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STUDY SCHEDULES

Thanksgiving Break

For students who are interested in using this short break to begin their review for Step I, areasonable approach would be to designate 1.5 hours each of the four days to accomplish

an initial review of First Aid OR select a system e.g., cardiovascular that you havent

mastered as thoroughly as you wish and review. You might develop a matrix or scaffoldto use with that system that you would then apply in your review of other systems.

GUIDELINES FOR STUDY SCHEDULES

1. Approach upcoming blocks with a study schedule aimed at both learningmaterial for the course as well as preparing for licensure exams.

Use First Aid as a review of the topic before the class starts. Skim relevant

material in First Aid and relevant text before the lecture. Take notes during thelecture leaving a third of the page blank for a summary of important concepts,

formulas, questions, etc. Review and summarize within 24 hours of the lecture.2. Identify and work with your particular learning style as well as youracademic strengths and weaknesses.Determine the length of time you are able to stay focused and efficient. For most

individuals, focus and retention drops into the inefficient zone after an hour an ahalf. Some find fifty minutes their level of efficient study. Identify the times of

day you can most easily sustain attention and those in which your energy dips.

Plan breaks and exercise accordingly.

3. Do a self-appraisal of your risk factors.How have you done in first and second year courses? How strong is your science

background? What was the strength of your MCATs? Is English your second

language, and if so, at what age did you learn English?

4. Set a Schedule.Schedule large and important subjects (path, pharm, micro, physio, and biochem)

more than once during your schedule. Start with them for two days or more,adding time for review each day of difficult areas, and then come back to them the

last week.

Dont expect to completely re-read text books. Study and review the areasoutlined in the USMLE Bulletin (www.usmle.org/General_Information/bulletin.

Know the focus of the examination. Thoroughly map out testable topics in your

weak areas.Build healthy meals, adequate sleep, exercise, and pleasure into your schedule. If

you develop a detailed schedule based upon 15 minute increments your will be

amazed how much time you can have for pleasurable activities, while stillaccomplishing 6 to 8 hours of study a day. Eat breakfast, and be sure to include

protein. A breakfast including a robust serving of protein will fuel your

concentration significantly longer than donuts, bagels, or cereal.

5. Use practice tests to assess your progress.Take a diagnostic exam to identify your strengths and weakness and use these

results to direct the content of your study plan

http://www.usmle.org/General_Information/bulletinhttp://www.usmle.org/General_Information/bulletinhttp://www.usmle.org/General_Information/bulletinhttp://www.usmle.org/General_Information/bulletin

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Schedule practice tests in the evenings when you want a break from studying.

Consider at least one NBME Self-Assessment (CBSSA) standard paced, two orthree weeks before the exam.

6. Make your studying active.Get together with study partners. Teach each other and practice test questions.

Recitation significantly reinforces learning solidifying knowledge andunderstanding in long-term memory

7. What is your goal for the licensure exams?Do you want to just pass, achieve a score higher than the mean, or hit the upper

10 percent? Your goal will determine how you use your time from now until you

take the exam, presumably in April. Most study schedules I have reviewed are in

the range of 3-4 weeks of intensive study.8. Know First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 inside and out. Before you study each

subject, read the high yield facts in First Aid, and return to it again when you are

finished.

9. Make your schedule and stick to it.