Transcript Document

Cracking the USMLE!!
FARAZ KHAN LUNI M.D.
University of Toledo, Ohio
Internal Medicine
USMLE Step 1 score 99 (266)
USMLE Step 2 score 99 (263)
USMLE Step 3 score 99 (234)
DISCLAIMER!
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No fixed formula of
success
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Listen to others
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Do what suits you
Avoid Stress
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Sort out family issues
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Decide what you want
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Long process
Avoid Stress
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Sleep well
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Take out time to relax and exercise
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Don’t postpone exams unnecessarily
- Maximum of four reads
How to study
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Hard work pays off but smart studying pays off
even more
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Study Partner or group
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Make a timetable and stick to it
Time Table
Have 8 Hours of Sleep
- Fixed sleeping schedule
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Time to relax
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Time to exercise
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Study in breaks
Time Table
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9 AM
10-2:30
2:30-3
3-6
6-6:30
6:30-9
9-9:30
9:30-10
10-2:30
Wake up
Study
TV
Sleep
Tea Time
Study
Exercise
Eat-TV
Study
(4.5 Hours)
(2.5 Hours)
(4.5 Hours)
How to study
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Library
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Don’t over prepare
How to study
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Not many Buzz words
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Clinical scenarios
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No Rattas please
- No need to memorize every line
Step 1 subjects
(in order of importance)
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Pathology
Microbiology
Behavioral Sciences
Pharmacology
Immunology
Physiology
Biochemistry
Genetics
Anatomy
(Highest yield)
(Bacteriology high yield, Viral Groups)
(Our Achilles' Tendon)
(Personal Classification Notes)
(Immune deficiency diseases high yield)
(First Aid is our aid)
(YES!!! Lowest yield topic. Only
Neuroanatomy is high yield)
Which books to use
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Kaplan Lecture Notes (Along with DVDs)
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Kaplan 100 cases of ethics
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Epidemiology and Biostatistics for the USMLE
(Appleton and Lange)
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Goljan Pathology (Old Edition)
Which books to use
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Original First Aid
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Kaplan Q bank (Not Q book)
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UWorld MCQs (ONLINE!!!)
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DON’T use High yield series, Grey’s,
Harper,Guyton, Ganong!!!
First Read
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Orient Yourself
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Don’t panic if you don’t remember
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Slowest read
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Should take ~3 months
~ 10-15 more days if DVDs
First Read
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Kaplan Series
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Kaplan 100 cases of ethics
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Epidemiology and Biostatistics for the USMLE
(Appleton and Lange)
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Goljan Pathology (Some recommend Lectures)
- New edition too detailed!
First Read
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DVDs
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Alternate way of studying
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NOT necessary for good scores
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Make additions to Kaplan
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Do not write every word
First Read
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DVDs
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Watch once
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Increase speed, Capture (Power DVD)
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Behavior sciences is a must!
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Decide for yourself
Second Read
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Revise
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Should take ~ 2 months (with Q Bank)
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Don’t waste time on DVDs
Second Read
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Original First Aid
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MUST use it!
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NOT a replacement for Kaplan
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Great retention and revision tool
Second Read
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Kaplan Q bank (Book Format)
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Understand question pattern
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Topic by topic
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Identify high yield topics
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Note new information
Third Read
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Should take ~15 days
U World ~ 13 more days
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Kaplan + First Aid
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U World Online ( www.usmleworld.com )
Third Read
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Sample exam (www.usmle.org)
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NBME
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Predictive Value
USMLE World
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Always Online (Don’t use book)
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$99 package
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Smartest $99 ever spent!
