United States United States Medical Licensing Medical Licensing

Examination Examination (USMLE)(USMLE)

Dr. Muhammad AsimDr. Muhammad Asim

Department of Psychiatry and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Punjab Behavioral Sciences, Punjab Medical College, FaisalabadMedical College, Faisalabad

USMLE USMLE

Step 1Step 1

Step 2 Step 2 CK (clinical knowledge)CK (clinical knowledge) CS (clinical skills)CS (clinical skills)

Step 3Step 3

USMLE Step 1USMLE Step 1

Subjects Subjects Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology,

Behavioral sciences, Pathology, Microbiology. 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 8- 12H/day, 6 days a week for 5-12M, try to be consistentconsistent

Fee Fee 740$+140$ (International Test Delivery 740$+140$ (International Test Delivery

surcharges) =880$ surcharges) =880$ Test centers Test centers

Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi

Date of exam Date of exam Every Wednesday, Thursday throughout Every Wednesday, Thursday throughout

the year the year

Exam format Exam format Computer based exam Computer based exam Total exam timeTotal exam time

8H (1 day exam)8H (1 day exam) TutorialTutorial

15 min15 min Total no. of MCQs Total no. of MCQs

336 336

Total no of blocks Total no of blocks 7 (each block contains 48 MCQs and lasts 7 (each block contains 48 MCQs and lasts

1H. Beginning May 15, 2010 total no of 1H. Beginning May 15, 2010 total no of questions in each block will be reduced to questions in each block will be reduced to 46) 46)

Time for breakTime for break 45 min, you can take breaks between any 2 45 min, you can take breaks between any 2

blocks but not within a block. blocks but not within a block.

USMLE Step 2 CK USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge)(Clinical Knowledge)

SubjectsSubjects Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology and Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology and

Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Psychiatry Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Psychiatry Avg. time required to prepareAvg. time required to prepare

8-12H/day, 6 days a week for 4-8M8-12H/day, 6 days a week for 4-8M FeeFee

740$+155$=895$740$+155$=895$ Test centersTest centers

Lahore, Islamabad and KarachiLahore, Islamabad and Karachi

Date of examDate of exam Every Wednesday, Thursday throughout Every Wednesday, Thursday throughout

the yearthe year Exam formatExam format

Computer based examComputer based exam Total exam timeTotal exam time

9H (1 day exam)9H (1 day exam) Total no of MCQsTotal no of MCQs

352352 Total no of blocksTotal no of blocks

8 (each lasts 1H and contains 44 MCQs)8 (each lasts 1H and contains 44 MCQs)

USMLE Step 2 CS USMLE Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills)(Clinical Skills)

Subjects testedSubjects tested Same as step 2 CKSame 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

FeeFee 1295$ 1295$

Test centersTest centers

Philadelphia, PA. Houston, TX. Chicago, Philadelphia, PA. Houston, TX. Chicago, IL. Atlanta, GA. Los Angeles, CA. IL. Atlanta, GA. Los Angeles, CA.

Date of exam Date of exam Every day except Saturday and Sunday Every day except Saturday and Sunday

throughout the yearthroughout the year Exam FormatExam Format

Involves direct patient encountersInvolves direct patient encounters Total exam timeTotal exam time

8H (1 day exam)8H (1 day exam) Total no of stationsTotal no of stations

1212 Time available at each station Time available at each station

25 min, you are required to take history, do 25 min, you are required to take history, do physical examination, determine differential physical examination, determine differential diagnosis and then write down notes of 12 diagnosis and then write down notes of 12 Simulated patients (SPs) Simulated patients (SPs)

USMLE Step 3:USMLE Step 3: (Be clear that this exam is not necessary to apply for (Be clear that this exam is not necessary to apply for

residencies)residencies) Subjects Subjects

Same to Step 2 CKSame to Step 2 CK Avg. time required to prepare Avg. time required to prepare

6-8 H/day for 1-2M6-8 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 centersTest centers

all over USA and only in USAall over USA and only in USA Date of exam Date of exam

Everyday including Saturday and SundayEveryday including Saturday and Sunday

Frequently Asked Frequently Asked Questions about Questions about

USMLEUSMLE

How should I prepare for How should I prepare for USMLE step 1 exam?USMLE step 1 exam?

