2010 Updated Taus USMLE Step 1 Plan

This has been updated using information from hundreds of posts about
recent exams and with updated materials. There is more emphasis
placed on practice questions in this version.
Table of Contents
Basic TimelinePage 2
Review Books and other Study Materials..Page 3
Question SourcesPage
Basic SciencesPage !
Systems...Page "
#ast 2 $eeks..Page %
&eneral Pointers...Page '(
Question )nswering )dvice.Page '(
$eek Be*ore+ ,ay Be*ore+ ,ay o* )dvice...Page ''
'
________________________________________________________________________
Basic Timeline:
First run through: (7:! stud":#$s%&
'- .onsolidate all /ooks into 0) 1e2ce3t &ol4ans Ra3id Review Path and 56 Molecular
will /e used throughout and in *ull-
2- #isten to corres3onding &ol4an audio during a33ro3riate su/4ect7system
3- 8nline 9uestion /ank sources directly /y su/4ect a*ter studying each su/4ect 1as
s3eci*ic as 3ossi/le..ie cardio 3ath+ cardio 3hys+ cardiac 3harm...all individually-. 6ou can
also use 3retest style 9uestion /ooks. :deally+ " 9uestions 3er day.
- 'tud" for understanding+ ie don;t try to memori<e all the details yet
!- Take =BM> !.
*(This means that you should be spending 75% of your time reading and only 25% of your time
doing practice questions)
'econd run through: ((:( stud":#$s%&
'- Study in *ull systems using only 0) w7 all annotations+ &ol4an RR+ 56 Molec
3- ?2 @smle$orld 9uestions every morning in random and timed /locks o* "
!- Take =BM> " A @smle$orld Simulated >2am '. 8ne e2am every % days.
"- Memori<e more and more detail /eyond 4ust understanding
*(This means that you should be spending 50% of your time reading and only 50% of your time
doing practice questions)
Third run through: (!:7 stud":#$s%&
'- 0)+ &ol4an+ 56 molec only
2- #isten to corres3onding &ol4an audio during a33ro3riate su/4ect7system *or 2
nd
time
during last 2 weeks.
2- '3B @smle$orld 9uestions. Random+ in three /locks o* ".
3- Take =BM> % and7or @smle$orld Simulated >2am 2
- >verything should /e *ully memori<ed /y now
*(This means that you should be spending 25% of your time reading and 75% of your time doing
practice questions)
)ast two wee*s and final + da"s: 1details /elow-
'- Take *ree '!( in the *inal 3 days
2
,eview Boo*s and -ther .aterials:
C @sing e/ay+ hal*.com+ ama<on+ etc *or used co3ies will save tons o* DD
/ 0irst )id 1most current editionE comes out each ,ecem/er-
Ethere are mistakes in this /ook every single year+ so check *or the online errata
/ Ra3id Review Pathology 3
nd
ed 1/y &ol4an-
Echeck *or the online errata
htt3F77www.healthsciences.okstate.edu7college7/iomedical73athology7gol4an.c*m
G Ra3id Review Biochem
Eway more succinct and clinical then #i33incott and coEauthored /y &ol4an
C )lternativelyF the Ha3lan Biochem /ook /y 5ansen is e2cellent and /y *ar the
/est o* the Ha3lan series....i* you can get it chea3ly.do it
G &ol4an audio and slides 1availa/le in /ootleg only-
G 5igh 6ield Behavioral Science or BRS Behavioral
G 5igh 6ield =euro 1some sections are too detailed+ /ut /asics and 3ics are good-
G 5igh 6ield .ell and Molecular 1'??? editionE new one has way too much detail-
G #ange Review o* Medical Micro and :mmuno /y #evinson
Eonl" for 0mmuno section1 which is 23( pages
G Micro Made Ridiculously Sim3le 1edition 3 is *ine-. 6ou can use 0irst )id i* you have a
strong /ackground in Micro
G BRS Physiology F =ewest edition
3
#uestion 'ources:
/ Re*erence and7or write incorrect answers or anything you were even remotely unsure
o*0) to review the conce3t again later
/ use 9uestions 3rimarily as a learning tool and don;t worry a/out your I until you are
near the test date
Boo*s:
/ Ro//ins Review o* PathF only *or re*erence
/ Ha3lan Q/ook
G 0)F Questions and )nswers /ook
G 0)F .linical .ases
4omputer Based:
/ @smle$orld 1J2'((9-
G $e/3re3F htt3F77li/rary.med.utah.edu7$e/Path7>K)M7>K)M:,K.html
G Ha3lan Q/ank
G @SM#>r2.com
________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________
Basic 'ciences:
C do in order o* your weakest to your strongest su/4ects
C LM in the *ollowing sections means to annotate *rom one to the other *or clari*ications
5natom" (.usculos*eletal%:
/ 0) only
6mbr"o:
/0) only
/0mmunolog"F
/Leinson 0)
/!ol"anF .h2Ein*lammation and re3air+ .h3Eimmuno3athology
Biochem F
/ Ra3id Review 1or Ha3lan- 0) 1use only to clari*y to3ics in 0irst )iddon;t add
to3ics-
/!ol"anF .h'Ecell in4ury+ .h%E=utritional ,isorders+ any other relevant 3laces w7
/iochem 1ie anemia+ dia/etes-
/0) Path :ntro
.olec Bio78enetics:
/56 10) is =8T enough in this su/4ect-
/!ol"anF .h!E&enetic ,isorders+ .hBE=eo3lasia
/0) Path :ntro
.icro 9rinciples and .icro 9harm:
/.MMRS0)
E ma4or systemEs3eci*ic /ugs will /e reEvisited during their res3ective systems+ ie
he3atitis and causes o* diarrhea w7 &:+ 3neumonia w7 Pulm+ meningitis w7 =euro+ etc
9harmacod"namics and 9h"sio 0ntros:
/ 0) 14ust 3harmacodynamics and autonomics at this time-
/ !ol"anF .h"E>nvironmental Path
/ BRS Phys .h. ' and autonomics in .h. 2
Behavoral:
/#$%& 1clari*ying only...don;t add muchalso *now equations well-
&&3ysch w7 neuro later 1only research+ stats+ 3atientEcare stu** now-
!
