About the ExaminationThe USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) is a group of examinations given in three stages, requiredfor licensure as a doctor in the USA. The examination is held under the sponsorship of the Medical Licensure Boardsof each state in the United States, and enables them to compare candidates. Registration for Students and medicalschool graduates from outside of the United States takes place through ECFMG (the Educational Commission forForeign Medical Graduates).Content and Structure of the ExamThe USMLE is given in English, and tests the candidate’s medical knowledge. Each step tests different aspects ofmedical studies.
Step 1 – The examination tests understanding of concepts and basic principles in medicine and implementation ofthese concepts. It tests the knowledge accumulated in the first two years of preclinical studies in American medicalschools, which is parallel to the knowledge acquired first four years in Israeli medical schools. Most of the questionson the examination test clinical application of the theoretical knowledge.
Step 2 – The examination tests the application of medical knowledge, understanding and expertise in clinicalscience, as needed in the treatment of patients. It tests the knowledge accumulated in the two clinical years inAmerican medical schools. The exam is split into two parts:Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) tests clinical knowledge, and is taken on a computer, in the same way asStep 1.Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills) tests clinical abilities, including communication, taking anamnesis, physicalcheckups, distinguishing and planned diagnoses. The examination takes place with the help of actors whosimulate patients. The examination takes place in the United States only.
Step 3 – The examination tests application of medical knowledge and patient management as required of licenseddoctors. It is taken on the computer, and takes place in the United States.
ACE THE USMLE:
5 mental tips for the USMLE step 1:
The exam was developed for human- believe in yourself!
the TIME PERIOD you take for studying is less important than the QUALITY of the studying
Understand the material! only memorizing questions or details is most of the time useless.
Take time to investigate which disciplines or organ systems high yield in the exam and which are less high yield. know perfect those very high
Choose the books you're studying from carefully. Use other people 's experience from you're own university. Differences between univerisities may be reflected in the differences between the books which are most popular in the respective medical school.
5 recommended preparation material for USMLE step 1:
First Aid for USMLE step 1- last edition
Kaplan Qbook
USMLE world Qbank
NBME self assessments
Dr Goljan lectures
5 useful website for all steps:
www.ECFMG.org (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates)
www.usmle.org (United States Medical Licensing Examination)
http://usmlereview.net
The USMLE examination is the biggest stumbling block and the hardest one for anyone who wants to be a doctor. If you noticed, I did not use the term 'pass' because a pass in USMLE means absolutely nothing. A failing grade in USMLE means that you can take the exam again, a low pass means you are screwed for life. You can find review materials for your preparation at http://usmlereview.net . The USMLE is like combat to the finish, if you are not the best, you will end up with nothing but dreams that float in the air. The number of residency positions has plummeted , while competition for the remaining positions has skyrocketed, with doctors all over the world trying to muscle in on the action. You will compete for a training position with doctors whom you have never seen before, doctors who may know more about medicine than you, it is important that you should be well prepared. Just looking on Amazon will tell you the sheer volume of material that you need to know just to stand a chance in USMLE. There are many preparatory books for the USMLE, established classics like the NMS series are still rock solid materials for you. You are old enough to know that success never comes easy, it always takes a lot of backbreaking work. You have to prepare for the USMLE the way a boxer would prepare for the world championship, total dedication is necessary or you will be knocked out in round one. Because you are competing in what is essentially an international tournament, where it is very hard to be at the top. There are so many of these review materials and courses in the market, each of which promises you the sun and moon and the stars, it is hard to know which ones are the best. You may have to look long and hard before you find the right study material. I ended up buying most of my study materials off ebay, but the one item that really made all the difference in the world, I bought it from a site called http://usmlemonkey.com. I cant really understand how they could call such outstanding study material by such a derogatory term 'usmlemonkey.com'. I have noticed that men who work in the software field tend to be a bit on the wacky side, my husband is one of them ! .
