Studying for USMLE Step 1 is a daunting task, but you don’t want to study the wrong way to make matters worse. Here is a list of common bad habits students fall into when studying, and how you can avoid them to get you on the right track to passing your Step 1 exam!

Congratulations! You did it! You took USMLE Step 1, the test you spent months studying for, and now you’re anxiously awaiting that email notification telling you that your Step 1 score is available. So now what? 

Mnemonics are undoubtedly a fantastic way to remember information, but memorization alone won’t be enough to help you pass USMLE Step 1. Here are the benefits and limitations of mnemonics in medical school.

Testing anxiety is probably the single most common problem students report to us, and it can be a real bear to deal with. Here are few practical changes to your studying that we recommend you make in order to reduce stress and improve memory.

After months of studying, you have just one more decision left to make: how to spend your last day! Days of 10+ hours of First Aid review, UWorld questions, and flashcards are behind you; one long test day awaits you.

Most medical students recognize that the basic sciences are the foundation of medical science. Yet once students are several months into medical school, its typically a constant flood of anatomy, physiology, and pathology. But don’t be fooled if your medical school skims over basic science concepts! You will need them for Step 1 and beyond!

While most students do not wonder if they should use UWorld, they do often ask when they should start using UWorld. Here’s why I argue that beginning USMLE studies during MS1 is not too early…

While medical school curricula often emphasize physiology, it never quite seems to stick by the time the board exams roll around. Pathoma is the best tool for this job.

We have all been there – studying for USMLE Step 1 or 2 CK with friends, yet realizing your productivity is slipping and the test day is fast approaching. Here are the pros and cons of choosing a professional tutor over your study buddies.

I often recommend first-year medical students start getting facile with USMLE-specific references as they study for their medical school’s core curriculum.