Introduction to USMLE STEP I: Making Usmelly Not Stink So Much! Aaron Michelfelder, M.D. Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Bioethics and Health Policy USMLE I

Workshop Outline My Background My Background Generalities on Standardized Tests Generalities on Standardized Tests Specifics on USMLE I Specifics on USMLE I Putting Theory Into Practice Putting Theory Into Practice

My Background Worked for Leading Test Prep Company for 8 Years Worked for Leading Test Prep Company for 8 Years Taught ACT/SAT/MCAT/USMLE I-III Taught ACT/SAT/MCAT/USMLE I-III Written Mock Questions for USMLE I-III Written Mock Questions for USMLE I-III “Hired Gun” for Standardized Test Info “Hired Gun” for Standardized Test Info –Professional Test Taker

Standardized Tests “A standardized test is a standardized test is a standardized test!”

USMLE I 70% to pass in medical school (most of you do better) 70% to pass in medical school (most of you do better) 60-70% to Pass Step I 60-70% to Pass Step I –You will miss approximately 1 in 3 questions –No medical student is used to that –Humiliating –Psychologically Frustrating

Rules #1 You Must Prepare #1 You Must Prepare #2 Know What is on the Test #2 Know What is on the Test #3 Know Your Test Makers #3 Know Your Test Makers #4 Get Every Question Correct That You Can #4 Get Every Question Correct That You Can #5 Never Leave a Question Blank #5 Never Leave a Question Blank #6 Learn to Guess #6 Learn to Guess

Rule # 1 YOU MUST PREPARE!! YOU MUST PREPARE!! –Don’t review the first 2 years of med school –Prepare specifically for THE test –Be efficient –Don’t assume Loyola has prepared you for this test.

Rule # 2 Know What’s on the Test! Content and Format Content and Format They tell you SPECIFICALLY what you need to know They tell you SPECIFICALLY what you need to know

USMLE I – Format 350 questions 350 questions –7 blocks of 50 questions –50 questions or one block experimental & NOT graded –60 minutes each block –One 8-hour session –15 min for tutorial –45 minutes for breaks

USMLE I – Content inationcontent.htm inationcontent.htm inationcontent.htm inationcontent.htm

USMLE I - SCORING Two Scores Two Scores –Three Digit Score Mean is with SD of 20 Mean is with SD of 20 Possibly the actual number you get correct out of 300? Possibly the actual number you get correct out of 300? 182 minnimum score for passing 182 minnimum score for passing –Two Digit Score 0 to to is passing 75 is passing NOT PERCENTILE RANK NOT PERCENTILE RANK

Rule # 3 Know Your Test Makers view.htm view.htm view.htm view.htm This is important for certain types of test questions This is important for certain types of test questions

Rule #4 Get Every Question Correct that You Can Every question is worth the same point Every question is worth the same point Don’t get bogged down on difficult ?s Don’t get bogged down on difficult ?s –Look at the answers first – if unfamiliar, mark and move on –Difficult may be experimental –You may get 1 in 3 questions wrong DON’T DWELL ON IT!! DON’T DWELL ON IT!!

Rule #5 Never Leave a Question Blank Answer and Move on Answer and Move on Mark it if unsure Mark it if unsure

Rule # 6 Learn to Guess Wrong answers are chosen for a reason Wrong answers are chosen for a reason Egos ARE involved in USMLE Egos ARE involved in USMLE Think about what the test maker wants Think about what the test maker wants If you can eliminate then guess If you can eliminate then guess If you cannot eliminate then guess all the same If you cannot eliminate then guess all the same LET’S GET SPECIFIC AND HAVE SOME FUN!

Rules #1 You Must Prepare #1 You Must Prepare #2 Know What is on the Test #2 Know What is on the Test #3 Know Your Test Makers #3 Know Your Test Makers #4 Get Every Question Correct That You Can #4 Get Every Question Correct That You Can #5 Never Leave a Question Blank #5 Never Leave a Question Blank #6 Learn to Guess #6 Learn to Guess

Where to Go From Here Download the USMLE Tutorial and Sample Test Materials Download the USMLE Tutorial and Sample Test Materials Download the USMLE 1 Content Description Download the USMLE 1 Content Description As You Study, Check off Each Item As You Study, Check off Each Item This is the Most Important List to Make Sure You Have the Content Covered This is the Most Important List to Make Sure You Have the Content Covered Use Martha Halsey’s Method to Help Organize the Details Use Martha Halsey’s Method to Help Organize the Details

Final Rule Since you will miss up to 1 in 3 questions, don’t let the test frustrate you. 2 out of 3 questions gets you a pass, residency at Harvard, a new car, school loans paid off. Well, maybe just the first one.

GOOD LUCK ON USMLE STEP 1!