Step I Studies Overview

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Step I StudiesOverview Strategies

• Jane Rosenthal

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Dont panic.
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Have a plan.
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Stay (Get) organized.
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• USMLE Step 1 Specifications
• System
• 25-35 General principles
• 65-75 Individual organ systems  
• Hematopoietic/Lymphoreticular
  Nervous/special senses Skin/connective tissue
  Musculoskeletal Respiratory Cardiovascular
  Endocrine Immune
• Gastrointestinal Renal/urinary
  Reproductive
• Process
• 20-30 Normal structure and function
• 40-50 Abnormal processes
• 5-25 Principles of therapeutics
• 10-20 Psychosocial, cultural, occupational, and
  environmental considerations

Source http//www.usmle.org/General_Information/b
ulletin/2011/content.htmlstep1
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General Principles

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Biology of Cells
• Human development Genetics
• Biology of Tissue Response to Disease
• Gender, Ethnic, Behavioral Considerations
  Affecting Disease Treatment Prevention
• Multisystem Processes
• Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Processes
• Microbial Biology Infection
• Immune Responses
• Quantitative Methods

Source http//www.usmle.org/Examinations/step1/20
11Step1.pdf
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What areas might be challenging for you?
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Right nowRepro
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GI/Liver Feb 7 March 11

• Priority 1 Learn the material well!
• To really ramp up for Step 1 review relevant
  material from Core integrate with material from
  other disciplines

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Spring break March 12-20

• Develop a study plan based on your strengths
  weaknesses
• Subscribe to online testing program
  (USMLEWorld, Kaplan, etc).
• Organize!
• Form a study group

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Start putting the pieces together.
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Ideas for ICS

• March 21 Headache
• March 28 Abdominal Pain
• April 4 Fatigue
• 4/4 RSP Presentations
• April11 Dizziness
• April 8 Shortness of Breath
• April 25 Fever
• May 2 Trauma
• 5/9-5/18 OSCE
• May 20 ICS Comprehensive Exam

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Between May 20th and your test date

• Practice, practice, practice
• Start with more challenging foundational subjects
  or systems
• Suggest approx 50 questions each day at first,
  then increase to 100 per day
• Review questions that you miss.
• Check your progress, but dont obsess about it.
• Celebrate improvements.
• 2-3 weeks prior to exam, do a full-length
  practice to build endurance and fine-tune your
  studying.

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Dont let the time slip away.
Remember your goals.
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What kinds of questions do you expect?
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Kinds of questions

• Facts, details
• Concepts or functions
• Identifying structures/interpreting images
• Interpreting graphs or diagrams
• Recognizing/understanding signs symptoms
• Using patient history and details
• Determining a diagnosis differential diagnosis
• Understanding test results
• Determining a treatment or management plan
  (including next step)
• Describing or evaluating outcomes or prognosis

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More about the test

• How long is it?
• 15 minutes for tutorial (optional)
• 7 sixty-minute blocks (thats 7 hours of
  questions!)
• Each 60 minute block has 48 questions
• 45 minutes for break

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More about the test

• How long is it?
• 15 minutes for tutorial (optional)
• 7 sixty-minute blocks (thats 7 hours of
  questions!)
• Each 60 minute block has 48 questions
• 45 minutes for break

Be sure to build your stamina !
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During the test

• Take a sweatshirt or sweater the test centers
  are often chilly.
• There is no penalty for guessing, so always
  answer something.
• Pace yourself. The screen has a clock to say
  time remaining, but wont give you warnings.
  Check your progress at regular intervals. 48
  questions per hour
• 12 questions every15 minutes

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Some helpful resources

• Utah Pathology Questions
• http//library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/webpath.htmlM
  ENU
• Student Source (a compilation of resources from a
  variety of medical schools for particular topics)
• http//www.med-ed.virginia.edu/menu/otherMedEd.cfm
  
• Content description, sample test and downloadable
  program for practice
• http//www.usmle.org/Examinations/step1/step1.html
  

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FIGHT ON!
Jane Rosenthal Learning Specialist KAM216 janerose
_at_usc.edu [phone]