USMLE Step One
Presentation
Hosted by ASG
20 February 2007
USMLE Step 1
• Sign up NOW if you’re taking the exam
this summer! Definitely before mid-April
(before you leave Poland)
– www.ECFMG.org
• You will need:
– A Passport photo
– Access to a printer when registering
– Take printed form to Dean’s office for
signature
• Study most of the summer.
• Take it at the end of summer/early fall.
– It’s the only time where you will have a 2month block of time right before the test.
Low vs. High Yield
• USMLE asks questions on both High-Yield
and Low-Yield material.
• Low-Yield often helps with understanding
of the “High Yield” Facts.
• Learn both High & Low Yield now – this is
your only chance to do it & will give you a
solid base.
• You will have time only for High-Yield
when reviewing for the exam.
What to Read Before
• MEMORIZE First Aid for USMLE
Step I
• Kaplan
• High Yield series
• Underground Clinical Vignettes
• Consider BRS – although lengthy
• You won’t have time to read
through your textbooks! Use
review books!!
Microbiology
• Microbiology & Pharmacology are
unique in that it is very easy to mix
things up.
• Recommendations:
– During the course: Clinical
Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple.
– Make up your own silly associations:
• #1 most important thing:
• Name  What the bug does
• Drawing works great!
– High Yield Microbiology: excellent
clinical mini-cases – use when reviewing
for Step 1
Microbiology: Critical
• Newborn with meningitis – what
bug?
• 20 year old college student with
meningitis – what bug?
• MUST know most likely bugs & age
groups for pneumonia, ear
infections, etc. before USMLE.
• They ask about agars & less clinical
things too – pay attention.
Microbiology
Neuroanatomy
• Very easy to forget.
• You will forget everything
unless you make up
associations!
– Lateral Lemniscus 
– “Lateral Listening Lemniscus”
• Learn it well now, you will have
less to review later.
Neuroanatomy
• HAVE-TO-KNOW:
– Symptoms  where is the stoke?
– Symptoms  which nerve/tract
is damaged?
Behavioral Sciences
• Foreign Graduates score in the
bottom 5% percentile.
• Many of our students say that
Behavioral Science was their
weakest section on Step 1.
• More behavioral science
questions than Anatomy, Histo,
Neuroanatomy COMBINED !!!
Behavioral Science Q
A 50 year old woman presents with a complaint
of gastric distress. She seems agitated and says
that she is afraid she has cirrhosis of the liver but
then stops speaking. Which of the following will
best encourage her to continue speaking…
•a) please go on.
•b) how much liquor do you drink?
•c) do you drink?
•d) why did you wait so long to come in?
•e) I see that the situation upsets you.
Behavioral Source?
• Only area where First Aid falls
short.
• Kaplan Q Bank? Appleton &
Lange Q Bank?
How do I know I’m ready
• You will never be 100% ready
• Basic Sciences Shelf at end of 2nd
year
• NBME Self Assessment Tests
– http://www.nbme.org/programs/sas/
sas.asp
– 4 tests, $40 each
– Recommend to take at least one,
approx. 1-2 weeks before Step 1.
The Week Before
• Week before:
– Get sleeping pills if you have history
of getting nervous the night before.
• Last Day:
– You cannot increase your knowledge by
more than 5%
– You can easily decrease your alertness
by 30-50% if you don’t sleep enough.
The Big Test
• 8h, 350 questions.
• Bring lots of caffeine & s.t. to
eat.
– Red Bull, pills, coffee – good
because you can leave them
outside of your locker & chug as
needed.
• Be careful with time
management.
After the Test
• RELAX.. You deserve it!
• Takes about 3-4 weeks for results
to be mailed (may take longer).
• Try the OASIS trick to see if
you’ve passed before receiving
mailed copy:
– When exam “date” posts on OASIS
try to re-register for Step 1 on IWA
– Only works if exam date is posted on
OASIS
Good Luck!