United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Dr. Muhammad Asim Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad

USMLE Step 1 Step 1 Step 2 Step 2 CK (clinical knowledge) CK (clinical knowledge) CS (clinical skills) CS (clinical skills) Step 3 Step 3

USMLE Step 1 Subjects Subjects Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Behavioral sciences, Pathology, Microbiology. Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Behavioral sciences, Pathology, Microbiology. Avg. time required to prepare Avg. time required to prepare 8- 12H/day, 6 days a week for 5-12M, try to be consistent 8- 12H/day, 6 days a week for 5-12M, try to be consistent Fee Fee 740$+140$ (International Test Delivery surcharges) =880$ 740$+140$ (International Test Delivery surcharges) =880$ Test centers Test centers Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi

Date of exam Date of exam Every Wednesday, Thursday throughout the year Every Wednesday, Thursday throughout the year Exam format Exam format Computer based exam Computer based exam Total exam time Total exam time 8H (1 day exam) 8H (1 day exam) Tutorial Tutorial 15 min 15 min Total no. of MCQs Total no. of MCQs

Total no of blocks Total no of blocks 7 (each block contains 48 MCQs and lasts 1H. Beginning May 15, 2010 total no of questions in each block will be reduced to 46) 7 (each block contains 48 MCQs and lasts 1H. Beginning May 15, 2010 total no of questions in each block will be reduced to 46) Time for break Time for break 45 min, you can take breaks between any 2 blocks but not within a block. 45 min, you can take breaks between any 2 blocks but not within a block.

USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) Subjects Subjects Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Psychiatry Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Psychiatry Avg. time required to prepare Avg. time required to prepare 8-12H/day, 6 days a week for 4-8M 8-12H/day, 6 days a week for 4-8M Fee Fee 740$+155$=895$ 740$+155$=895$ Test centers Test centers Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi

Date of exam Date of exam Every Wednesday, Thursday throughout the year Every Wednesday, Thursday throughout the year Exam format Exam format Computer based exam Computer based exam Total exam time Total exam time 9H (1 day exam) 9H (1 day exam) Total no of MCQs Total no of MCQs Total no of blocks Total no of blocks 8 (each lasts 1H and contains 44 MCQs) 8 (each lasts 1H and contains 44 MCQs)

USMLE Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills) Subjects tested Subjects tested Same as step 2 CK Same as step 2 CK Avg. time required to prepare Avg. time required to prepare 6-8H/day for about 1 Month 6-8H/day for about 1 Month Fee Fee 1295$ 1295$ Test centers Test centers Philadelphia, PA. Houston, TX. Chicago, IL. Atlanta, GA. Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia, PA. Houston, TX. Chicago, IL. Atlanta, GA. Los Angeles, CA.

Date of exam Date of exam Every day except Saturday and Sunday throughout the year Every day except Saturday and Sunday throughout the year Exam Format Exam Format Involves direct patient encounters Involves direct patient encounters Total exam time Total exam time 8H (1 day exam) 8H (1 day exam) Total no of stations Total no of stations Time available at each station Time available at each station 25 min, you are required to take history, do physical examination, determine differential diagnosis and then write down notes of 12 Simulated patients (SPs) 25 min, you are required to take history, do physical examination, determine differential diagnosis and then write down notes of 12 Simulated patients (SPs)

USMLE Step 3: (Be clear that this exam is not necessary to apply for residencies) Subjects Subjects Same to Step 2 CK Same to Step 2 CK Avg. time required to prepare Avg. time required to prepare 6-8 H/day for 1-2M 6-8 H/day for 1-2M Total exam time Total exam time 16 H (2 day exam) 16 H (2 day exam) Fee Fee 705$ 705$ Test centers Test centers all over USA and only in USA all over USA and only in USA Date of exam Date of exam Everyday including Saturday and Sunday Everyday including Saturday and Sunday

Frequently Asked Questions about USMLE

How should I prepare for USMLE step 1 exam? Take decision before graduation Take decision before graduation Start preparation after the result of final professional Start preparation after the result of final professional Buy books Buy books Dictionaries Dictionaries Kaplan Lecture notes Kaplan Lecture notes MCQs books like “USMLE World for step 1” and “Q bank for step 1” MCQs books like “USMLE World for step 1” and “Q bank for step 1” First Aid for step 1 First Aid for step 1

First reading; First reading; Just read and try to understand Kaplan Lecture notes, don’t try to memorize Just read and try to understand Kaplan Lecture notes, don’t try to memorize Use dictionaries aggressively Use dictionaries aggressively Start with physiology Start with physiology Listen to Kaplan lecture notes DVDs specially Genetics and Behavioral sciences. Listen to Kaplan lecture notes DVDs specially Genetics and Behavioral sciences. Second reading; Second reading; Try to memorize Kaplan lecture notes now Try to memorize Kaplan lecture notes now Add MCQs books like USMLE WORLD (UW) series and Q BANK series (Boosters). Add MCQs books like USMLE WORLD (UW) series and Q BANK series (Boosters). Read pathology immediately after physiology Read pathology immediately after physiology

Third reading; Third reading; Read Kaplan lecture notes again and add First Aid (you would start making your own questions). Read Kaplan lecture notes again and add First Aid (you would start making your own questions). Take practice tests Take practice tests Kaplan test (available on CD) Kaplan test (available on CD) excellent test to check your speed excellent test to check your speed NBME practice test (Buy on the internet) NBME practice test (Buy on the internet) correlates very strongly with USMLE score correlates very strongly with USMLE score It’s time to go for exam…. It’s time to go for exam….

When should I take USMLE step 1 exam? Before graduation or after graduation! Before graduation or after graduation! Before house job, after house job or along With house job! Before house job, after house job or along With house job! I want to get experience certificate I want to get experience certificate The Knowledge I gain will help me in USMLE The Knowledge I gain will help me in USMLE I am not that strong financially I am not that strong financially

How and when should I apply for visa?

Which subject is more important and which one is less or can I skip some less important topics?

What if I go for step 2CK before step 1?

What specialties can I go to after doing USMLE?

What are electives and when should I do electives?

How can I enhance my memory and learning skills? Use multiple ways to learn knowledge (read books, use dictionaries, listen to class lectures, write down notes, listen to Kaplan DVDs, put notes on the walls) Use multiple ways to learn knowledge (read books, use dictionaries, listen to class lectures, write down notes, listen to Kaplan DVDs, put notes on the walls)

What is match process and how should I plan myself according to it?

What are other important things that matter in getting residency in USA? Duration from graduation (less than 5 years) Duration from graduation (less than 5 years) US Clinical Experience (electives, research and observer ship) US Clinical Experience (electives, research and observer ship) Letter of Recommendations (LORs) preferably from American teachers Letter of Recommendations (LORs) preferably from American teachers Time of USMLE certification Time of USMLE certification Others (how did you utilize your time between graduation and application, performance at the day of interview) Others (how did you utilize your time between graduation and application, performance at the day of interview)

Who is the best person over here to do USMLE? We all have brains; we just need to use our brains in the right way. We all have brains; we just need to use our brains in the right way.

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