You don‘t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.

The 33-Day Bootcamp for USMLE® Step 1

(Zig Ziglar)

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About this Schedule

The USMLE Step 1 exam is more important today than it has ever been in the past. Your USMLE Step 1 score is used as a gatekeeper for competitive and sought after residency programs. Don’t let the opportunity to shine on Step 1 slip through your fingertips. You don’t want to take the USMLE Step 1 exam and then tell yourself that you wish you could have earned a better score. You want to do the absolute best now! Moreso, don’t let any other medical student or anyone for that matter tell you that you cannot dominate the USMLE Step 1 exam. Every year students around the nation achieve top scores and match into their top residency programs of choice. ANY medical student can get an excellent score on the USMLE Step 1 exam, it’s all about how you strategically plan and carefully study for the exam.

Traditionally, students spend roughly 3 months studying in a dedicated fashion for the USMLE exam. However, life does not always give you a dedicated 3-month period to study for the USMLE Step 1 exam. For example, some medical schools may only permit one month of dedicated study time or students may find themselves in situation where they only have one month for intense USMLE Step 1 studying. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you one month to crush the USMLE Step 1 exam, you study strategically and make most out of each day.

Because USMLE Step 1 is only a month away, there isn’t time to re-watch lecture videos and take meticulous notes in reviewing basic concepts. The best use of your limited time at this stage will be to instead focus on learning high-yield medical concepts and to practice taking USMLE-style tests. The most effective tool for doing both is a Qbank.

We recommend that for the entirety of the month ahead you exclusively and continuously work with Qbank questions. This will require you adopt a focused study strategy. As part of that strategy, you will need to memorize the medical concepts for each Qbank question. At the same time, you will need to internalize the mechanics of reading and answering USMLE questions.

Stick to this study plan we offer and you will be greatly rewarded. When this study plan ends in one month, you will be properly prepared to score high on USMLE Step 1.

Switch on studies, switch off everything else.

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Over the course of the next 33 days you will:

• Complete 2,500 challenging USMLE questions using the Lecturio Qbank

• Study a total of 238 hours (which is only about 7 hours and 12 minutes per day)

• Enjoy a well deserved day off to relax and recharge!

Refer to our Medical School Survival Guide to learn more about proven test-taking strategies, crucial facts about the USMLE exam, and helpful advice for studying at the highest efficiency and with the greatest recall. The Medical School Survival Guide is your companion: Rely on it to help you survive from the first day of medical school until you match into your top residency program of choice. You need to transition to this study guide once you start your dedicated USMLE Step 1 preparation – and once you transition make sure to follow this study plan extremely carefully.

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How We Created This Schedule

Everyone has his or her own way of studying, learning, and taking tests. But even though medical students excel at learning and managing time, preparing for USMLE Step 1 represents a real challenge of academic ability.

It requires a very different study strategy from those which you might use in readying to take a med school traditional exam. It also requires that you study under much more inten-se pressure: the clock is ticking rapidly, meaning you have very little time in which to cover a vast amount of information.

The key to successfully studying for USMLE Step 1 is to carefully choose the right resources, know how to effectively study with them, and be able to implement the ideal strategies for taking this unique exam. Med school upperclassmen have long been the primary source of information about taking USMLE Step 1. First-year med students have long turned to them for advice on how to do well on this exam.

The idea behind Lecturio as a USMLE Step 1 resource is to give you much more information and advice than you could ever possibly receive from upperclassmen alone. Lecturio takes things to a much higher level by also offering you evidence-based recommendations. We developed our approach by working directly with medical students, residents, and attending physicians across the nation. We picked the minds of those whose own USMLE Step 1 scores were sky high. We asked them to explain how they studied for the exam in the very short time they had available. We analyzed their responses and used those insights as the basis for creating what we believe is the most effective USMLE Step 1 study strategy of any you will ever come across.

You will find the evidence-based advice of those past test-takers summarized for you on these next pages. And as you will see, our study schedule design reflects the fact that USMLE Step 1 tests both your knowledge and your ability to effectively strategize the taking a high-stakes examination.