I know friends who passed USMLE with a bare passing score, and even after 5 years they still have not even gotten into a PGY-1 position, which is tragic and pathetic to say the least. One of them now works in the hematology lab as an ordinary technician and takes orders from a person much less educated than him. The multiple times that he faced rejection from residency programs finally broke his confidence. I advise every doctor whom I know, that if after the USMLE exam you have a bad feeling about it, dont take any chances, file a cancellation request, that is better than getting a low score, you can re-take the exam later. This is the one examination in your entire career that you absolutely cannot afford to screwup. Borrow money if you have to, but do not try to economise on preparation material, buy the best materials that you can afford. Most of us are trying to save some money these days, spend your money wisely, use it on the USMLE review software from usmlemonkey.com and the USMLE firstaid series from amazon.com. If you are a big budget spender, consider attending a Kaplan course. You can find almost any USMLE review stuff on ebay.com. The USMLE works on whatever you put into it, you put passion and dedication and hardwork into it, and you will reap the benefits for a lifetime.
Hi everyone,
although step 1 is the thing your writing about, i would like some information on the STEP 2. can anyone tell me which books are recommended for the step 2? i heard the first aid is not as necessary as it is for the step 1.
i've already made the step 1 and got very high score....
I am just curious on the degree of difficulty of the Step 1 test in comparison with the MCAT.
Could you say if you did well on the MCAT, it would be a could indicator on how well you do Step1 ... or vise versa ... If you blew the MCAT you will not do well on the MCAT ... I know there are a lot of variables to consider i.e. Study time, how well the Med. School teaches you and how much you absorb ... just in general
The length of time might be similar for some individual but i think the intensity is more for step 1.
That is, if you spend 3months studying for MCAT and step 1, the amount of info you need to cover for step 1 is much more and you will probably spend more hours of the day compared to MCAT.
That's a very individual-specific question. I know some people that study 6 months for the MCAT and barely get above a 26 and then there are the people that study for the MCAT for a couple weeks and get a 30+.
So everyone knows how important First Aid for the Boards is, therefore, if you are interested in all the High Yield information typed out and placed on flash cards this is for you.
USMLE - United States Medical Licensing Exam - This is a three-part test taken by all physicians over several years during residency trainin. Every physician must pass all three parts of the USMLE in order to practice medicine in the US
In the United States and its territories, the individual medical licensing authorities ("state medical boards") of the various jurisdictions grant a license to practice medicine. Each medical licensing authority sets its own rules and regulations and requires passing an examination that demonstrates qualification for licensure. Results of the USMLE are reported to these authorities for use in granting the initial license to practice medicine. The USMLE provides them with a common evaluation system for applicants for initial medical licensure.
The USMLE is sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc. (FSMB), and the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®).
The USMLE assesses a physician's ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles, and to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills, that are important in health and disease and that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care. Each of the three Steps of the USMLE complements the others; no Step can stand alone in the assessment of readiness for medical licensure. Because individual medical licensing authorities make decisions regarding use of USMLE results, physicians seeking licensure should contact the jurisdiction where they intend to apply for licensure to obtain complete information. Also, the FSMB can provide general information on medical licensure.
Additional information describing the USMLE is available in the Overview section of the USMLE Bulletin of Information.
Current and recent members of USMLE test material development committees and task forces are listed in the NBME Annual Reports.
Hi my name is Margaret and i'm a student from Russia and i want to do the USMLE step 1.
if you know, please maybe you can tell me what is the eligibility period in the USMLE? i heard about it and i'm not sure what is it
The eligibility period is the 3 month interval you give upon registration to the exam at the ECFMG. in this interval you should schedual your exam with the prometric center (the place you want to do the exam).
Hello "new Doctor" and welcome to the usmle forum.
The broadest information on the USMLE you can find in the USMLE bulletine of information. try to read the most current version in order not to be suprised from any change that might occured.
