The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a three-part exam taken by MD students as part of their licensure to practice medicine in the United States.
Although Step 1 is moving to pass/fail, USMLE Step 2 is still used as a major deciding factor for getting a residency. Because of the weight of this exam on the student’s future career as a medical practitioner, many students put added stress on themselves to excel.
While it is important to do well on the exam, there are things you can do to ensure that your preparation is a productive and stress-free process. Below are some tips to help prepare you for the USMLE Step 2.
1. Pick Your Dates
It’s important to schedule your exam dates well in advance. Having a set date to work towards will keep you on track and prevent you from procrastinating.
Before scheduling a test date, figure out how much time you will realistically need to prepare for the exam. Are you currently in school full time? Are you working? Do you have family or personal responsibilities? None of these things should suffer because you are preparing for an exam. Instead, figure out how many hours you actually have to study and then schedule accordingly.
On average, students spend between 150-600 hours studying for each step of the USMLE, so use these numbers as a base line when scheduling your tests.
2. Assess Your Strengths
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to retaining information. To better use your studying time, take some assessments to figure out the areas that need attention, and which ones simply require a refresher.
One way to assess your knowledge is by taking practice tests. A USMLE Step 2 practice test will not only show you which subjects require more attention, but it will also give you an idea of how much time you are spending on each section.
Since each section of the exam is timed, a USMLE Step 2 practice test will focus your studies while improving your time management for test day.
3. Get Outside Help
Studying for the USMLE doesn’t have to be a solo endeavor. For areas where you are struggling, consider hiring a USMLE tutor. Having someone break down a subject and present it in a different way can remove the stress and pressure you are putting on yourself. These professionals can provide you with different versions of USMLE Step 2 sample questions and go through each one with you until you understand it fully.
USMLE Step 2 sample questions can also be used in a group study setting to help test yourself and your peers. Group study allows students with different strengths to help each other.
4. Take Care of Yourself
For as important as this exam might feel for your future, it is equally important that you take care of your mental and physical well being throughout the process.
By scheduling your test far enough in advance and booking time with a tutor or a study group, you should avoid the last minute cramming that so many fall victim to.
As your test day approaches, be sure you are still getting enough sleep, exercising or meditating for stress relief, spending time with loved ones and being kind to yourself. This is not only good for you as an individual, but it will put you in the best mindset and physical condition to pass your exam when the day comes.
Good luck with your USMLE exam. We hope you reach your target score!
