USMLE Step 1 Study Plan

Set a goal

As the saying goes, “begin with the end in mind.”  Before you begin preparing for the USMLE Step 1, you should consider where you are with your knowledge base and your score, as well as what your goal is.  To determine where you are, you should take a practice test. Online prediction calculators use your scores on question banks and the USMLE practice test to estimate how you will do on the actual Step 1 exam. 

When setting a goal, consider that 194 is currently the minimum passing score for USMLE Step 1, and 229 was the national average in 2017 (the most recent year for which data is available). 

Finding a Medical School Research Project and Mentor

Over the course of four years of medical school, medical students have many pressures on their time, have competing priorities, and may want to pursue multiple extracurricular opportunities. Most also only have one summer vacation. This time may be well spent interacting with family and friends, traveling to different parts of the world, or just decompressing and not studying. However, as the residency match process becomes more competitive and the number of applicants grows, you may want to use a portion of your summer vacation to pursue your medical interests and enhance your residency application.