Our study schedule also recognizes you have very little time in which to prepare for the test. Due to the brevity of the study timeframe, we recommend you exclusively prepare with the aid of a Qbank.

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The rationale for using a Qbank is simple: it addresses your need to acquire a well- developed knowledge base. It does this by confronting you with clinical vignettes and detailed solutions designed to teach you high-yield medical concepts.

A Qbank will also teach you test-taking strategy. Because Lecturio’s Qbank questions are styled after those you can expect to encounter on the actual USMLE Step 1 exam, you will learn how to quickly, efficiently, and effectively work your way through the question stems and offered answer choices.

There really is no better resource for intensive USMLE Step 1 study than a solidly constructed Qbank.

About Lecturio:Walk into any Lecturio meeting and the focus is on producing the highest quality educational resources that lead to student success. Lecturio has worked with medical education leaders across the nation to produce an evidence-based comprehensive medical school and USMLE preparation platform.

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How to Use this Schedule

For the next 33 days, you will – by adopting this schedule – use a Qbank to learn high-yield medical concepts and test-taking strategies. Each Qbank question you complete during this period will expand your knowledge-base and familiarize you with the best way to work through other questions like it.

You should strive to complete two blocks of Qbank questions each day. This is the recommended number that will allow you to fully finish each block and have sufficient time to go back over the answers to learn why your correct choices were right and why your incorrect choices were wrong. For this purpose, Lecturio provides an amazing and expertly designed USMLE-style question bank. The questions are created based on standards set by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), thus the Lecturio Qbank questions are as similar as possible to the real USMLE exam questions.

You want to be able to recognize patterns in the writing of questions stems and even answer choices. This is vital, you want to be practicing with questions that are as close as possible to exam questions on the real test day. In this manner, you are not only studying the material on the test, but you are also learning the test-taking strategy needed for the USMLE exam.

Just as important as the content of the question is the physical and mental environment in which the question is delivered. Thanks to the superior design of the Lecturio Qbank, it is designed to be as close as possible to the software and logistical design as on the real exam day. This means that when you look at the interface of the Lecturio Qbank, it looks extremely similar to the software interface that you will be using on exam day. The benefit here is that you have one less factor to distract you on the test day. You will be in your mental zone because you will have prepared with the Lecturio Qbank.

In order to get the most out of the Qbank, it’s extremely advisable to always complete sessions of 40 questions each. There is no value in sitting down to do any more or less than 40 questions at a time. The rationale here is that 40 is the number of questions each real USMLE question block contains.

Again, strictly adhering to your study routine is everything. Work extremely hard to try to maintain a strong and steady study flow at all times. Try your best to sit down and do 40 questions without interruption or distraction. You should try to keep your study setup as close to the real USMLE exam at all time. If you are always doing blocks of 40 questions when you are performing the Qbank, then your brain is ready for 40 blocks at a time. Then when you sit down to take the real USMLE exam, it will be natural and you will feelat ease to do 40 questions at a time.

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Do 40 questions in a session as follows:

• Choose tutor mode off and turn timed mode on (you want to get your brain trained to always feel the pressure of the clock. You will feel the pressure on exam day, might as well train and be ready for it).

• Pick subjects and systems.

• Select 40 questions.

• Do 40 questions and answer all within the time frame.

• After the test, choose to review and carefully read the explanations. Make sure to read the right and wrong answer choice explanations. There is just as much value in the wrong answers as there is in the correct answers. Supplement your understanding of the material by consulting Lecturio reference materials such as videos and articles in addition to the material described in the answer choice explanations.

Lecturio provides an expertly designed USMLE-style question bank. The questions are created based on standards set by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), thus the Lecturio Qbank questions are as similar as possible to the real USMLE exam questions.

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Two-Block Study Schedule Example

Do morning routine.

Wake up.

Break for exercise and/or dinner.

Review all materials covered during the day.

Relax.

Go to bed. Get a full eight hours of sleep.

Block One: Do 40 Qbank questions. Pick subjects at random. Do the questions in “test mode“.

Block Two: Do another 40 Qbank questions. Repeat the morning schedule’s study steps.

Eat lunch and/or take a nap.