Full '"stems
&8rder in each systemF anatomy3hysiomicro3ath3harm 1add others where
needed or s3eci*ied /y 0)-
.usculs*eletal : 4onnective Tissue:
/!ol"anF .h23 msk disorders
;eme7-nc:
/!ol"an' .h.''E'!
'*in:
/!ol"anF ch2 and the one 3age in the MSH cha3ter o* 0)
4ardioF
/!ol"anF.h E*luids1only edema to end-+ .h?ENascular ,<+ .h'(+ 5eart ,<
/ BRS PhysF .h3Ecardio
,eproductiveF
/!ol"anF .h2(Emale and lower &@+ 2'E*emale
/BRS PhysF ch%Eendocrine 1only relevant sections-
,espirator":
/!ol"anF .h'"Eu33er and lower res3iratory
/BRS PhysF .hEres3iratory
6ndocrine:
/!ol"anF .h22Eendocrine
/BRS PhysF ch%Eendocrine
,enal:
/!ol"anF .hE*luids 1/eginning to edema-+ .h'?EHidney disorders
/BRS 3hysF .h!Erenal and acid7/ase
80 F
/!ol"anF .h'%E&:+ .h'BEhe3ato/iliary
/BRS PhysF ch"
<euro:
/!ol"anF ch2!Enervous system
/#$ =euro0) 1don;t add much+ 4ust e23lain well.also Radiology in 56 is use*ul-
/BRS 3hysF .h2 neuro 3hys
"
9"sch:
/ 56 Behavioral0) Pysch
The last ! wee*s
5.: 'B @$ Questions+ in random7timed /locks o* "+ then go
over all e23lanations in *ull
9.: " hours o* studying 3er day+ as divided /elow
E get through everything in '( ,ays. Start with your weakest
su/4ects+ as shown /y your last =BM>
E *inal 3 day 3lan at the end
=a" >a: ? hours
Biochem F
/ 0)
/ !ol"anF .h'Ecell in4ury+ .h%E=utritional ,isorders
/ 0) Path :ntro
=a" >b: ! hours
Behavoral (all except 9"sch%:
G0)
=a" !: @ hours
.olec Bio:
/56
/0)
/!ol"anF .h!E&enetic ,isorders+ .hBE=eo3lasia
/0) Path :ntro
=a" +a: ! hours
9harmacod"namics and 5utonomic 9harm:
/0) 3harm section
/!ol"anF.h"E>nvironmental Path
=a" +b: ? hours
/0mmunolog"F
/ 0)
/!ol"anF .h2Ein*lammation and re3air+ .h3Eimmuno3athology
/ aids 3harm
/immuno 3harm in msk section o* 0)
%
=a" ?a: ? hours
.icro 9rinciples and .icro 9harm:
/0)
Full '"stems
=a" ?b: ! hours
;eme7-nc:
/!ol"an' .h.''E'!
/0)
=a" a: ! hours
4ontinue ;eme7-nc:
/!ol"an' .h.''E'!
/0)
=a" b: ? hours
4ardioF
/!ol"anF.h E*luids1only edema to end-+ .h?ENascular ,<+ .h'(+ 5eart ,<
0)
=a" @a :? hours
,enal:
/!ol"anF .hE*luids 1/eginning to edema-+ .h'?EHidney disorders
G0)
=a" @b: ! hours
,espirator":
/!ol"anF .h'"Eu33er and lower res3iratory
G0)+ Bugs
7a: ! hours
4ontinue ,espirator":
/!ol"anF .h'"Eu33er and lower res3iratory
G0)+ Bugs
=a" 7b: ? hours
80 F
/!ol"anF .h'%E&:+ .h'BEhe3ato/iliary
G0)+ Bugs 1diarrhea+he3+worms-
=a" Aa: + hours
,eproductiveF
/!ol"anF .h2(Emale and lower &@+ 2'E*emale
B
G0)+ @T:7ST, /ugs
=a" Ab: + hours
6ndocrine:
/!ol"anF .h22Eendocrine
G0)
=a" 3a: hours
.usculs*eletal : '*in : 5nat:
/!ol"anF .h23 msk disorders
G0) MSH anatomy 1in neuro section-
/!ol"anF ch2Eskin
/look at some &:7thoracic .T;s
=a" 3b: > hour
6mbr"o:
/0)
=a" >(a: ? hours
<euro:
/!ol"anF ch2!Enervous system
/0)+ /ugs
/Radiology in 567online
=a" >(b: ! hours
9"sch:
G0) 1some in /ehav section too-
+
rd
to last =a"
E O o* margin 1/lue- notes in RR Path A slides
E cramma/le *acts in immuno 1., markers+ etc-
E all o* Biochem
!
nd
to last =a"
E O o* margin 1/lue- notes in RR Path A slides
E molec A genetics in *ull
E all o* 3harmE go through all systems in 0)F
E some /ehavioral7/iostats 1nonE3ysch-9uickly review high yield areas
)ast da"
E 0) 56 section 1at end o* /ook- A Pics
E *ormulas and la/ values one last time+ mostly *ocusing on /iostats
E 3harm sides in 0) 1those 2 3ages in the intro to 3harm section-
E =8 5>)N6 ST@,6:=&. := 0).T+ TR6 T8 ,8 =8T5:=& :0 68@ .)=
?
-verall 'tud"ing 5dvice and Boards 0nfo:
8eneral 9ointers:
/ know the meaning o* all /u<<words 1won;t see the actual word o*ten-
/ know all charts7gra3hs7diagrams in 0) inside and outwill /e tested a/stractly
/ start with weakest su/4ects
/ only know e9uations in 0)
/ memori<e all la/ values 10) has a list o* most commonly used-
/ learn Tutorial on usmle.org and location o* all /uttons+ la/s+ etc
/ always kee3 scheduled /reaks during studying
/ study like a 4o/+ clock in+ clock out+ when you;re done *or the session you;re done
/ =BM>;s P must start within 3( days o* registering and have 2( days to com3lete once
start them!D each on n/me.org/uy in LunEtimedM mode so you can review and
study *rom 9uestions 1answers and e23lanations are not given-
#uestion answering advice
C w7 a long 3assage+ read the last line '
st
then always read *rom /eginning and in *ull
C 3ractice doing 9;s in ' minute
C J! seconds read Q+ J'! secs answer
C only read 9uestion once
C always 3ara3hrase a*ter each sentence in Q
C don;t look at answers til have read entire 3assage and thought o* answer
C i* you think you;re taking too long on a Q+ you are.guess+ mark it and move on
C never change answers on anything e2ce3t LmarkedM 9;s
C only check answers o* 9uestions marked *or review
C i* you think you know answer+ /ut not '((I+ 3ut it and move on+ no time to /e '((I
C Ste3s o* answering a QF
'. Read Q and 3ara3hrase a*ter each sentence
2. Para3hrase entire 9uestion and think o* the answer w7o looking at answers
3. Select your answer and 9uickly make sure it;s the L/estM answer
. :* didn;t get answer yet+ eliminate answers and narrow down to 2E3 then guess
!. :* couldn;t narrow down+ select *avorite letter then guess
E do not reEread the 9uestion /7w any o* these ste3sthere is no time
Bee* Before Test:
'(
C =8 new material
C slee3 on a set schedule that will /e the same as test day+ no na3s
C review the tutorial 1you can download the so*tware on usmle.org-
C call 3rometric to con*irm time7date
=a" Before:
Rela2+ work out+ watch a movie+ etc.nothing stress*ul..you wouldn;t run a 3ractice
marathon the day /e*ore the real race..so rest your /rain
Test =a" 5dvice
& only mark a *ew Q;s 3er section *or review and mark Q;s on white /oard
C during /reaks clear your head+ don;t think a/out test or 3revious 9;s
C =ever 3ress )ltR.ontrolR,elete
C 6ou can highlight and7or strikeEout in*ormation in the Q and answers
C la/ values are categori<ed+ /ut still memori<e /e*ore
C com3uter shortcutsF >nter or S3ace/ar S ne2t 9uestion+ >sca3e S closes la/s or other
3o3u3 /o2es+ )lt TS shows timers
C There is no warning a/out going over your /reak time on the screen+ you have to kee3
track o* your /reak yoursel*
C Passing is usually around "(E%(I correct
C no digital watches+ analog only
C take a 3( second /reather at your seat during a /lock in you;re really stressed
C Remem/er that the instruction7tutorial is /lock '+ so your e2am starts on /lock 2 o* B
C ,o not *orget to 3lan your *ood *or the day with lots o* com3le2 car/ohydrates and a
9uick suger /oost in the *orm o* a chocolate /ar such as Snickers. )void large meals at
lunch.
'core ,eport:
/ 3E" weeks *or score re3ort+ always comes on a $ednesday
''