{"id":950,"date":"2023-05-19T13:00:37","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T13:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=950"},"modified":"2023-05-19T20:47:27","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T20:47:27","slug":"how-to-pass-usmle-step-1-5-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/usmle\/how-to-pass-usmle-step-1-5-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Pass USMLE Step 1: Top 5 Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn how to pass the USMLE Step 1 by reviewing our top study tips. The Step 1 exam is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires dedication and commitment on a daily basis within the 2-3 months allotted in preparation for the exam. You will spend a significant amount of your day studying for the USMLE Step 1. As challenging as it may be, remember your 3<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rd<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> year of medical school awaits, where you will finally be able to enter the clinical rotations and experience what you\u2019ve wanted to do since the first day you started medical school.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\u00a0 \u00a0<strong>RELATED<\/strong><strong>:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/usmle\/types-of-medical-school-exams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A Guide to the Different Medical School Exams<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0]<\/p>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About USMLE Step 1<\/span><\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The USMLE Step 1 exam is one of the most important examinations in a medical student\u2019s quest for residency. Combining the knowledge and critical thinking accumulated within the first two years, this 8-hour exam challenges students&#8217; mental strength and physical stamina to withstand long hours of testing. In essence, it foreshadows the daily challenges that physicians face as they aim to keep themselves focused on providing quality care for their patients during long work hours. Passing the USMLE Step 1 is not an easy task, and your life will change significantly within the time period you devote toward preparation. This is why staying calm, focused, and collected is essential. The USMLE Step 1 exam is the only thing standing between you and the wards.<\/span><br \/>\n<div  style='height:5px' class='hr hr-invisible   avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_promobox '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\t<div  style='background:#c5c5c5;color:#ffffff;border-color:#c5c5c5;' class='av_promobox  avia-button-no   avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_heading '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><\/p>\n<div class='avia-iframe-wrap'><iframe title=\"USMLE Prep - Which Step is Most Important\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/V9YadB6-5Yk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_promobox  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">USMLE Step 1 Study Tips<\/span><\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maximize your test prep and avoid burnout by following these USMLE Step 1 study tips.<\/span><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8a8' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >USMLE Step 1 Study Tip #1: Set realistic goals.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every medical student agrees that practicing for the exam is vital. The more practice questions you work through, the better prepared you will be. However, do not overwhelm yourself. Practicing 100-200 questions a day with follow-up analysis is ideal, but doing any more may result in fatigue.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue862' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >USMLE Step 1 Study Tip #2: For every hour of studying, take a 10-minute break.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This will allow you to relax and recharge for the next hour of studying. During this break, avoid checking email, going on Facebook, texting, etc. Close your eyes, breathe, go outside, and take a short walk. It is crucial for your brain to rest at this time so that you are able to retain further information.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue814' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >USMLE Step 1 Study Tip #3: Forgo all hopes of being perfect. <\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is impossible to know everything that is on the exam; in fact, you may be tested on minutiae that are not covered in any review book. Now that the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/usmle\/usmle-step1-test-updates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">USMLE Step 1 has transitioned to pass\/fail scoring,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> there is no \u201cperfect score\u201d or a top score. Focus on passing, so you can move on to the next Step.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue808' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >USMLE Step 1 Study Tip #4: Focus on high-yield topics first.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will see the greatest amount of questions for high-yield topics. Remember that every question is worth the same amount of points, and you are not penalized for answering any questions incorrectly.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue80b' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >USMLE Step 1 Study Tip #5: Change-up your study atmosphere. <\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that your classmates are going through the same process. They share the same insecurities and worries. Going to the library and seeing others also working hard may be encouraging. You are never alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_iconlist  el_before_av_heading  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Pass the USMLE: Expert Advice for IMGs<\/span><\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hear from members of the Kaplan Medical Honor Society about their top USMLE study habits and advice for future board examinees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h5    avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_textblock  '><h5 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Phuong Min Nguyen, Kaplan Medical Honor Society<\/h5><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div> <section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Can you tell us about your studying habits?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I started using\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/usmle\/practice\/step-1-qbank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kaplan Qbanks<\/a>\u00a0at the beginning of the study as my adviser suggested and I also increased the number of questions I did daily as I went further later on. I preferred study alone during the reading and learning phase. However, when I started doing NBME, I joined a Facebook group discussion.