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Askdoc-USMLE Prep Courses
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By askdoc, on December 4th, 2011%
I would like to congratulate Lilibeth for passing the USMLE Step 1 with a score of 206 which she took last October 28,2011. Lilibeth is a member of Askdoc’s USMLE Step 1 Prep Course. We wish her well as she prepare for the USMLE Step 2CK.
Related Posts:
• Advice for the . . . → Read More: Congratulations Lilibeth, USMLE Step 1 Score 206
By askdoc, on August 1st, 2011%
I would like to congratulate Masuma for passing the USMLE Step 1 with a score of 99/230 which she took last July, 2011. Masuma is a member of the April, 2009 batch of Askdoc’s USMLE Step 1 Prep Course. This was a long and arduous process for her and her score is well . . . → Read More: Congratulations, Masuma. USMLE Step 1 Score 99/230
By askdoc, on May 9th, 2011%
When I first started my prep for the USMLE, it seems everyone else was using First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 and swearing it’s the best book ever written for the USMLE. Of course, now that I have finished my own examination and have time to reflect not only on my experience but . . . → Read More: Is First Aid Alone Enough For USMLE Step 1 Review?
By askdoc, on October 5th, 2010%
For most people, preparing for an exam involves learning the material tested in the exam. After doing so, they feel that is enough for them to do well in the examination. For most short quizzes and even shelf exams, that is usually enough. But for examinations like the USMLE, it calls for a . . . → Read More: Why You Need Three Phases in USMLE Prep – I
By askdoc, on September 9th, 2010%
When I started thinking about taking on the USMLE way back in last quarter of 2004, I would scour through all the forums. Trying to find any information I can get on how to tackle this difficult exam. I would pay special attention to the postings on exam experience. And whenever I see . . . → Read More: How to Score 99′s in the USMLE
By askdoc, on September 6th, 2010%
Hi. I’m Mike, otherwise known as Askdoc. Some of you may already know my story. For those who don’t, well, I am a very old IMG, graduated way back in 1989. I took the USMLE Step 1 in April, 2006 and scored a 99/256 and USMLE Step 2 CK in November, 2006 and . . . → Read More: Advice for the Old IMG taking the USMLE
By askdoc, on September 2nd, 2010%
Biggest Mistake in USMLE Prep
One of the biggest mistakes people make in prepping for the USMLE is underestimating the time it takes to finish the prep. It seems a lot of people start their USMLE prep by opening a book and then start reading. They have no estimate on how fast they . . . → Read More: Three Phases of USMLE Prep
By askdoc, on August 16th, 2010%
Which NBME Form should you Use for USMLE Step 1?
This is one of the most common question that I usually encounter both in my blogs and in the various forums. And you have as many answers as there are NBME forms, in fact more. Various answers include the following
- Use all 7 NBME forms to track your progress
- Use at least 2 NBME forms and get the average
- Use NBME form 5 to 7 as they are harder
- Use NBME form 1 to 4 as they are easier
- Use NBME form (#) as they are most predictive
As you can see recommendations vary and reasons vary. My recommendation is to use at least 2 NBME forms, one from the easy set of NBME form 1 to 4 and the second one from the harder set of NBME form 5 to 7 and then get the average. If you want to know why, then read on.
Continue reading Which NBME Self Assessment Form to Use for USMLE Step 1
By askdoc, on August 2nd, 2010%
It’s been over a year since I first published “NBME Self-assessment Tests and USMLE Review.” Little did I know it will become the most popular of my post with over 14,000 pageviews in the past year. Since that time a lot of things have changed, hence this update.
If you have not read the previous two posts on this topic, please do so as I will not be repeating what I have said there in this post. You can access Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
How well does NBME predict your USMLE Score?
That has been the number one question asked of me since I wrote about this topic. My answer is still the same. Fairly well. Although correlation is never 100% more like 70 to 80%. However, certain development in the past few years have made the assessment tests less reliable for some people. Continue reading NBME Self-assessment Tests and USMLE Review – An Update
By askdoc, on April 10th, 2010%
I read Kaplan notes once, FA twice and doing Qbanks now. Is that enough for Step 1? A frequent question asked in forums and in my blog but misses the point entirely. It is never a question of how much effort you put into preparing for the USMLE that determines the final result of your prep, but how well you have retained and are able to recall the information you have studied. Although a certain amount of effort is required in order to achieve this, how much time and effort you put in to achieve equivalent result depends on the skill and intelligence you put into your prep. It is not so much studying harder as studying smarter.