Carefully read the answer explanations to the question you answered. Consult your reference book and/or Lecturio videos to refine your knowledge.

6 AM

8 AM

9 AM

12 noon

1 PM

5 PM

7 PM

9 PM

10 PM

Many days in the learning schedule call for Qbank training, consisting of 2 blocks of 40 questions each. Take a look at the table below; it describes the most optimal manner in which you can structure your day.

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On the final day of the 33-day intensive study schedule, you are recommended to take the Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) examination from the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). This self-assessment examination is highly regarded by medical students as a score marker for the actual exam date. Most students report that they score very closely to the score they receive on the CBSSA. Note that you will need to purchase the “extended version” which allows you to see the questions that you answered incorrectly and it gives you the correct answer. This extender version costs an extra $10.

Follow the instructions below to perform the Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment:

Set aside five hours of dedicated quiet time to take the CBSSA. Again, think about this. You want to simulate the real test taking environment as much as you can. Put away your cell phone, turn off notifications on your computer. Sit at an empty desk, only have a paper and pencil on your desk and nothing else. Make your testing environment as real as possible.

Then sit down and take the blocks. You can take a short 2-5 minute break between each block. Otherwise, you can do 2 or more blocks between taking a break. It is completely up to you. Some medical students will take a break after each block. Others will do multiple blocks in a row prior to taking a break. See what works for you and what allows you to maintain your focus.

After you have completed the CBSSA, take the time to make note of the questions you got wrong and the correct answer. Unfortunately the CBSSA does not provide answer explanations, it simply just shows the incorrect answer that you chose and the correct answer. It is up to you to figure how why the correct answer is correct. In order to do this, go back to your First Aid book and read the relevant section that relates to the question.

You will get a three-digit score and a subject score report at the end of the CBSSA. Pay attention to the subjects that you did not perform well on. Also pay attention to the three-digit score as it has a high likelihood of being similar to the score that you will receive on the real exam day. If you are happy with your score, then great. If you’re not, then you need to identify your weak areas by looking at the subject report and go back and review them and perform additional Qbank questions to strengthen yourself and grow your knowledge base.

After studying and reviewing the material of a certain subject or system, repeat the test you took at the beginning when you were just trying to gain a feel for the questions. Pay attention to your score progression, if the increase in the score is small, consider re-evaluating your under-standing of the material you just covered.

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Neurology RenalNeurology Psychiatry ReproductiveMCT MCT

Pathology all Systems

Study Plan Overview

Gastro- intestinal

Exam Simulation

Hematology & Oncology

Exam Simulation

Microbiology

Endocrine

Exam Simulation

Bio- chemistry

Endocrine

Bio- chemistry

Biostatistics

RELAX!

Cardio- vascular

Hematology & Oncology

Cardio-

vascular

Cardio- vascular

Pathology

RespiratoryCardio-

vascular

Day 1 Day 3 Day 5Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 7

Week 1

Week 3

Week 5

Week 2

Week 4

Click anywhere to access the Qbank!

Immunology Immunology Microbiology

Pathology PathologyPharma- cology

General Principles

Gastro- intestinal

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Biostatistics

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

11

10

Biochemistry

Immunology

Immunology

Microbiology

Microbiology

Pathology

Pathology

Pathology

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

4 h

8 h

8 h

4 h

8 h

4 h

4 h

Subject: Biochemistry + Medical GeneticsSystems: All2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subject: Biochemistry + Medical GeneticsSubjects: All2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: ImmunologySystems: All 2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: ImmunologySystems: All 2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: Microbiology Systems: All 1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: Microbiology Systems: All 2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: PathologySystems: General Principles1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: PathologySystems: General Principles2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: PathologySystems: General Principles2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: PharmacologySystems: General Principles1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Ethics Systems: General Principles1 block, 40 questions

Day Subject Resource TimeQbank Settings

Biochemistry

Pharma- cology

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12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

General Principles

Cardio- vascular

Endocrine

Endocrine

RELAX

Gastro- intestinal

Gastro- intestinal

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

Subjects: All SubjectsSystems: General Principles2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: Anatomy + Embryology + Physiology + Pharmacology Systems: Cardiovascular 1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: Pathology Systems: Cardiovascular 1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: Pathology Systems: Cardiovascular 2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: Anatomy + Embryology + Physiology + Pharmacology Systems: Endocrine 1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: Pathology Systems: Endocrine1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: Pathology Systems: Endocrine2 blocks, 40 questions each

You take this day off and relax. This is not a recommendation, it’s a prescription!