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What advice do you have for fellow IMGs preparing for the USMLE?<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Avoid procrastination. Don\u2019t steer yourself too far from your schedule.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Don\u2019t skip your day off. You definitely need a day free of USMLE study. Free up your RAM memory, and fill your day off with joy and your family.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Keep your mind fresh. Take care of yourself literally above all. Do exercise and eat healthy food.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Don\u2019t rely too much on caffeine beverage, it could crush you later on when you are too dependent on it.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Finally and most important, regarding USMLE questions, DON\u2019T pick an answer choice just because you feel like it. Pick it with confidence, not with fear. If you pick an answer doubtfully, you might waste a lot of time thinking back and forth, checking it again and again.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section> <div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-left  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading ' ><a href='https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/post\/medical-educators\/kmhs-meet-phuong-minh-nguyen' class='avia-button  avia-color-theme-color   avia-icon_select-no avia-size-medium avia-position-left ' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Read More from Phuong Min Nguyen<\/span><\/a><\/div> <div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h5    avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_button  el_before_av_textblock  av-thin-font '><h5 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mich\u00e8le Relton Obert<\/span><\/strong>, Kaplan Medical Honor Society<\/h5><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div> <section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p> <b>Can you tell us about your studying habits?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I like a mixed-study style. There are certain topics that I prefer to study alone with music on, while other topics I prefer to study with a group and discuss with classmates. I love studying using\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/usmle\/practice\/step-1-qbank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Qbanks<\/a>\u00a0as opposed to watching videos, and I learn best by writing things out so whiteboards are very important to me.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What advice do you have for fellow IMGs preparing for the USMLE?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Give yourself enough time to study, but also know that over-studying can also hurt you by burning you out before you even sit for the exam. Get to know your study style and what works for you, but choose 1-3 resources and stick to them. Otherwise, you will get overwhelmed by the number of resources out there.&#8221;<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/section> <div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-left  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading ' ><a href='https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/post\/medical-educators\/kmhs-meet-michele-relton-obert' class='avia-button  avia-color-theme-color   avia-icon_select-no avia-size-medium avia-position-left ' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Read More from Mich\u00e8le Relton Obert<\/span><\/a><\/div> <div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h5    avia-builder-el-12  el_after_av_button  el_before_av_textblock  '><h5 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Jose Aguilar, Kaplan Medical Honor Society<\/h5><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div> <section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p><b>Can you tell us about your studying habits?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to the importance of USMLE scores for the residency application process, I decided to receive formal preparatory courses with Kaplan Medical. I was interested in the optimal study environment that was provided by the In-center courses. Being surrounded by peers with similar study goals as myself helped to keep me motivated. Furthermore, the adequate levels of comfort, silence, and support helped minimize distractions, something especially beneficial considering that I prefer to study by myself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Kaplan courses also provided a complete and thorough review of all relevant topics. The USMLE\u2019s involve numerous topics throughout the vast field of medicine, but the methodical structure of the Kaplan courses facilitated an efficient mental organization of key points. They provided an excellent base of knowledge that was not only vital for tackling intricate exam questions, it was also useful for mastery of the basic principles that form the core and essence of Medicine.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><b>What advice do you have for fellow IMGs preparing for the USMLE?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A bit of advice I have for IMGs would be to set aside some dedicated time to study for the USMLEs, especially for Step 1. Having multiple unrelated things in your head will split your focus and might get in the way of an excellent score. Having other responsibilities simultaneously to your studies might also make it difficult to find time to relax; resting occasionally is something I found very useful.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div><\/section> <div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-left  avia-builder-el-14  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_sidebar ' ><a href='https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blogs\/med-educators\/post\/kmhs-meet-jose-salvador-aguilar-gallardo-md' class='avia-button  avia-color-theme-color   avia-icon_select-no avia-size-medium avia-position-left ' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Read More from Jose Aguilar<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/p>\n<p>[\u00a0 \u00a0<strong>KEEP STUDYING<\/strong><strong>:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/usmle\/passing-scores\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Passing the USMLE\u2014A Scoring Guide<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to pass the USMLE Step 1 by reviewing our top study tips. The Step 1 exam is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires dedication and commitment on a daily basis within the 2-3 months allotted in preparation for the exam. You will spend a significant amount of your day studying for the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43435,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[145],"tags":[227,157,159],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/950"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=950"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43444,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/950\/revisions\/43444"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}