In the forums, you see a lot of people studying the same things in the same way and results range for high 99′s to failing. So something else must be at work to explain the variety of results achieve using what is essentially the same study plan. And that something is the level of mastery achieved by different people using the same plan. It has to do with the different methods people use to study the material. As some people have asked time and again. When you say you have revised the material 2 times, do you mean you have read the materials twice, or you have tried to memorize the material twice. And therein lies the difference in results.
For the purpose of the USMLE, what you cannot recall in a minute or so, you do not know. It is not enough for you to have read Kaplan, or FA or whatever, but you should be able to recall what you have read. If you cannot answer a question, it is because:
1. you do not know the concept because you have not read it
2. you read the concept but you did not understand it
3. you read the concept and understood it but cannot recall it in the exam
4. you read the concept, understood it and can recall it in the exam given enough time, but of course since this is the USMLE, you never have enough time
Continue reading Why You Need to Master the USMLE Step 1
By askdoc, on March 4th, 2010%
Hello Everyone, this is actually my first time to try posting videos in my blog. So please excuse the effort if the quality is not too good. Hope to get better at doing this in the future.
A lot of people think that all they need to do in order to do well . . . → Read More: How to Master the USMLE Step 1 – an Introduction
By askdoc, on July 26th, 2009%
Today, we will talk more about the NBME self-assessment tests. We previously discussed what the NBME self-assessment tests are and how they impact your USMLE review. You can read the posts here. Now we will cover three important topics. When to use the NBME self-assessment tests, how to use the NBME self-assessment tests and how wise it is to use the USMLE World self-assessment tests instead.
Continue reading NBME Self-Assessment Tests and USMLE Review – Part II
By askdoc, on June 19th, 2009%
The NBME self assessment test is another of those tools that I feel is responsible for the increasingly high scores in the USMLE. It is a great tool that allows the test-taker to assess his or her readiness for the exam. To a certain extent, if used properly, it is also a useful tool for the examinee to target a certain score, even 99′s and achieve it.
Continue reading NBME Self Assessment Tests and USMLE Review
By askdoc, on March 13th, 2009%
I wrote part of this post in answer to questions from my readers and students. After 2 emails and one answer to comments, I have decided to elaborate and write in more detail as a post that I will share with everyone.
Be at Your Best on the Day of the USMLE Exam.
So what do you do on the day of the USMLE examination? The day you sit for the USMLE is the culmination of months of preparation. It may seem unfair that no matter how well your performance were in those countless q banks and test simulation, the only performance that really counts is the one you do on exam day. Therefore, it makes sense to maximize your chances of performing well for that date.
Your preparation should begin way before the date of your USMLE examination, when you schedule the examination. It is a known fact that during review, people do reach a plateau and the best time to sit for the USMLE exam is just before or just after you reach your peak. Earlier or later than that can result in lower scores. During review, immediately after learning and memorizing your lessons, you start forgetting right away. Normally, the amount of medical concepts you are memorizing and retaining is growing faster than you are forgetting them. However, there comes a time when you reach your peak and eventually plateaus. Afterwards you will go into decline and forget more than you are learning. Most people go into plateau in about 6 to 8 months, therefore the ideal review time for the USMLE is around that long. That is why my USMLE Step 1 prep course is around 6 months long. Continue reading What to Do on the Day of the USMLE Exam
By askdoc, on October 26th, 2008%
Note: This was initially published in 6 parts and was then consolidated into a downloadable ebook.
Why create a study plan for the USMLE?
This is probably the question foremost in the mind of anyone who ever thought of tackling the USMLE. I remember when I was starting out, how this pre-occupied me a lot. Although studying for the USMLE is a big endeavor, studying how to study for the USMLE is no mean feat either. Just like an architect or engineer needs to plan out how to build a building before actually building it, we need to plan out how to prepare for the USMLE before we even begin studying.
Now some people can just jump right into reviewing and 3 to 5 months later take the exam and come out with a 99. I’m not one of those and so are I believe majority of those taking the USMLE. Some will start by applying and scheduling an exam 5 months later, only to find out that they’re not ready. So they extend their period of eligibility and still they’re not ready. Some will take the exam and fail or score so low that it amounts to the same thing. Some will forfeit the application fees and reapply later. Of those who do, some wind up getting good scores because they’ve learned their lesson and did better preparation this time, while for others the results are going to be poor because they did not change anything they’ve done before. Proper planning is crucial for proper preparation Continue reading How to Create a Study Plan for the USMLE
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