7 Rules For USMLE Step 1 Exam Success

by | Nov 1, 2023 | Uncategorized

7 Rules To Ensure Your USMLE Step 1 Exam Success.

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Most Students SUCK at USMLE Step 1 Prep…
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“I’ve done UW 3 times“
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“I read the FA 10 times”
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“I’ve memorized every single NBME question”
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These actions stem from bad advice passed down from generation to generation.
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Times have changed…
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Here’s 7 New Rules for Step 1 success 👇
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RULE 1: DON’T REPEAT QUESTIONS
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Questions are designed to test 2 things: 1) Your test-taking skills 2) Your ability to apply your knowledge.
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If you’re seeing the same question more than once, you’re removing all of the benefits of doing them in the first place.
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RULE 2: FIRST AID IS A SUPPLEMENT
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Advice from 20yrs ago was… Memorize the FA… It’s the “Bible” for Step 1 prep…
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Yes, it tells you what’s high-yield…
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But it doesn’t go into the detail you need to know for Q’s!
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Use it as a guide, but go deeper if necessary.
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RULE 3: UW & FA ISN’T ALL YOU NEED
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FA tells you what’s highest-yield…
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UW tests your knowledge & test-taking prowess…
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Neither addresses deeper issues like weak foundational knowledge or poor test-taking skills.
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Bulk up your prep by addressing your exact weaknesses.
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RULE 4: REDDIT IS NOT YOUR PERSONAL MENTOR
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The big problem we have with Reddit is that its advice lacks nuance…
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The same ‘one size fits all’ advice is repeated over and over again.
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Step 1 prep is anything but ‘one size fits all’.
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Be careful about a generic approach.
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RULE 5: NBMEs ARE FOR ASSESSING, NOT MEMORIZING
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NBME exams are an assessment tool… Designed to identify your weaknesses so you can then go fix them.
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This isn’t a high school exam…
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You can’t memorize old tests and expect to do well.
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RULE 6: SET YOUR OWN GREEN-LIGHT CRITERIA
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“I won’t take my exam until I achieve (insert goal)”
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Don’t just take your exam because you got through UW & FA…
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Have set criteria that you want to meet before you take the exam.
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Ex. 75% on an unused NBME exam.
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RULE 7: DON’T BE CHEAP
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Stop using free PDF NBMEs… They’re useless in assessing yourself.
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Stop sharing QBanks… This ruins your metrics.
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Buy the updated FA… Otherwise you’re looking at old student feedback.
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You’ll be making 6-figures… You have to invest in yourself to get there.
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There’s no reason why you can’t pass your USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt!
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Follow these 7 golden rules of USMLE Step 1 prep & you’ll be well on your way to making that happen! Get more med school & USMLE exam prep tips in our free Med Student Survival Guide 👉 https://medstudentsurvivalguide.com