10 Study Tips to Ace the USMLE Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3
USMLE Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 study tips to help pass the exam and score in the top percentile! Includes USMLE study schedules, plans, and guides.
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USMLE Study Tips
Whether taking the USMLE Step 1, Step 2, or Step 3, the following study tips can be used to help increase your exam score and performance percentile.
We will walk through 10 study tips designed to help you successfully prepare for the USMLE.
Includes 3 bonus tips at the end!
Let’s get started!
Tip 1: Create and Follow a Study Plan
The first tip is to create your own study schedule.
There are many topics covered on the USMLE, and having a study plan will keep you on a timeline and ensure you prepare for all the content that is tested.
In the last EZmed post, we walked through how to create a study schedule in 5 steps and how to rank which topics to study first.
Make sure to check out that post for example 6-week and 4-week study plans.
Your study schedule will help you stay organized and remind you which topic to study that particular day, when to take practice exams, and when to take days off.
Your study plan will be used primarily during your dedicated USMLE study period.
On average, students use 4-6 weeks as their dedicated study period for the USMLE.
You may require more or less time, so trust yourself as to how much time you think you will need to prepare for the exam.
Bonus Tip: Keeping up with the material covered during your first 2 years of medical school will make preparing for the USMLE that much easier.
USMLE Study Tip 1: Create and follow a study plan/study schedule.
Tip 2: Study the Material You Don’t Know First
The second tip is to study the material you don’t know first.
While this may seem obvious, it can be easy to fall into the trap of wanting to review the content you already know as this can be a confidence booster.
For example, if cardiology is one of your stronger subjects but neurology has been a topic you struggle with, then focus on neurology first.
You might feel unprepared or as if you lack knowledge by starting with your weak topics, however remind yourself that you are intentionally beginning with the subjects you are less comfortable with.
In the previous EZmed post on creating a study schedule, we discussed how to rank your topics from weakest to strongest.
You will be the most motivated and productive at the beginning of your study period, so this is a great time to focus on those weaker areas.
By starting with your weak subjects, it will also give you more time to review and revisit them throughout the remainder of your study period.
This repetition will help commit it to memory.
USMLE Study Tip 2: Study the material you don’t know first.
Tip 3: Do as Many Practice Questions as Possible
The third tip is to complete as many practice questions as possible, especially during your dedicated USMLE study period.
It has been shown that completing practice questions is one of the best methods for preparing for the USMLE.
There has been evidence in the past to suggest the more practice questions completed correlates with a higher USMLE score.
UWorld is a great resource, but feel free to choose the question bank that is best for you.
Check out the “Top 3 USMLE Resources” used by most students.
You can start doing practice questions throughout your first 2 years of medical school, but they are a must during your dedicated study period.
While completing practice questions is helpful, it is also important to actively review the answers to each question along with the explanations to every answer choice.
This brings us to our fourth tip.
USMLE Study Tip 3: Do as many practice questions as possible.
Tip 4: Review the Explanation to Every Answer Choice
The fourth tip is to review the answers to every practice question along with the explanation for every answer choice, including incorrect responses.
It is just as important to learn why an answer choice is incorrect as it is to learn why an answer choice is correct.
Moreover, this will allow you to learn multiple high-yield topics in just one question.
For example, if the question is asking you to identify the diagnosis, then you will have the opportunity to learn about each condition/disease listed as an answer choice by reading the explanation for it.
You can use other resources to supplement the explanations if you would like to review the topic further.
USMLE Study Tip 4: Review the explanation to every answer choice.
Tip 5: Flag Incorrect Practice Questions, Do a Second Pass
The fifth tip is to flag the practice questions you get wrong, as well as the questions you answer right but had to guess on.
You have now created a question bank containing the information you did not know during your first pass.
Once you have completed your first pass through the entire question bank, do a second pass of all the flagged questions.
Re-flag the questions you continue to get wrong during the second pass and repeat the cycle.
If time allows, then you will eventually know the majority of the question bank.
USMLE Study Tip 5: Flag incorrect practice questions, do a second pass.
