This thread is open to any SABA students who are in 5th semester about to take the USMLE Step 1, or especially for those who have recently taken the USMLE Step 1:

I am aware of the format (350 questions, grouped into 7 blocks; 50 are experimental and are discarded although the test taker is not aware of which ones; approximately 60-72 seconds per question; 8 hr duration).

Questions:

1. After each "block of 50" are you allowed to return to that block, or must you proceed on to the next block?

2. Are the blocks logically grouped according to a basic science course, or according to a system; or is there any logic flow to these blocks? In other words, within each block are the questions related to a topic theme

3. I have feedback that most all questions are about 5 lines maximum, with a general pattern that states: "Patient X, who is Y years old, has symptoms A, B, and C; the most likely cause/diagnosis is....." I could see this as either straightforward recognition/recall or integrative in nature.

For those integrative questions, the million dollar question; what is the best way that you prepared for this in terms of preparation. I am not asking about taking Kaplan, shelf exams, question banks etc. I am specifically interested in how you prepared over the semesters to think algorithmically to naviagate through these types of typical questions. Does SABA prepare you to think as such? There has to be some inherent strategy to approach such questions I would think. SABA will give us the volumes of high yield information; the USMLE wants one to integrate the different areas.

4. My last question - If you were to change way(s) in which you approached your academics and/or preparation for the USMLE Step 1 from day 1 on the island, what advice would you give a new entering student?

Any comments on those who DO KNOW from experience, please take time to give your thoughts!

1. You can not go back after finishing a block.

2. Questions are random. Multimedia assisted questions are usually given at the end of the block.

3 & 4. Look. Doing questions from day one is probably the best way to prepare yourself. After you finish a block of study, find those questions related to the subject material and complete them.

You always have to keep the bigger picture in mind & ask yourself why is this relevant to medicine? How is this going to help me with a patient in a few years? If you can do this, you will be just fine. Keep in my mind that several medical schools are switching and have switched to a organ systems based approach of teaching. So, if you overly concerned about an inability to clinically integrate your subject material, consider a buying a book that teaches using a systems based approach.

#3, whoever gave you that feedback was wrong, sorry. Those questions would just be too easy and you'll only get a handful of those. Most will present the case to you and then ask a tertiary related question assuming you already know the cause and diagnosis. 5 lines? It depends, some can be one or two lines up to an entire paragraph with pictures.

An worry about the USMLE later, study for your MCAT.

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Posterior Fornix.

I put my answers in red below, hope it helps some. I took step 1 in mid-2007 and earned a 234/98.

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PGY-1 Psychiatry

this is a great thread
thanks for posting