Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Mahatma Gandhi

Tao Le, MD, MHS Assistant Clinical Professor Chief, Section of Allergy & Immunology University of Louisville

Senior Editor First Aid Board Series USMLERx Test Bank Series First Aid for the USMLE Step 1: The Really Short Version

Relax.

OverviewUSMLE Step 1 The BasicsDefining Your GoalsTimelines for StudyApproaching Each SubjectChoosing Prep ResourcesMore TipsOverview of First Aid/USMLERxQ&A

USMLE Step 1 - The Basics8 hours total336 questions in 7 one hour blocks48 questions per block45 minutes of break timeLunch

Question TypesOne-best answer itemsSequential itemsA few with multimediaClinical vignettes65-70% of examMulti-step reasoning A 32 year old caucasian woman presents with a 5 day history of occasional double vision and ptosis. The diagnosis is made by...

Scores and Passing RatesPassing is 188/75Mean is 22222 points is 1 SDAllopathic med students95% pass on first try99% eventually passOsteopathic med students77% pass on first tryIMGs71% pass on first try

Defining Your GoalsJust pass the exam 200 220 Beat the mean 220 240 Ace the exam >240ROAD to RichesRadiology/Radiation OncologyOrtho/Ophtho/Otolaryngo/UrologyAnesthesiologyDermatology

NRMP: Charting Outcomes in the Match

NRMP: Charting Outcomes in the Match

Timeline for StudyThe Just Pass Schedule 1 to 2 monthsFirst Aid High Yield FactsCrammable subjectsReview questions 1 question bankThe Gunner Schedule 2 to 6 monthsIn addition to aboveLess crammable subjectsMore review questions 2 question banks

Choosing Study StrategiesStructure and characteristics of the subjectStructure and characteristics of your curriculumTime assigned to a particular subject or systemYour style of learning

AnatomyTraditional anatomy is low yieldKnow anatomy for specific diseases, traumatic injuries, procedures, and common surgeries Neuroanatomy, embryology, basic cross sectional anatomy is high-yieldBe able to identify structures on X-rays, CTs, MRIs, electron micrographs, and photomicrographs

Behavioral ScienceMix of biostats, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, psychopharmacologyBiostats and epidemiology is very high-yieldPersonality disordersDoctor-patient interactions

BiochemistryCrammable!!High yield topics include vitamin deficiencies, diseases of genetic errors, key regulatory enzymesUnderstand the pathobiochemistryBe familiar with medically relevant laboratory techniques

Microbiology & ImmunologyCrammable!!40% bacteriology, 25% immunology, 25% virology, 5% parasitology. So dont fixate on bacteriology!Focus on distinguishing characteristics, target organs, method of spread, and diagnosis Know the immune response, vaccines, immunodeficiency diseasesKnow viral structures and genome

PathologyHuge but important topicKnow hallmark characteristics of each disease including signs and symptomsLook for clues in age, sex, ethnicity, activityKnow descriptions of trigger wordsMost questions with gross specimens and photomicrographs can be answered from the history alone

PharmacologyCrammable!!Focus on prototypic drugs; forget obscure derivatives, trade names, dosagesMajor categories are ANS, CNS, antimicrobial, cardiovascular, and oncologyMechanisms, clinical uses, and toxicities are high-yieldReview associated biochemistry, physiology and microbiology

PhysiologyConcept orientedDiagrams work well in physiologyKnow basic physiologic relationships, hormonesMany clinical vignettes incorporate pathophysiology

Review ResourcesText reviewsTest banksSelf-test reviewsCase-based reviewsReview coursesOther mediaFlash cardsCDs/MP3/VideosPDA

Picking and Choosing ResourcesBuy books/resources earlyBuy only what you can useDont blindly buy a whole seriesCheck out the book reviews in First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 (Section 4)

Study TipsEstablish a study schedule and stick with itAlternate study methods for varietySave crammable subjects for the endFocus on high yield material and previous learned materialAllow time in schedule for breaks, exercise and personal issuesStay relaxed and groundedUse our checklist to keep you on track

CBT TipsBe very familiar with the CBT tutorialKnow the keyboard shortcutsUse computerized practice tests in addition to paper examsMix Q&A throughout and at end

CBT Practice Options

TypesSuggested UseUSMLE Sample TestFormat familiarityNBME/CBSSABenchmarkingCommercial Test BanksPractice/studySimulation

Test Day TipsLess coffee on test dayLayered clothingRead lead in first for long questionsManage the clockLight lunchThe C reflexP = MD/DO

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First Aid Team 2.0

Visit our blog www.firstaidteam.comDownload the presentationGet First Aid/USMLERx updatesFollow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/firstaidteamGet quick Q&As throughout the dayAll referenced to First AidJoin our Facebook groupClick link on Firstaidteam.com

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