Tip 6: Simulate the Actual USMLE with Practice Exams
The sixth tip is to simulate the actual USMLE by taking practice exams, also known as self-assessments.
NBME and UWorld offer self-assessments that closely replicate the USMLE, but feel free to use any other practice exam resource you wish.
You should try to take at least 3 self-assessments during your dedicated USMLE study period.
Check out the EZmed post on how to make a study to schedule to learn when to take your practice exams.
Most self-assessment offer predicted scores and a break down of your weak and strong subjects once completed.
This information will provide you with useful feedback and allow you to make any necessary study adjustments.
Furthermore, practice exams will help build your endurance and stamina when taking the actual USMLE which contains 280 questions (for Step 1).
USMLE Study Tip 6: Simulate the actual USMLE using practice exams.
Tip 7: Limit Cell Phone and Social Media Use
The seventh tip is to limit your cell phone and social media use.
We often fail to realize how much cell phone screen time we use in a day and it adds up quickly.
The distractions can make us less productive in the long run, and they may cause us to fall short of accomplishing our daily study goals.
Keep your cell phone on airplane mode or leave it in a different room if you can.
If there is an emergent reason you need to keep your phone with you, then that is acceptable.
Save your cell phone and social media use for break times, which brings us to our next tip.
USMLE Study Tip 7: Limit cell phone and social media use.
Tip 8: Take Breaks Between Study Sessions
The eighth tip is to take breaks between your study sessions.
In the previous EZmed post on how to make a study schedule, we discussed how to break up your study days.
You can use the morning to study the topic that is scheduled for that day, the afternoon to complete practice questions, and the evening to review the information learned that day.
Make sure to take breaks between each study session.
You can exercise, walk outside, take a nap, meditate, watch tv, get caught up on texts, use your cell phone during this time, or anything else you enjoy.
This will help you recharge and it is also important for your physical and mental health, which brings us to our next tip.
USMLE Study Tip 8: Take breaks between study sessions.
Tip 9: Take Care of Your Mental and Physical Health
The ninth tip is an important one. Make sure to take care of yourself.
Studying for the USMLE can be stressful and often requires sacrificing time with family and friends.
Take care of your physical and mental health.
Some activities you can do on a daily basis to help address your physical and mental health include going to bed and waking up the same time every day, eating healthy, exercising, meditating, or anything else you enjoy.
You should also take 3 full days off during your dedicated study period.
The off days allow you to do things that take up more time such as visiting extended family, socializing with friends, traveling, hiking, or whatever else you like to do.
You should also take the remainder of the day off after each NBME or practice exam.
In the previous EZmed post on how to make a study schedule, we discussed how to schedule days off.
USMLE Study Tip 9: Take care of your mental and physical health.
Tip 10: Take Brief Notes on What You Don’t Know, Review Nightly
The tenth tip is to keep a notebook with you while you are studying, and take brief one-liner notes as you come across information you do not know or keep forgetting.
You will then review this notebook each evening to commit the information you are less comfortable with to memory
You can format your notes in a “buzzword” format to keep it brief.
For example buzzwords and how to use them, check out the EZmed buzzword posts below:
10 Buzzwords to Know for Medical Tests and Board Exams #3
USMLE Study Tip 10: Take brief notes on what you don’t know, review nightly.
3 USMLE Bonus Tips
Here are 3 bonus tips you can use while preparing for the USMLE.
Mix up your study location. Rather than studying in your room, apartment, or house every day, sometimes a change of scenery can help you become more productive (as long as it does not distract you too much).
Don’t compare yourself to others. You may study differently and progress at a different pace than others. We all have our own method for learning and preparing for exams, so do what makes you feel comfortable and trust yourself.
Choose the USMLE resources that work best for you. You should use at least one primary resource such as First Aid, a practice question bank, and 3 self-assessments.
Visit “Top 3 USMLE Resources” to learn more about what students commonly use to prepare for the exam!
USMLE Bonus Study Tips: Mix up your study location, don’t compare yourself to others, and choose the best resources for you.
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