. Try scheduling your most intense study time during "regular work hours," from about 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. This coincides with most scheduled USMLE Step I exam times and helps promote a pattern for working intensely with subject content within this time. Evening hours may be best for doing practice questions. Sometimes doing a block of questions during the day can act as a break. Remember to do the majority of your questions in the tutorial mode. Practice for timing, particularly if it is an issue for you. Your study time is finite; you cannot skip studying Biochem because you are anxious about Pharm. As you complete areas, acknowledge this accomplishment; this will aid in motivation.

Be active in your studying-don't just read-explain out loud to yourself, write key trigger words for your own high yield facts list.

Plan to stop your review activities early in the day before your exam or take the day off before the exam. At this time, the best preparation that you can do is to remind yourself of all the hard work you have done and that you have accomplished all that you can. It is best not to dwell on thoughts that "you should have reviewed more." Negative self-talk will only undermine your self-confidence. Get a good night's sleep.

Scores are reportedly approximately 3.5 weeks after you take the exam. NBME sends scores via email every Wednesday morning. 188 is the current passing score.