Take decision before graduationTake decision before graduation Start preparation after the result of Start preparation after the result of

final professionalfinal professional Buy books Buy books

Dictionaries Dictionaries Kaplan Lecture notes Kaplan Lecture notes MCQs books like “USMLE World for MCQs books like “USMLE World for

step 1” and “Q bank for step 1” step 1” and “Q bank for step 1” First Aid for step 1First Aid for step 1

First reading; First reading; Just read and try to understand Kaplan Just read and try to understand Kaplan

Lecture notes, don’t try to memorize Lecture notes, don’t try to memorize Use dictionaries aggressively Use dictionaries aggressively Start with physiologyStart with physiology Listen to Kaplan lecture notes DVDs specially Listen to Kaplan lecture notes DVDs specially

Genetics and Behavioral sciences.Genetics and Behavioral sciences.

Second reading; Second reading; Try to memorize Kaplan lecture notes nowTry to memorize Kaplan lecture notes now Add MCQs books like USMLE WORLD (UW) Add MCQs books like USMLE WORLD (UW)

series and Q BANK series (Boosters).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 Read Kaplan lecture notes again and

add First Aid (you would start making add First Aid (you would start making your own questions).your own questions).

Take practice testsTake practice tests Kaplan test (available on CD)Kaplan test (available on CD)

excellent test to check your speedexcellent test to check your speed NBME practice test (Buy on the NBME practice test (Buy on the

internet)internet) correlates very strongly with USMLE scorecorrelates very strongly with USMLE score

It’s time to go for exam….It’s time to go for exam….

When should I take USMLE When should I take USMLE step 1 exam?step 1 exam?

Before graduation or after Before graduation or after graduation!graduation!

Before house job, after house job or Before house job, after house job or along With house job! along With house job! I want to get experience certificateI want to get experience certificate The Knowledge I gain will help me in The Knowledge I gain will help me in

USMLEUSMLE I am not that strong financiallyI am not that strong financially

How and when How and when should I apply for should I apply for

visa?visa?

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

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

step 1?step 1?

What specialties What specialties can I go to after can I go to after doing USMLE?doing USMLE?

What are electives What are electives and when should I do and when should I do

electives?electives?

How can I enhance my How can I enhance my memory and learning skills?memory and learning skills?

Use multiple ways to learn Use multiple ways to learn knowledge (read books, use knowledge (read books, use dictionaries, listen to class lectures, dictionaries, listen to class lectures, write down notes, listen to Kaplan write down notes, listen to Kaplan DVDs, put notes on the walls) DVDs, put notes on the walls)

What is match What is match process and how process and how

should I plan myself should I plan myself according to it?according to it?

What are other important things What are other important things that matter in getting residency in that matter in getting residency in

USA?USA? Duration from graduation (less than 5 Duration from graduation (less than 5

years)years) US Clinical Experience (electives, US Clinical Experience (electives,

research and observer ship)research and observer ship) Letter of Recommendations (LORs) Letter of Recommendations (LORs)

preferably from American teachers preferably from American teachers Time of USMLE certificationTime of USMLE certification Others (how did you utilize your time Others (how did you utilize your time

between graduation and application, between graduation and application, performance at the day of interview) performance at the day of interview)

Who is the best person over Who is the best person over here to do USMLE?here to do USMLE?

We all have brains; we just need to We all have brains; we just need to use our brains in the right way.use our brains in the right way.

LinksLinks

http://ecfmg.org/

http://www.usmle.org/http://www.usmle.org/