Strategy:
Advantages of buying six months:
· Cost-effective
· Reset option
Mark all questions. By doing this, you can revise all UWorld again before reset option. Start solving MCQs daily. If you want to make your notes, then make it, but do not spend a lot of time on it. The main thing is that the next round should be as soon as. Do Step 3 UWorld at least five times.
2. If your Step 2 CK is six months old, then you need to revise USMLE Step 2 CK Q Bank by UWorld (Get it from here ).
3. Now you have revised Step 2 CK, have completed first round of Step 3 Q Bank. Now it’s time to do MKSAP Get it from here / Get it from here. There is no need to do student version of MKSAP). Solve all the questions. The question stems are lengthier than Step 3 Uworld. But, it would be a close to real exam.
4. After MKSAP, solve the MCQs by USMLE Step 3 Q bank by Kaplan (Get it from here).
At this point, you have solved almost four Q banks. It’s more than enough.
Now do some assessment: NBME/ UWSA. I prefer to take NBME first as it underpredicts. So that you still have time to improve and your moral should be high. If the assessment is reasonable, then go for the exam. If the evaluation is not proper OR you want to go on a safe side OR planning to get the more high score then you can solve following Q banks:
5. USMLE Step 3 Board Review Questions by Board Vitals (Get it from here). The reasoning is like UWorld. Psychiatry is good. More than 1150 difficult USMLE Step 3 board review practice questions.
OR
6. Archer Step 3 Question Bank (Get it from here). 1000 high-yield, USMLE Step 3, concept-based questions.
After doing any of the Above Q bank or both and revising Step 3 UWorld, do another assessment. NBME/ UWSA. If good then reviews Step 3 UWorld and go for the exam.
If the assessment is not good OR if you want to solve more MCQs (to improve your MCQs solving techniques OR getting more better. As solving MCQs would never harm you. But, remember UWolrd Step 3 is the KEY), then following Q banks might be helpful:
7. Med Bullets Q Bank (Get it from here). 1000+ high-quality USMLE-style questions.
9. USMLE Consult's Step 3 Q Bank (Get it from here). More than 1,500 peer-reviewed practice questions at varying levels of difficulty to mirror the NBME's exam blueprint
10. USMLE Step 3 AMBOSS Q bank (Get it from here). 730+ challenging, high-yield questions.
11. Step 3 QMAX Q Bank (Get it from here). Q bank by the team of the First Aid. Currently not available.
12. Clinical Science Mastery Series (Get it from here). This web-based series provides self-assessments for US and international medical students who want to assess their knowledge of the clinical sciences covered during a clerkship or medical education course.
Assessment:
1. NBME. Comprehensive Clinical Medicine Self-Assessment (CCMSA). The CCMSA uses information typically covered in clinical encounters. The content of the CCMSA items resembles the material of those in the multiple choice component of USMLE Step 3 (Get it from here, or Get it from here).
CCS:
2. Mapping CCS USMLE Step 3 (Get it from here). Mapping CCS is an interactive PDF program. Very good for beginners. There are 111 high yield CCS cases. #4
3. USMLE Step 3 CCS by UWorld (Get it from here). Must do it. Do practice and Interactive cases both. #1
5. Six sample Step 3 Computer-Based Case Simulations. (Get it from here). Are present on the official website of the USMLE. Must do before the exam. #1
6. Crush Step 3 CCS: The Ultimate USMLE Step 3 CCS Review. (Get it from here). #3
8. CCS guidelines and 100 rules of CCS (Email here). #3
Biostatistics and Epidemiology(Revise this subject time and again):
2. USMLE STEP 2 CK Q BANK by UWorld. #2
3. USMLE STEP 3 Q BANK by UWorld. #1
5. Appleton and Lange's Review of Epidemiology and Biostatistics for the USMLE (Get it from here). #5
6. High-Yield Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health (High-Yield Series) (Get it from here). #6
7. Go through the Behavioral science - Biostatistics videos if you are struggling
With this subject. #8
8. Here is a beautiful, brief overview of Biostatistics that you are probably familiar. If not then (Click here). #7
9. Write all formulas of biostatistics on a single page and see them after few days regularly.
Ethics, Patient Safety, Hospital management:
5. USMLE STEP 2 CK Q BANK by UWorld. #2
6. USMLE STEP 3 Q BANK by UWorld. #1
OBGYN:
1. Step 3 UWorld. #1
2. Step 2 CK UWorld. #2
3. MTB- 3. #3
First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 (Get it from here). Following topics should be done from the Step 1 First Aid:
1. Pharmacology
2. Microbiology
3. Immunology
4. Neuroanatomy
Purely Optional:
1. If you want, then you can revise Master the Boards USMLE Step 2 CK (Get it from here) and Master the Boards USMLE Step 3 (Get it from here), but review it initially not at the end of prep.
