Study Plans
Required Time: (2-3 months of dedicated study time)
N.B. that a Uworld “block” refers to a set of 40 questions.
Overall Objectives:
2 Passes of Uworld (Qbank contains avg 3500 questions) N.B the number of Uworld questions may change*
1 pass of First AID for USMLE Step I (800-900 pages)
Complete 2 Uworld Self Assessments
Time commitment: 8-10 hours per day, 6 days per week
Overall Schedule
Note that the schedule is divided into 2 parts. Weeks 1-8 and then weeks 9-12. It is divided this way based on the estimated time it should take you to finish the questions in Uworld. It is expected that within the first 8 weeks, you can finish Uworld for the first time, and then from weeks 9-12 you can do the Uworld questions a 2nd time.
The time frame is tight, but if you commit to the necessary daily input, it is possible. If you think this may be too quick for you, you can go on to the part time study plan.
Week 1- 8
Daily Schedule Overview for weeks 1-8:
Do 2-3 blocks of Uworld questions per day for the first pass (Do questions by system).
Doing 2-3 blocks of Uworld per day would allow you to complete the first pass in 6-8 weeks, provided that you do a 6 day study week. Initially doing too many questions may be overwhelming, you want to slowly build up stamina. Use questions as a learning tool more so than a test of knowledge. Meaning, do not wait to learn a topic to start doing questions. Use the questions as a means of learning the topic!
After finishing all of the Uworld questions, take a couple days and repeat the questions you got wrong. I advocate for doing them timed from the beginning. This will help you get your timing right, and also help with efficiency. Again, do not worry if you are getting questions wrong at first, use them as a learning tool!
3-5 hours of block review per day (Each Uworld block would take 1-2 hours to review)
Review question blocks soon after you are done doing them. You can do all the question blocks in the morning and then review them in the late morning/afternoon, or you can review each block immediately after doing them. Review questions by taking notes of anything you got wrong or misunderstood in a notebook. Review this notebook regularly.
N.B. Timing is important, a Uworld block can take you 2 hours of focused effort to review, or it can take you all day. I am a big advocate on setting time limits on your questions and reviews. It will force you to focus for that time period and get more done in that day.
1-2 hours of reading from First AID for USMLE STEP I (10-15 pages per day), with boards and beyond videos.
Boards and Beyond videos help with better understanding the material from topics in First Aid. First Aid contains all of the topics needed to be known for the exam, but does not have the depth of explanation for these topics to ensure that you will do well on the exam.
30 mins - 1 hour of Sketchy Micro/Pharm. Can also review Uworld notes, flash-cards or utilization of other supplementary material(s)
Do NBME exams on Saturdays and Review
Rest on Sundays!
Weeks 9-12
Daily Schedule Overview for weeks 9-12:
Do 4-5 blocks per day for the second pass of Uworld (Do questions randomized for the 2nd pass)
The second pass should be faster to do as you have seen the questions already.
Doing 4-5 blocks per day would allow you to complete the second pass in 3-4 weeks, provided that you do a 6 day study week. Pay attention to the questions you repeatedly get wrong.
3-5 hours of block review per day (Each Uworld block should now take 45 to 60 mins to review)
1-2 hours of reading from First AID for USMLE STEP I, with boards and beyond videos.
30 mins - 1 hour of note taking, flash-card making or utilization of supplementary material(s)
On the Saturday of week 9 Take Uworld self assessment I
This would give you a good gauge of your progress
On the Saturday of week 11 take Uworld self assessment II
This score would most closely match your projected step score +/- 10 points. This would determine if you are truly ready to take the exam or if you need more time. If you do not score well on this self assessment then consider postponing your exam and work on your weak areas.
Attached is a weekly and daily schedule that you can follow. ***
Proceed to the Part Time study Schedule.