Subjects: Anatomy + Embryology + Physiology + Pharmacology Systems: Gastrointestinal1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: Pathology Systems: Gastrointestinal1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: Pathology Systems: Gastrointestinal 2 blocks, 40 questions each

Day Subject Resource TimeQbank Settings

Cardio- vascular

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20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

Hematology & Oncology

MCT

MCT

Neurology

Neurology

Psychiatry

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

Subjects: Anatomy + Embryology + Physiology + Pharmacology Systems: General Principles + Hematology & Oncology1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: Pathology Systems: Hematology & Oncology1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: PathologySystems: Hematology & Oncology2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: Anatomy + Embryology + Physiology + Pharmacology Systems: General Principles + MCT1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: Pathology Systems: MCT1 block, 40 questions

Subjects: PathologySystems: MCT2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: Anatomy + Embryology + Physiology + Pharmacology Systems: Neurology 2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: Anatomy + Embryology + Physiology + Pharmacology Systems: Neurology 2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: Behavioral Sciences/Psychiatry Systems: General Principles2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: Anatomy + Embryology + Physiology + Pharmacology + Pathology Systems: Renal 2 blocks, 40 questions each

Day Subject Resource TimeQbank Settings

Hematology & Oncology

Gastro- intestinal

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28

29

30

31

32

33

Reproductive

Pathology all Systems

Exam Simulation

Exam Simulation

Exam Simulation

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

8 h

6 h

Subjects: Anatomy + Embryology + Physiology + Pharmacology + Pathology Systems: Reproductive 2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: Anatomy + Embryology + Physiology + Pharmacology + Pathology Systems: Respiratory2 blocks, 40 questions each

Subjects: Pathology Systems: All 2 blocks, 40 questions each

Full USMLE Step1 Simulation: 7 blocks, 40 questions each

Full USMLE Step1 Simulation: 7 blocks, 40 questions each

Do a Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA), purchase the extended version providing feedback for an extra $10.

Day Subject Resource TimeQbank Settings

Respiratory

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Having now worked your way through the entire 33-day schedule, you’re ready to take USMLE Step 1! You deserve a super-big pat on the back. These last 33 days, filled with intense studying, were exhausting. But you will soon reap the rewards of your investment of time and highly focused efforts.

When you walk into the USMLE testing center, you will do so well-prepared. Just as importantly, you will arrive with the right mindset – a mental frame of thinking that will let you be in control from start to finish. If you took to heart and followed all of the advice offered in this 33-day intensive study schedule, you should be in excellent shape to take USMLE Step 1 and earn a great score.

Some final advice: Prior to test day, make a point of again consulting the Medical School Survival Guide. Be sure you follow all the recommendations on its pages. Also, familiarize yourself with the logistics of getting to the test center. Know the formal requirements of sitting for USMLE on test day. Remember to bring a USMLE-acceptable form of personal identification along with the test permit you received. Only if you present these two documents at the test center’s door will you then be allowed inside to take the exam.

There are a few other items you must bring with you to the test center. Refer to the USMLE website for full details. While you’re visiting the USMLE website, be sure to also read the rules concerning clothes you are permitted to wear and items or materials you are allowed to bring into the test center.

It’s OK to feel nervous, but please know that in the course of these last 33 days you have exhaustively practiced with Qbank questions, reviewed and bolstered your knowledge base, and have learned highly effective test-taking strategies. Together, these have been building within you much confidence, the self-assurance necessary to help you overcome even the worst case of jitters.

Above all, keep in mind that you have now created within yourself the ability to earn a very high score on USMLE Step 1.

You have what it takes to bring home the USMLE Step 1 score of your dreams because you spent the last 33 days getting primed to excel!

Good things are coming. Just keep going…!

All Done? Congratulations!