Exam format & syllabus
Question format:
The Step 1 features single-best-answer multiple choice questions (MCQs). It's a staggering 8 hours long - there are 7 hour-long blocks of 50 questions each, with the final hour being break-time. You can't really take breaks in the middle of a block (these count as 'irregularities'), but are allowed to in-between the blocks. It's upto you to allocate your break time effectively between the blocks, and you can use this time to do anything you like, including look at your notes. But you can't unfortunately go back to already answered blocks of questions to change your answers!
Subjects tested in the exam:
General Principles, Hematopoietic and Lymphoreticular Systems, Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems, Skin and Related Connective Tissue, Musculoskeletal System, Respiratory System, Cardiovascular System, Gastrointestinal System, Renal/Urinary System, Reproductive System and Endocrine System.
From the USMLE website:
The test is designed to measure basic science knowledge. Some questions test the examinee's fund of information per se, but the majority of questions require the examinee to interpret graphic and tabular material, to identify gross and microscopic pathologic and normal specimens, and to solve problems through application of basic science principles. Step 1 is constructed from an integrated content outline that organizes basic science content according to general principles and individual organ systems. Test questions are classified in one of these major areas depending on whether they focus on concepts and principles that are important across organ systems or within individual organ systems.
Sections focusing on individual organ systems are subdivided according to normal and abnormal processes, principles of therapy, and psychosocial, cultural, and environmental considerations. Each examination covers content related to the traditionally defined disciplines of anatomy, behavioral sciences, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology, as well as to interdisciplinary areas including genetics, aging, immunology, nutrition, and molecular and cell biology. While not all topics listed in the content outline are included in every examination, overall content coverage is comparable in the various examination forms that will be taken by different examinees.
There is a syllabus, but it's only worth looking at when you're feeling a little too demotivated to work. If looking at this doesn't scare you into working harder than you ever have done before, then nothing will. In USMLE's own words, it's not really a curriculum. In other words, learn everything. Then learn some more. If you're interested, you can take a look at the syllabus here:
>The USMLE Step1 website
Recommended books
With such a vast syllabus, choice of texbooks is largely down to personal preferrence. You do not need to read a book for every topic - a combination of First Aid, plenty of practice questions and the use of lots of useful notes available on the internet (some of which we'll try and put up on this site), it is possible to keep your use of textbooks for individual subjects down to a bare minimum. Go with what you find hardest - if you struggle with Biochemistry (most people do!) then use an extra textbook for that. Other topics, such as Pathology, are relatively more 'clinically orientated', so post-graduate exam takers in particular will tend to find these easier, hence not requiring much more than the essential materials to cover these areas.
Here are a few of the highly recommended texbooks:
General: First Aid for thr USMLE Step 1
Online revision
If you're wallet is feeling a little too light after contributing several hundred dollars towards the privelege of taking the Step 1 exam, then you probably won't want to read this section, as the only real way to do this is by spending yet more money. The key to passing Step 1 - as with most exams - is getting in lots of practice questions. For the Step 1, this is where Kaplan excells. Several products are on offer:
Qbook
A textbook containing 850 questions with detailed answers and explanations. A good start to the world of USMLE-style questioning.
Qbank
An online question bank containing over 2000 questions. Goes HIGHLY recommended by many, many students. Most US students certainly seem to use this, and after using it myself, I can see why. The questions are probably the closest to those encountered in the real exam, and the explanations are generally very good. At $199 (for 1 month's unlimited access) it is by no means cheap, but after investing so much money and time in working for the Step 1, doing badly is not really an option. With this in mind, it does make sense to get as much useful preparation in as possible, something that this site definitely offers. You can also subscribe for 3 months if you wish to spread out your learning experience.
Qreview
Similar to the above, but this instead features vignettes (scenarios) rather than 'short' multiple choice questions. Users of this have found it useful. If you have the time and money then there's no harm in getting more questions under your belt, but if you are short of funds and time and can only really afford to use one of these online question sites, then go for the QBank.
Home study programmes
If you're feeling particularly keen, then Kaplan have a variety of lecture-based home study programmes on offer. These include various combinations of audio, video and paper-based lectures and revision notes. Be warned though...these are expensive. If that isn't an issue, however, and you want a thorough review of all of the topics that will appear on the exam, then these programmes are considered very good, with all material contributed by experienced tutors. Of particular note, are the lectures given by the rather 'legendary' Dr Goljan. His 35+ lectures are simply excellent, and are superb examples of entertaining medical teaching. He does indeed 'make learning fun'. Which is particularly impressive given that he teaches pathology. Although we cannot condone reckless (and of course, illegal) breaches of copyright, rumour has it that these lectures are now widely available for download on the internet. For free. Now you didn't hear that from us...
How do I sign up?
Simple. Click on the link below, then click on the word 'join', and then go and learn something:
