University of Toledo, Ohio Cracking the USMLE!! FARAZ KHAN LUNI M.D. University of Toledo, Ohio Internal Medicine USMLE Step 1 score 99 (266) USMLE Step 2 score 99 (263) USMLE Step 3 score 99 (234)

DISCLAIMER! No fixed formula of success Listen to others Do what suits you

Avoid Stress Sort out family issues Decide what you want Long process

Avoid Stress Sleep well Take out time to relax and exercise Don’t postpone exams unnecessarily - Maximum of four reads

How to study Hard work pays off but smart studying pays off even more Study Partner or group Make a timetable and stick to it

Time Table Have 8 Hours of Sleep - Fixed sleeping schedule Time to relax Time to exercise Study in breaks

Time Table 9 AM Wake up 10-2:30 Study (4.5 Hours) 2:30-3 TV 3-6 Sleep 6-6:30 Tea Time 6:30-9 Study (2.5 Hours) 9-9:30 Exercise 9:30-10 Eat-TV 10-2:30 Study (4.5 Hours)

How to study Library Don’t over prepare

How to study Not many Buzz words Clinical scenarios No Rattas please - No need to memorize every line

Step 1 subjects (in order of importance) Pathology (Highest yield) Microbiology (Bacteriology high yield, Viral Groups) Behavioral Sciences (Our Achilles' Tendon) Pharmacology (Personal Classification Notes) Immunology (Immune deficiency diseases high yield) Physiology Biochemistry (First Aid is our aid) Genetics Anatomy (YES!!! Lowest yield topic. Only Neuroanatomy is high yield)

Which books to use Kaplan Lecture Notes (Along with DVDs) Kaplan 100 cases of ethics Epidemiology and Biostatistics for the USMLE (Appleton and Lange) Goljan Pathology (Old Edition)

Which books to use Original First Aid Kaplan Q bank (Not Q book) UWorld MCQs (ONLINE!!!) DON’T use High yield series, Grey’s, Harper,Guyton, Ganong!!!

First Read Orient Yourself Don’t panic if you don’t remember Slowest read Should take ~3 months ~ 10-15 more days if DVDs

First Read Kaplan Series Kaplan 100 cases of ethics Epidemiology and Biostatistics for the USMLE (Appleton and Lange) Goljan Pathology (Some recommend Lectures) - New edition too detailed!

First Read DVDs Alternate way of studying NOT necessary for good scores Make additions to Kaplan Do not write every word

First Read DVDs Watch once Increase speed, Capture (Power DVD) Behavior sciences is a must! Decide for yourself

Second Read Revise Should take ~ 2 months (with Q Bank) Don’t waste time on DVDs

Second Read Original First Aid MUST use it! NOT a replacement for Kaplan Great retention and revision tool

Second Read Kaplan Q bank (Book Format) Understand question pattern Topic by topic Identify high yield topics Note new information

Third Read Should take ~15 days U World ~ 13 more days Kaplan + First Aid U World Online ( www.usmleworld.com )

Third Read Sample exam (www.usmle.org) NBME Predictive Value

USMLE World Always Online (Don’t use book) $99 package Smartest $99 ever spent! Can also give self assessment (Extra $30)

USMLE World Learning tool (Not Evaluation) High 60s ~ High 90s Exam day matters Identify Weaknesses

USMLE World www.usmleworld.com Extra Information - Make notes Gives feel of the exam Schedule near the real exam

USMLE World FAQs Not getting good scores U World Vs Real Exam My friend got a low score

Day before the Exam Stop studying by 6 pm Relax Stay away from position holders Sleep early

Day before the Exam Don’t use long acting sedatives (Valium) Go see Prometric centre at least a day before Exam Tutorial Don’t cross question yourself

Step 1 Exam Format 8 Blocks 1 st Block Tutorial 7 Block MCQs (46 MCQs per Block)

Exam Format 15 Min Tutorial 45 min Break 1 Hour per Block If you finish earlier time added to break time Block time is CONSTANT (1 hour)

Exam Day Reach early Use restroom Don’t study on exam day or in exam break Take juices, snacks Panadol Extra (A lifesaver!!)

Exam Day Skip tutorial - Check mouse, sound, monitor Time management Breaks

Exam Day Have a positive attitude All blocks WONT go well Don’t evaluate yourself It seems crazy but ENJOY your exam

How to attempt questions? Read the last line first Look at the options Then read the whole question Highlight

How to attempt questions? Don’t waste time Use mark option Tick any answer Don’t leave any unanswered question All the information is in Kaplan and UWorld

Under Grads Time for Concepts Proper Text Books Kaplan Don’t compromise your Med School

Should I go for the Steps? Under Grads Should I go for the Steps? Pros Information fresh Save time to residency Cons Only 1 USMLE attempt (Unless you Flunk) Neglect of college studies Stressful

House Job Pros Backup Learning Pakistan Option PMDC Financial

House Job Cons Does not affect scores 1 extra year Less Study time Not a big boost to your match chances

House Job Do or not? Visa Status Family Issues AKU or Civil How to study? Time Wards

FAQs Should I give Step 1 first or Step 2 Old edition or new one

FAQs Is USMLE Step 1 studies good enough to pass FCPS Should I delay my exam

FAQs Audio Visual Questions Slides

USMLE Step 2

USMLE STEP 2 Attempt within 3-4 months of step 1 Questions from step 1 syllabus Shorter syllabus

USMLE STEP 2 Studying smartly is the key Beware of mistakes in Kaplan Time management very important

Subjects Medicine (Highest Yield) Pediatrics (Medium Yield) Obstetrics and Gynecology (Medium Yield) Surgery (Lowest Yield) Psychiatry (Lowest Yield)

What to focus on? What is the next best step What is the next best test What is the most accurate test What is the most likely diagnosis How to manage

What to study? Recommended Only Kaplan Series UWorld Mcqs (Either online or Book) Master the Boards (Not used by me) Not Recommended No Dvd’s except Cardiology and Gynaecology No First Aid No Qbank

How to study? Three reads more then enough Timing 1st read ~ 2 months with UWorld 2nd read ~1 month 3rd read ~ 13 days

How to study? Everyone gets whipped in U World Understand pattern U World with first read Everyone gets whipped in U World Understand pattern Identify high yield topics

Step 2 Exam Format 9 Blocks 1 st Block Tutorial 8 Block MCQs (44 MCQs per Block)

USMLE Step 3 2 Day Exam First Day MCQs Second Day MCQs + Clinical Case Scenario Best time as soon after Step 2

USMLE Step 3 UWorld Kaplan Step 2 Or Step 3 Master the Boards

Result and Etiquettes Result comes after 3 weeks on Wednesdays 9AM EST DON’T call person to ask result Anything less than 99 is NOT a disappointment