The Number 1 Absolute Best Resource to Study for USMLE Step 1
There is a lot of debate out there about what the best resource to study for the USMLE Step 1 is — some students memorize First Aid from cover to cover, some students create flashcard decks, some students use more than 10 different sources to study for the exam… and some are partial to SketchyMicro and SketchyPharm
After a lengthy discussion in the office, we all hands down agree the number one best, irreplaceable, resource to help you study for the USMLE Step 1 is:
your med school upper classmen!
Your MS3 and MS4 classmen are the absolute best resource to help you study for the USMLE Step 1 exam! They went through exactly what you are going through, and not too long ago. They are an abundance of knowledge and advice. Most of them still have their USMLE Step 1 study schedules and study guides, and would love to share!
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When we were medical school students, we leveraged our upper class men for everything — and when we became upper class men, we passed that knowledge forward to the lower class men. In that spirit, we would like to pass on some advice and knowledge we gained first hand while studying for the USMLE Step 1 exam ourselves:
I took 6 weeks to study. The first week was wasted on studying in a way that we were told was the best way in school — it didn’t work for me. My chosen method was to go with a combination of monastery and prison for my surroundings, by losing all my possessions other than a desk, a computer, my textbooks, an alarm clock and a cot:
- I woke up at 4:30am, ate a nutrition bar, did a few pushups and then took a quiz from U-World to get my mind going.
- Then I went system-based through everything in First-Aid. I went line-by-line and read the book, then any UpToDate information I could find.
- Then after each subsection I would do a random 5 question quiz from that organ system, to remind myself why I was studying.
- I took a 15 minute lunch break, then continued studying.
- 30 minute dinner and whining break with my best friend, before finishing studying for the day, and then went to back to bed at 9pm.
Sundays I did not study. I didn’t talk about studying. I didn’t do quizzes. I watched buddy-detective comedy shows, ate Jerk Chicken and chocolate, and hung out with my best friend. That was my style. It may not be for everyone, but it worked for me. The buddy-detective shows and the jerk chicken though, that is for everyone.
- SketchyMedical Narrator
Work hard to learn the basics in your first two years of med school. Then be sure to do as many practice board style questions and practice tests as possible. Build up your test endurance to be able to sit through the entire eight hour Step 1 exam (its really not as bad as you think!).
- SketchyMedical user
Step 1 is not a cramming test, it is a comprehensive test of your clinical knowledge. It is very important to lay a solid foundation of knowledge for your first two years of medical school. The first two years are extremely important — learn the material completely before you set aside time for official Step 1 preparation to refresh the material in the last two years.
- SketchyMedical user
Try a few different study strategies. Some people do better taking daily tests first thing in the morning, some people do it weekly. Some people go by organ systems, some people go by pathologies, some people go completely randomly. Spend a week or so trying different ways to study for the eight hour Step 1 exam and figure out what works for you.
- Dr. Viking (SketchyMedical content director)
I wish I had started studying sooner… cramming definitely does not work for this test! I also wish that I had a stronger foundation in microbiology (unfortunately, SketchyMicro was not available yet at the time).
And I would suggest taking it sooner rather than later — I took it later and had too much time to stress and psych myself out about the exam.
- The Spin Doctor
I started my USMLE Step 1 test prep 3 months (the amount of preparation time suggested by my school) before my Step 1 exam date. I went through First-Aid over and over again, as many times as possible. I also tried to answer as many practice questions and practice tests as possible. I split my study time up into study blocks by organ system.
- Dr. Hyde (SketchyMedical Content and Art Director)
I did not start studying for USMLE Step 1 until after the new year. I found that using the second half of the year to study was more than enough time. However, Step 1 is a marathon test, so don’t try to cram.
- SketchyMedical user
I started my USMLE Step 1 test prep by taking a practice test during winter break to identify my weak areas. I identified physiology as a weak point, so I focused on physiology. I completed this section by march when I was then set to study for path/pharm. I started “formal” step 1 studying about 6 weeks before the exam.
- Dr. Marshall (SketchyMedical content editor)
It’s important to take care of yourself when studying for the exam, so eat right, exercise, sleep, take time to relax, and remember no matter what you will be a doctor.
- SketchyMedical Editorial Board member
Ask your friends and classmates for their advice on materials and study plans. Every one needs to personalize their approach for what helps them learn best. Figure out what works for you, create a study plan, and stick to it.
- Bryan (SketchyMedical co-founder)
Fun fact: SketchyMedical was actually created specifically to teach students microbiology and pharmacology for Step 1 when the founders were studying for the USMLE Step 1 themselves. Try SketchyMicro and SketchyPharm for free! Now go befriend those upper classmen and pick their brains on how to study for the Step 1. Good luck with your USMLE study plans — and if you have any questions for us, leave us a note below!
And if you are an upperclassmen who has been through it all already, let us know your proven tips for studying for USMLE Step 1 in the comments below!
originally published on SketchyMedical for USMLE Step 1
