Nuts & Bolts: Policy, Registration, Study
Schedules & Support Services
OSLER
October 2, 2012





Review UC Davis SOM policy related to Step 1
Provide information related to registration,
scheduling and testing accommodations for
Step 1
Describe support available from OSLER
Identify essential study resources for Step 1
Provide an outline of deadlines and events
related to Step 1 preparation


You must TAKE (and complete!) the exam by
April 15, 2013
If you do not pass…
◦ You will stop your rotation immediately
◦ Prepare a plan of remediation
◦ Take exam and post passing score by start of
rotation 3





Go to www.nbme.org
Click on “Log-in to NBME Licensing Exam
Services”
Follow prompts to complete registration
Select 90-day eligibility period
Print form, attach picture and deliver form to
Registrar’s Office – Room 1208
◦ Take your ID when you submit form!

What is an eligibility period?
◦ 90 day window in which you may schedule/take
your exam

You can not test outside of your eligibility
period unless you:
◦ File for a one time extension
 $65 fee and you only get one extension!!!
◦ Re-register for the exam (i.e. pay another $535)

The first month of your eligibility period
should be the month in which you are going
to test.
◦ Block 5 ends March 1.
◦ Boards study typically lasts 5-6 weeks.
 Eligibility
period: April-May-June



You will receive an e-mail telling you that
your scheduling permit is available
Log-in, click on “Scheduling Permit”
Go to Prometric website and schedule your
test date.


Accommodations for documented disabilities
covered under the Americans with Disabilities
Act
You must apply for accommodations at the
same time you register for the exam
◦ See Gail Peoples if you plan on applying for or have
questions about applying for accommodations

Request for Personal Items
◦ Hearing aids, insulin pumps, inhalers, etc.
◦ http://www.usmle.org/bulletin/applying-and-scheduling/#disabilities

Different levels of support to meet your
individual needs:
◦ Lowest level: help creating/reviewing a study
schedule, choosing supplemental resources and
reassurance that you can do this
◦ Medium level: help assessing results of the BSX,
individual appointments throughout boards study
to help with quizzing, review and confidence
◦ Highest level: Boards Review Class


OSLER will help you build a study schedule
and plan the study that is best for you!
There are many methods out there:
◦ DIT, Kaplan, Penn Method, Taus Method, Questions
Only, etc.

All are variations on a theme
◦ Different curricula, different goals, different exams

Be informed!!!





Clear start and end dates
Days off
Review days
Reserved time for questions
Time limits
◦ Organ systems vs. disciplines
◦ Nervous system vs. cardiovascular
◦ CV physiology vs. CV pharmacology

Pick a start date
◦ Block 5 ends on March 1, 2013
◦ Time off?

Pick a test date
◦ You must test on or before April 15, 2013

Identify “special” days off
◦ Identify any day that you will be away from studying
 Weddings, conferences, birthdays, etc.

Identify “scheduled” days off…
◦ For the sake of your health, sanity and personal
hygiene, give yourself 1 reliable day off each week.
◦ Usually Saturday or Sunday

Identify question bank days
◦ One day/week devoted to question based
cumulative review
 Track progress
 Identify weak areas
 Prepare for the real deal
◦ Usually the day before scheduled day off

Pick practice test days
◦ NBME self-assessments
◦ Typically scheduled after 2-3 weeks of study and 1
week prior to the exam.

Identify time for final cumulative review
◦ Time set aside for final push for detail
◦ Usually 3-3.5 days immediately before test date
 2 days for organ system review
 1 to 1.5 days for discipline review
April 2013
March 2013
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
Sat
Sun
2
Mon
1
Tue
2
Wed
3
Thu
4
Fri
5
Sat
6
NBME
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Q
10
11
12
13
14
15
24
31
18
25
19
26
20
27
21
28
22
29
8
9
R
10
R
R
16
Q
17
7
11
R
12
TEST
13
REST
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
23
NBME
30
Q
24 study days
3 question bank days
2 NBME practice tests
3.5 days of cumulative review


Schedule an appointment with OSLER
It may take two appointments…
◦ Appointment 1- weekly schedule
 Day 1 to exam day
 When do I review? When do I do a practice test? How
many days for Renal?
◦ Appointment 2 – daily schedule
 How long is a study day? How long for Heme
pathology?
 What do I do during the four hours scheduled for CV
pharm?


Six week guided study
Focused on approach, strategy
◦ NOT a content based review


Designed to provide structure, accountability
and additional support for those who need it
If interested, talk to Joanna, Gail or Richard


First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 – 2012 or 2013
edition
One additional reference per discipline
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦

Anatomy/Histology
Biochemistry
Physiology
Immunology/Microbiology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Embryology
Question Bank
◦ USMLE World
◦ Kaplan Q-bank

October 12 – 3-4:30 pm
◦ Strategies for Reviewing Year 1 Content (Respiratory
Physiology)

October 26 – 1-2:30 pm
◦ Strategies for Reviewing Pharmacology (Autonomic
Drugs)

December 4 – 1-5 pm
◦ BSX Exam (required!)

December 7 – 3-4:30 pm
◦ Planning a review of Behavioral Science & Psychiatry

On-going November-February
◦ Individual appointments to create a Step 1 study plan

October-December

January-February

March-April
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Complete registration
Select and schedule test day
Meet with OSLER to create/review study schedule
Participate in Step 1 workshops
Take BSX exam – December 4
◦ Review results of BSX
◦ Revise study schedule (if necessary)
◦
◦
◦
◦
Activate Question bank
Purchase NBME practice exams
Study!
Take Step 1






Be informed
Be systematic
Be reflective
Know yourself and what works for you
Ask questions now
Help is available

Step 1and Residency
◦ Dr. Jones

Registration, Testing Accommodations,
Personal Item Exceptions
◦ Gail Peoples – 4101G
 gail.peoples@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu, 734-4122

Study Support
◦ Joanna Arnold – 4101C, 734-8785
 joanna.arnold@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
◦ Richard Moses – 4101A, 734-4678
 richard.moses@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu