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com as of April 16, 2016

 Dear Student Physician,

Thank you for purchasing my study plan for the

USMLE Step 1 exam. Ive advised students with
these tips for many years with much successI
have even given this guide to my own children!
Now, I am very happy to have the opportunity to
offer this tried-and-true formula for success to
students all over the world.

For more than two decades, I have taught

physiology, pharmacology, epidemiology, and
other high-yield subjects to medical students and
international medical graduates preparing for the
most important exam of their professional lives.
From Toronto to Chicago, Dubai to Delhi, Ive
learned as much from my students as I hope they have learned from me.

It is with this experience that I move beyond simply teaching testable material: As
an educator, I want to share the knowledge Ive gained not just on topics covered
on the board exams, but also on the practice of medicine, self-improvement, and
physician work-life balance. This is why I have partnered with my children, Dr.
Farah Kudrath, Dr. Abdulla Kudrath, and Dr. Umar Kudrath, to create a resource
for students who have devoted their careers to the noble calling of medicine.

KudrathHealthEducation.com is a web site with products, services, and study tips

for students, residents, and physicians who want to excel in their academic,
professional, and personal endeavors. After you have successfully completed the
USMLE Step 1 exam, check back with us and utilize our growing menu of
offerings to nourish the mind and the soul. I am proud of what weve done so far,
but Im more excited about whats to come.

Thanks again, and see you soon,

Dr. Wazir Kudrath

Chairman of Kudrath Health Education
Wazir.Kudrath@KudrathHealthEducation.com

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 USMLE STEP 1
Study Plan

1 DEFINE YOUR GOAL SCORE

If you don't know where you're going, how are you going to get there?

Goal Score > 240

Set a goal score for yourself and believe you will achieve it--
because if you don't, who will?
Consider what specialty and programs you are applying for, and
calibrate your goal to meet their expectations.
If you follow this study plan, you will be prepared and more likely to
score above average on the USMLE Step 1 exam. There is no luck,
no magic, no tricks. Do the work, get the result.

Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of all

all matched US Seniors: 230 unmatched US Seniors: 221
Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of all
all matched US IMGs: 217 unmatched US IMGs: 204
Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of all
all matched Non-US IMGs: 227 unmatched Non-US IMGs: 213

Average USMLE Step 1 Scores for Matched Applicants by Specialty

270

241
240 231 229 232 232 235 231 230 230 230
226 224 226 226 223
222 220
218 214
212
210

Family Pediatrics Internal Psychiatry General Radiology Pathology Emergency Ob/Gyn Anesthesiology
Medicine Medicine Surgery Medicine

US Seniors Independent Applicants

Source: NRMP, "Charting Outcomes in the Match", 2014

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 2 YOUR ESTIMATED TEST DATE
You can't study for Step 1 indefinitely: Register for an exam date.

First, take a diagnostic test to see where you're starting from: I highly
recommend NBME Test #12.
After you take a diagnostic test, you'll get a three digit score.

DIAGNOS TIC SCORE

Most students will
be in these two
<180 categories, so
DON'T PANIC!

180-210

>210
If your diagnostic score is < 180:

FULL TIME STUDY PART TIME STUDY

(8 - 10 hrs/day) (4-5 hrs/day)

6 months + 14 days 12 months + 14 days

~ 25 days/month ~ 25 days/month
~ 8 hours/day ~ 4 hours/day
Estimated 1,200 hours of study Estimated 1,200 hours of study
6 months x 25 days x 8 hours + (14 days x 8 hours) = 1,312 12 months x 25 days x 4 hours + (14 days x 8 hours) = 1,312

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 If your diagnostic score is 180-210:

FULL TIME STUDY PART TIME STUDY

(8 - 10 hrs/day) (4-5 hrs/day)

4 months + 10 days 8 months + 10 days

~ 25 days/month ~ 25 days/month
~ 8 hours/day ~ 4 hours/day
Estimated 800 hours of study Estimated 800 hours of study
4 months x 25 days x 8 hours + (10 days x 8 hours) = 880 8 months x 25 days x 4 hours + (14 days x 8 hours) = 880

If your diagnostic score is > 210:

2 months + 10 days
FULL TIME STUDY ~ 25 days/month
~ 8 hours/day
(8 - 10 hrs/day)
Estimated 400 hours of study
2 months x 25 days x 8 hours + (10 days x 8 hours) = 480
SMART STUDY

dy
m em b er : Smart stu
Re to time!
is inverse

TIME

APPLY TO SCHEDULE THE EXAM

ENROLL WITH NBME OR ECFMG

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 3 STUDY MATERIALS
These are your tools. They won't build anything unless you use them.

MIND K a p l a n F i r s t Uworld
BRS
MAPS Notes aid Q-Bank

to ch eck
D on't forget
d M aps!
out USM LE M in

ACTIVE LEARNING > PASSIVE LEARNING

SUBJECTS COVERED ON STEP 1 BY WEIGHT:

Pharmacology
Microbiology Pathology Embryology

Immunology

Physiology Biochemistry
Anatomy and Histology

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 4 STUDY STRATEGY BY SUBJECT
Start with high-yield subjects: Physiology, Pharmacology, and Pathology.

r ea t in g y o u r study Distribution of Questions

When c o n t he 3 P's:
, f o c u s
calendar
, ph a r m , a n d path!
Phys Non-P's: 40.0 %

P's: 60.0 %

20% OF YOUR TIME ON EACH P

10% ON EACH NON-P

Example: For a diagnostic score < 180

6 MONTHS TO EXAM 6 MONTHS TO EXAM

20% PER P 10% PER NON-P

Estimated 1,200 hours of study Estimated 480 hours of study left

total
480 x 0.10 = 48 hours
1,200 x 0.20 = 240 hours per P
About 6 days per non-P (full time
30 days per P (full time at 8 at 8 hrs/day)
hrs/day)

1 month of study for Physiology, Pathology, Pharm About 1 week of study each for Biostats, Biochem, etc.

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 WHY SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON 3 SUBJECTS?

The 3 P's not only account for the majority of the exam, they
also contain concepts that are necessary to understand prior
to mastering the non-P's.

Suggested Order of Topics:

(Using the 6 month timeline as an example)

ce
l Sc d
ien
iora an
gy nd
gy
y

gy
gy

hav tics
istr
lo g
gy

a
lo
y

o lo
His tomy
iolo
lo g

aco
o lo

Be statis
no

che

bry
ho

to lo
rob
ysi

arm
mu

a
Pat

Bio

Em
An
Ph

Bio
Mic
Im

Ph
y

14 Day Review
Week 5 Week 12 Week 16 Week 21

Week 0 Week 10 Week 14 Week 20 Week 22

Complete
Complete 2nd practice exam Complete 3rd
diagnostic
NBME Exam #11 practice exam
exam
(score should 5-10 points) NBME #17

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 Progress Assessment:
(Using the 6 month timeline as an example)

Keep scheduled Keep scheduled

exam date exam date
Score > 220
No

3rd practice exam Score: 200 - 220

(14 days until Is your intended
scheduled test date) Score < 220 specialty competitive?

Yes
Back to basics: make sure Score < 200
you understand key
concepts and ASK FOR HELP

Take another Assess reasons for Postpone exam Postpone exam

practice exam slowed progress date 2 months date 1 month
(NBME #15 or #17) poor study conditions/habits
second-guessing yourself
lack of conceptual undersanding

5 YOUR DAILY STUDY SCHEDULE

Success depends on your day-to-day discipline.

Mimic testing conditions by Don't study in the middle of the

adjusting your sleep schedule
Sit at a desk when studying,
not in your bed or on the couch
Start each day with Q&A (active
learning, not with reading
(passive)
night, even if you are a night owl
Don't study during your scheduled
break times. Eat right and exercise.
Don't study with music playing or
the television on--there's no music
playing during the test!

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 7:00 - 8:30 AM
Eat breakfast and get 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
dressed for your day
Q&A on single subject using
UWorld or Q-bank

12:30 - 1:30 PM
Lunch
(Do NOT study during lunch)
11:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Sleep
(Do NOT sacrifice
sleep for study)
1:30 - 5:30 PM
Read notes/text on the same
subject as your morning Q&A

8:30 - 11:00 PM 5:30 - 8:30 PM

Open Session: Can do another set of ESS Time: Exercise, Shower, Socialize
Q&A or spend time doing more reading, (Do NOT skip ESS time for more studying)
depending on your mood.
tions are
Practice Ques
to test!
to teach , not

ALWAYS DO QUESTIONS BEFORE READING

Doing questions and going over the answers and explanations

before reading increases your retention of the material by
focusing your attention. Do not put them off in favor of reading!
You're supposed to get them wrong, that's how you learn.

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 T-14 DAYS UNTIL EXAM
FINAL REVIEW 14

Eat healthy foods Self-Care

Exercise daily

Align sleep schedule

with test schedule
Sleep 8 hours Sleep
every night

Review key concepts

Memorize tedious facts in

embryology, rheumatology, etc. First Aid
Read over answers and
explanations

2 Blocks of mixed
questions UWorld

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 T-1 DAYS UNTIL EXAM
MENTAL PREPARATION 1

STOP ALL STUDYING AT 4 PM!

ft er 4 pm , yo u must do
a
ings!
these three th

Moderate exercise Best dinner ever See a chick-flick or comedy

Bedtime is 10 PM!
If you think you'll have trouble sleeping, take 3 mg of melatonin by 9 PM
but only if you have taken it before and know how you react to it.

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 6 YOUR USMLE STEP 1 EXAM DAY
Your chance to demonstrate how much you've learned has arrived.

Goal Score > 240

re the test
Don't spend the morning befo
eath, relax, and
trying to cram-Take a deep br
ow an answer
trust yourself. If you don't kn
th e test : Sim pl y Sm ile, cl ick, and move on!
on

Breakfast: Protein > simple sugar Lunch: Sandwich (no turkey), water
Skip tutorial

2 Blocks Break 1 Block Break 1 Block Lunch 2 Blocks Break 1 Block

Breaks: Use the restroom and stretch

CONGRATS
You made it !

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 HOW TO REJOIN CIVILIZATION
Step out into the sunlight friends, the worst is over.

Your scores will be emailed to you three weeks after your exam date, usually on
the third Wednesday after your exam before noon.
If you passed the exam but didn't make your goal score, you can not retake the
exam--but don't worry, you are not doomed! (See below)
If you failed, you can retake the exam. Take time to cry and scream, but do not
quit! You will be a physician! Contact a mentor, your medical school dean, or
reach out to Dr. K (Wazir.Kudrath@KudrathHealthEducation.com).

MY SCORE IS BELOW AVERAGE FOR MY SPECIALTY:

WHAT DO I DO NOW?
?
Don't panic: Step 1 is only one of many factors programs consider in a residency
applicant. You are more than your Step 1 score!

Talk to a mentor in the field you are applying to and ask what you can do to make
yourself a good applicant (observerships, visiting student clinical rotations, research,
etc.)

I FAILED THE USMLE STEP 1: WHAT DO I DO NOW?

You failed the exam, but YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE.

?
Assess your study strategy: Did you follow this study plan to the letter? Did you give
yourself enough study time? If you don't change your strategy, you'll get the same
result.Reschedule your exam, but give yourself enough time to study.

Talk to a mentor in the field you are applying to and ask what you can do to make
yourself a good applicant (Step 2 score, visiting student clinical rotations, research, etc.)

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