Introduction to USMLE STEP I:
Making Usmelly Not Stink So
Much!
USMLE I
Aaron Michelfelder, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine,
Bioethics and Health Policy
Workshop Outline
• My Background
• Generalities on Standardized Tests
• Specifics on USMLE I
• Putting Theory Into Practice
My Background
• Worked for Leading Test Prep Company
for 8 Years
• Taught ACT/SAT/MCAT/USMLE I-III
• Written Mock Questions for USMLE I-III
• “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)
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
• #2 Know What is on the Test
• #3 Know Your Test Makers
• #4 Get Every Question Correct That You
Can
• #5 Never Leave a Question Blank
• #6 Learn to Guess
Rule # 1
• 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!
• www.usmle.org
• Content and Format
• They tell you
SPECIFICALLY what
you need to know
USMLE I – Format
• 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
• http://www.usmle.org/bulletin/2004/exami
nationcontent.htm
• http://www.usmle.org/step1/intro.htm
USMLE I - SCORING
• Two Scores
– Three Digit Score
• Mean is 200-220 with SD of 20
• Possibly the actual number you get correct out of 300?
• 182 minnimum score for passing
– Two Digit Score
• 0 to 100
• 75 is passing
• NOT PERCENTILE RANK
Rule # 3
Know Your Test Makers
• http://www.usmle.org/bulletin/2004/Overv
iew.htm
• 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
• 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!!
Rule #5
Never Leave a Question Blank
• Answer and Move on
• Mark it if unsure
Rule # 6
Learn to Guess
•
•
•
•
•
Wrong answers are chosen for a reason
Egos ARE involved in USMLE
Think about what the test maker wants
If you can eliminate then guess
If you cannot eliminate then guess all the same
LET’S GET SPECIFIC AND HAVE SOME FUN!
Rules
• #1 You Must Prepare
• #2 Know What is on the Test
• #3 Know Your Test Makers
• #4 Get Every Question Correct That You
Can
• #5 Never Leave a Question Blank
• #6 Learn to Guess
Where to Go From Here
• Download the USMLE Tutorial and Sample Test
•
•
Materials
Download the USMLE 1 Content Description
http://www.usmle.org/step1/default.htm
• As You Study, Check off Each Item
• This is the Most Important List to Make Sure You
•
Have the Content Covered
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!