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Can also give self assessment (Extra $30)
USMLE World
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Learning tool (Not Evaluation)
High 60s ~ High 90s
Exam day matters
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Identify Weaknesses
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USMLE World
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www.usmleworld.com
Extra Information
- Make notes
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Gives feel of the exam
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Schedule near the real exam
USMLE World FAQs
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Not getting good scores
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U World Vs Real Exam
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My friend got a low score
Day before the Exam
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Stop studying by 6 pm
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Relax
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Stay away from position holders
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Sleep early
Day before the Exam
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Don’t use long acting sedatives (Valium)
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Go see Prometric centre at least a day before
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Exam Tutorial
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Don’t cross question yourself
Step 1 Exam Format
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8 Blocks
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1 st Block Tutorial
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7 Block MCQs (46 MCQs per Block)
Exam Format
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15 Min Tutorial
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45 min Break
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1 Hour per Block
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If you finish earlier time added to break time
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Block time is CONSTANT (1 hour)
Exam Day
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Reach early
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Use restroom
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Don’t study on exam day or in exam break
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Take juices, snacks
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Panadol Extra (A lifesaver!!)
Exam Day
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Skip tutorial
- Check mouse, sound, monitor
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Time management
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Breaks
Exam Day
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Have a positive attitude
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All blocks WONT go well
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Don’t evaluate yourself
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It seems crazy but ENJOY your exam
How to attempt questions?
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Read the last line first
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Look at the options
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Then read the whole question
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Highlight
How to attempt questions?
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Don’t waste time
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Use mark option
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Tick any answer
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Don’t leave any unanswered question
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All the information is in Kaplan and UWorld
Under Grads
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Time for Concepts
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Proper Text Books
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Kaplan
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Don’t compromise your Med School
Under Grads
Should I go for the Steps?
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Pros
Information fresh
Save time to residency
Cons
Only 1 USMLE attempt (Unless you Flunk)
Neglect of college studies
Stressful
House Job
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Pros
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Backup
Learning
Pakistan Option
PMDC
Financial
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House Job
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Cons
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Does not affect scores
1 extra year
Less Study time
Not a big boost to your match chances
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House Job
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Do or not?
Visa Status
Family Issues
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AKU or Civil
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How to study?
Time
Wards
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FAQs
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Should I give Step 1 first or Step 2
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Old edition or new one
FAQs
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Is USMLE Step 1 studies good enough to pass
FCPS
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Should I delay my exam
FAQs
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Audio Visual Questions
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Slides
USMLE Step 2
USMLE STEP 2
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Attempt within 3-4 months of step 1
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Questions from step 1 syllabus
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Shorter syllabus
USMLE STEP 2
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Studying smartly is the key
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Beware of mistakes in Kaplan
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Time management very important
Subjects
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Medicine (Highest Yield)
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Pediatrics (Medium Yield)
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Obstetrics and Gynecology (Medium Yield)
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Surgery (Lowest Yield)
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Psychiatry (Lowest Yield)
What to focus on?
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What is the next best step
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What is the next best test
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What is the most accurate test
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What is the most likely diagnosis
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How to manage
What to study?
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Recommended
Only Kaplan Series
UWorld Mcqs (Either online or Book)
Master the Boards (Not used by me)
Not Recommended
No Dvd’s except Cardiology and Gynaecology
No First Aid
No Qbank
How to study?
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Three reads more then enough
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Timing
1st read ~ 2 months with UWorld
2nd read ~1 month
3rd read ~ 13 days
How to study?
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U World with first read
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Everyone gets whipped in U World
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Understand pattern
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Identify high yield topics
Step 2 Exam Format
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9 Blocks
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1 st Block Tutorial
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8 Block MCQs (44 MCQs per Block)
USMLE Step 3
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2 Day Exam
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First Day
Second Day
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Best time as soon after Step 2
MCQs
MCQs + Clinical Case Scenario
USMLE Step 3
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UWorld
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Kaplan
Step 2
Or
Step 3
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Master the Boards
Result and Etiquettes
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Result comes after 3 weeks on Wednesdays
9AM EST
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DON’T call person to ask result
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Anything less than 99 is NOT a disappointment
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