Dr. Kudraths USMLE Step 1 Study Plan 2

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Dear Student Physician,

Thank you for purchasing my study plan for the USMLE Step 1 exam. I’ve advised students with these tips for many years with much success—I have even given this guide to my own children! Now, I am very happy to have the opportunity to offer this tried-and-true formula for success to students all over the world.

For more than two decades, I have taught physiology, pharmacology, epidemiology, and other high-yield subjects to medical students and international medical graduates preparing for the most important exam of their professional lives. From Toronto to Chicago, Dubai to Delhi, I’ve

learned as much from my students as I hope they have learned from me.

It is with this experience that I move beyond simply teaching testable material: As an educator, I want to share the knowledge I’ve gained not just on topics covered on the board exams, but also on the practice of medicine, self-improvement, and physician work-life balance. This is why I have partnered with my children, Dr. Farah Kudrath, Dr. Abdulla Kudrath, and Dr. Umar Kudrath, to create a resource for students who have devoted their careers to the noble calling of medicine. KudrathHealthEducation.com is a web site with products, services, and study tips for students, residents, and physicians who want to excel in their academic, professional, and personal endeavors. After you have successfully completed the USMLE Step 1 exam, check back with us and utilize our growing menu of

offerings to nourish the mind and the soul. I am proud of what we’ve done so far, but I’m more excited about what’s to come.

Thanks again, and see you soon,

Dr. Wazir Kudrath

Chairman of Kudrath Health Education

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USMLE STEP 1

DEFINE YOUR GOAL SCORE

1 Study Plan

Goal Score > 240

If you don't know where you're going, how are you going to get there?

Set a goal score for yourself and believe you will achieve it--because if you don't, who will?

Consider what specialty and programs you are applying for, and calibrate your goal to meet their expectations.

If you follow this study plan, you will be prepared and more likely to score above average on the USMLE Step 1 exam. There is no luck, no magic, no tricks. Do the work, get the result.

Average USMLE Step 1 Scores for Matched Applicants by Specialty

218 226 231 220 232 241 231 230 226 230 212 222 229 214 232 235 224 226 223 230

US Seniors Independent Applicants

Family Medicine Pediatrics Internal Medicine Psychiatry General Surgery

Radiology Pathology Emergency Medicine

Ob/Gyn Anesthesiology

210 240 270

Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of all matched US Seniors: 230 Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of all matched US IMGs: 217 Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of all matched Non-US IMGs: 227

Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of all unmatched US Seniors: 221 Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of all

unmatched US IMGs: 204 Mean USMLE Step 1 Score of all

unmatched Non-US IMGs: 213

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YOUR ESTIMATED TEST DATE

2

You can't study for Step 1 indefinitely: Register for an exam date.

First, take a diagnostic test to see where you're starting from: I highly recommend NBME Test #12.

After you take a diagnostic test, you'll get a three digit score.

<180

180-210

DIAGNOSTIC SCORE

>210

Most students will be in these two categories, so DON'T PANIC!

FULL TIME STUDY

(8 - 10 hrs/day)

PART TIME STUDY

(4-5 hrs/day)

6 months + 14 days

~ 25 days/month

~ 8 hours/day

Estimated 1,200 hours of study

6 months x 25 days x 8 hours + (14 days x 8 hours) = 1,312

12 months + 14 days

~ 25 days/month

~ 4 hours/day

Estimated 1,200 hours of study

12 months x 25 days x 4 hours + (14 days x 8 hours) = 1,312

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FULL TIME STUDY

(8 - 10 hrs/day)

PART TIME STUDY

(4-5 hrs/day)

4 months + 10 days

~ 25 days/month

~ 8 hours/day

Estimated 800 hours of study

4 months x 25 days x 8 hours + (10 days x 8 hours) = 880

8 months + 10 days

~ 25 days/month

~ 4 hours/day

Estimated 800 hours of study

If your diagnostic score is 180-210:

If your diagnostic score is > 210:

FULL TIME STUDY

(8 - 10 hrs/day)

2 months + 10 days

~ 25 days/month

~ 8 hours/day

Estimated 400 hours of study

APPLY TO SCHEDULE THE EXAM

ENROLL WITH NBME OR ECFMG

Remember: Smart st udy is inverse to time! TIME S M A R T S TU D Y

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3 STUDY MATERIALS

F i r s t

a i d

K a p l a n

N o t e s

B R S

U w o r l d

Q - B a n k

ACTIVE LEARNING > PASSIVE LEARNING

Don't forget to check out USMLE Mind Maps!

Pathology

Pharmacology

Physiology

Microbiology

Biochemistry

Anatomy and Histology

Immunology

Embryology

These are your tools. They won't build anything unless you use them.

M I N D

M A P S

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STUDY STRATEGY BY SUBJECT

4 When creatin

g your study

calendar, fo

cus on the 3

P's:

Phys, pharm

, and path!