2. Some people also use UpToDate (Get it from here). Price is high. Some institutions have subscriptions by which you can access free if you are working there. To get UpToDate accounts with only $6 for three months online access (Click here).
How much Duration of the preparation should be?
Answer: Varies. Every person is different. Every person has different learning strategies. Every person has some strengths and some weaknesses. Find your weakness, modify it, and convert your weakness into your force. So, do not be hurry in taking this exam unless you are well prepared and you get at least 215+ in assessment.
Few more Tips:
1. Try to revise Step 3 and Step 2 CK tables daily. Memorize them. Learn them by heart.
2. Prepare this exam like you have to teach others.
3. Remember, it’s the last exam in the journey of USMLE. So, it also the last opportunity to prove yourself in the interview in front of PDs that whatever you did in previous exams that might be “bad luck,” but now I have shown that I am a competent physician who will pass the ABIM exam in the first attempt(PDs wants this).
4. Take the exam while solving the MCQs. Even you have memorized the Questions, still solve the questions. There is always room to improve your prep.
Remember to Ace any Step of the USMLE Exam, three things you need to know:
1. Understanding/ Concept ( You can improve it by reading right lecture notes, by watching DVD lectures).
2. Memorization ( You can improve it by memorizing what you have understood, try to read the same topic within one month).
3. Application ( You can improve it by solving MCQs. Solve MCQs daily. At least solve more than 5000 MCQs including Step 3 UWorld, Step 2 CK UWorld, MKSAP, Kaplan, Board Vitals, Archer, Med Bullets, Online MedEd, Consult's, AMBOSS, QMAX Q Bank, Clinical Science Mastery Series, etc. )
This strategy is for those who are going to start their step 3 Preparation and:
1. Who are fresh graduates
2. Who are old graduates
3. Who are away from clinical side years ago
4. Who are repeat applicants
5. Who are Intern/Residents
6. Who wants to get the highest score
Key of the post:
#: Means priority given to this. For example, #1 is more important to do. After that do #2.
#2 is more important to do. After that do #3. #1 > #2 > #3 > #4 > #5 > #6
Note:
I am writing this post after discussion with many of the people who have taken the exam and
who are preparing with full spirit. If you have any question, then please write in the comment
Disclaimer:
I do not have any affiliation with any of the above company except Amazon. The purpose of
giving the link is to guide you about what product exactly I am talking. It does not mean I am
compelling you to buy this product. If you want to buy, then go for it. Also, if you want to
buy any product from Amazon, then please use the link provided in “Get it from here.” You
can use the link by pressing Ctrl button and simultaneously clicking on the “Get it from here.”
A Brief Introduction to USMLE Step 3 Exam:
“Step 3 assesses whether you can apply medical knowledge and understanding of biomedical
and clinical science. It is the final examination in the USMLE sequence” (Web source).
It’s a two-day exam:
Day 1 of Step 3 is Foundations of Independent Practice (FIP):
Structure:
- 233 MCQs
- Six blocks of 38-40 MCQs
- 60 minutes for completion of each block
- Seven hours is of the test session
- Five-minute optional tutorial
- 45 minutes of break time
This test day focuses on:
- Basic medical and scientific principles
- Foundational sciences
- Assessing knowledge of diagnosis and management, mainly focused on knowledge of history and physical examination, diagnosis, and use of diagnostic studies
Content areas covered include:
- Understanding of biostatistics and epidemiology/population health
- Interpretation of the medical literature/scientific abstracts, and pharmaceutical advertisements
- Social sciences
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Medical ethics
- Systems-based practice
- Patient safety
Day 2 of Step 3 is Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM):
Structure:
- 180 MCQs
- Six blocks of 30 MCQs
- 45 minutes for completion of each block
- Nine hours is of the test session
- Five-minute optional tutorial
- Seven minute CCS tutorial
- 13 case simulations, each of which allotted a maximum of 10 or 20 minutes of real-time
- A minimum of 45 minutes is available for break time
This test day focuses on:
- Ability to apply comprehensive knowledge of health and disease in the context of patient management and the evolving manifestation of illness over time
- Knowledge of history and physical examination, diagnosis, and use of diagnostic studies also is assessed
Content areas covered include:
- Assessment of knowledge of diagnosis and management
- Prognosis and outcome
- Health maintenance and screening
- Therapeutics
- Medical decision making
By: Dr. Hafiz M. Kashif Saleem, M.D.