Distribution of Questions

P's: 60.0 % Non-P's: 40.0 %

20% OF YOUR TIME ON EACH P

10% ON EACH NON-P

6 MONTHS TO EXAM

20% PER P

6 MONTHS TO EXAM

10% PER NON-P

Estimated 1,200 hours of study

total

1,200 x 0.20 = 240 hours per P

30 days per P (full time at 8

hrs/day)

Estimated 480 hours of study left

480 x 0.10 = 48 hours

About 6 days per non-P (full time

at 8 hrs/day)

Example: For a diagnostic score < 180

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WHY SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON 3 SUBJECTS?

The 3 P's not only account for the majority of the exam, they

also contain concepts that are necessary to understand prior

to mastering the non-P's.

YOUR DAILY STUDY SCHEDULE

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3rd practice exam (14 days until scheduled test date)

Score > 220 Score < 220 Keep scheduled exam date Score: 200 - 220 Score < 200 Is your intended specialty competitive? Keep scheduled exam date No Yes Postpone exam date 1 month Postpone exam date 2 months Assess reasons for

slowed progress Back to basics: make sure

you understand key concepts and ASK FOR HELP

poor study conditions/habits second-guessing yourself lack of conceptual undersanding

Take another practice exam (NBME #15 or #17)

Success depends on your day-to-day discipline.

Mimic testing conditions by adjusting your sleep schedule Sit at a desk when studying, not in your bed or on the couch Start each day with Q&A (active learning, not with reading (passive)

Don't study in the middle of the night, even if you are a night owl Don't study during your scheduled break times. Eat right and exercise.

Don't study with music playing or the television on--there's no music playing during the test!

Progress Assessment:

(Using the 6 month timeline as an example)

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8:30 AM - 12:30 PM 12:30 - 1:30 PM 1:30 - 5:30 PM 5:30 - 8:30 PM 8:30 - 11:00 PM 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM 7:00 - 8:30 AM

Q&A on single subject using UWorld or Q-bank

Lunch

(Do NOT study during lunch)

Read notes/text on the same subject as your morning Q&A

ESS Time: Exercise, Shower, Socialize (Do NOT skip ESS time for more studying) Open Session: Can do another set of

Q&A or spend time doing more reading, depending on your mood.

Sleep (Do NOT sacrifice

sleep for study)

Eat breakfast and get dressed for your day

ALWAYS DO QUESTIONS BEFORE READING

Doing questions and going over the answers and explanations

before reading increases your retention of the material by

focusing your attention. Do not put them off in favor of reading!

You're supposed to get them wrong, that's how you learn.

Practice Questions are to teach, not to test!

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UWorld

First Aid

Sleep

Self-Care

2 Blocks of mixed questions Read over answers and

explanations

Eat healthy foods Exercise daily

Review key concepts Memorize tedious facts in embryology, rheumatology, etc.

Align sleep schedule with test schedule

Sleep 8 hours every night

T-14 DAYS UNTIL EXAM

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T-1 DAYS UNTIL EXAM

MENTAL PREPARATION

1 STOP ALL STUDYING AT 4 PM!

Moderate exercise

Best dinner ever

See a chick-flick or comedy

after 4 pm, yo

u must do

these three th

ings!

Bedtime is 10 PM!

If you think you'll have trouble sleeping, take 3 mg of melatonin by 9 PM but only if you have taken it before and know how you react to it.

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CONGRATS

You made it !

YOUR USMLE STEP 1 EXAM DAY

6

Your chance to demonstrate how much you've learned has arrived.

Goal Score > 240

2 Blocks S k ip t uto ri a l

Break 1 Block Break 1 Block Lunch 2 Blocks Break 1 Block

Breakfast: Protein > simple sugar

Lunch: Sandwich (no turkey), water

Breaks: Use the restroom and stretch

Don't spend the morning befo

re the test

trying to cram-Take a deep b

reath, relax, and

trust yourself. If you don't k

now an answer

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HOW TO REJOIN CIVILIZATION

Step out into the sunlight friends, the worst is over.

Your scores will be emailed to you three weeks after your exam date, usually on the third Wednesday after your exam before noon.

If you passed the exam but didn't make your goal score, you can not retake the exam--but don't worry, you are not doomed! (See below)

If you failed, you can retake the exam. Take time to cry and scream, but do not quit! You will be a physician! Contact a mentor, your medical school dean, or reach out to Dr. K ([email protected]).

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MY SCORE IS BELOW AVERAGE FOR MY SPECIALTY:

WHAT DO I DO NOW?

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I FAILED THE USMLE STEP 1: WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Don't panic: Step 1 is only one of many factors programs consider in a residency applicant. You are more than your Step 1 score!

Talk to a mentor in the field you are applying to and ask what you can do to make yourself a good applicant (observerships, visiting student clinical rotations, research, etc.)

You failed the exam, but YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE.

Assess your study strategy: Did you follow this study plan to the letter? Did you give yourself enough study time? If you don't change your strategy, you'll get the same result.Reschedule your exam, but give yourself enough time to study.

Talk to a mentor in the field you are applying to and ask what you can do to make yourself a good applicant (Step 2 score, visiting student clinical rotations, research, etc.)