12/19/2014UFAP USMLE Step 1 Study Guide Free Sample Step 1 Question a Day Sign up! A Slacker's Guide Navigation Sign up for Our Email List Ace the Match Question a Day Recommended Resources Basic Sciences USMLE Step 1 USMLE Step 2 CS & CK Clinical Rotations Novels & Other Recreation Social Media & Other Links About Us Home UFAP+ UFAP+ Neel Shah April 3, 2014 USMLE1 2 Comments UFAP + Study Method So you want to learn the coveted UFAP Method for studying for USMLE Step 1? UFAP is more than just a hilarious acronym, it stands for USMLE World, First Aid and Pathoma. I would argue the importance of each resource is the http://aslackersguide.com/ufap/ 1/6 you can incorporate all three resources into your study plan. Optional: Consider annotating Uworld into First Aid. Even if you only have 34 weeks to prepare for this exam. You’re kindergarten teacher was right! More importantly though you have different weaknesses than other students. A lot of variations of UFAP exist including UUFAP (UWorld + UsmleRX + First Aid + Pathoma) as well as UFAPK (Uworld + First Aid + Pathoma + Kaplan Qbank). make an informed choice and stick to it. and adding notes either on their own or into First Aid will help you consolidate facts. It’ll also allow you to easily add notes from other sources. If you do chose to annotate Uworld and have separated First Aid into a binder. but you need to make a regimen you can live with mentally and emotionally as well as one you can function optimally under. personalize it to you! Do you struggle with time on questions. the cost of picking poorly here is quite severe. and adding notes either on their own or into First Aid will help you consolidate facts. and this is actually partly why I have so much disdain for in person USMLE classes. This lets you add pages as you need. The good news is 1000s of students have come before you. There is no correct method and no incorrect method. Make a schedule: Simple enough. Seriously. I write about all of the resources available briefly here. These 13 subjects are the areas that are ripe for the most improvement. Also mark questions which are HighYield as well as ones you got incorrect. This is a good baseline to find out specifically what you struggle with. do your research now and rest assured you have made the right choice. at least no one that will get you the best score possible. There is no cookie cuter easy approach. It’ll cover all the fundamentals and refresh all the topics you learned over basic sciences. Most students do best doing a mix of several methods. There is no cookie cuter easy approach. Resource Selection There is a metric ton of resources out there to pick from for your step 1 studying needs and frankly it can be terrifying. In this article I will detail the UFAP method.com/ufap/ 2/6 . Don’t waver. I call it the UFAP+ method. at least no one that will get you the best score possible How exactly do you find your weaknesses? Well throughout basic sciences most of you already have a pretty good idea what subjects you excel at and which ones you struggle with. I also annotated some of the relevant sections of a few of the http://aslackersguide. as well as touch on a few ways to customize it for you. First Aid – The go to resource book for Step 1. Do the questions in a method that suits you. than doing timed is a no brainer. I’ll show you a few very basic examples below to help you use a schedule that works best for you. there are three action steps. you can put relevant questions on some lined paper behind each relevant section. and understand why they are wrong. Some of them are fantastic. I’d suggest taking one of the NBME examinations or a Uworld assessment to get your true bearings regarding your weaknesses. Most of Step 1 information is within this review book. some of them not so much. and getting your book bound and put into a binder. It’ll make it easier to go back and redo just those questions if you don’t have enough time to go back and redo all of Uworld. The problem is you don’t have time to dip your feet into all of them and test the waters. 1. and they’ve helped sift the gold from the garbage. and change the order of things as you see fit. some suggest only ever do timed question. I also recommend heading to your local Kinkos/Staples etc. Also mark questions which are HighYield as well as ones you got incorrect. some suggest doing tutor and then reading the answers immediately so you can correct your thought process. and it’ll be your best friend for Step 1. There is no way I can write out a study plan that’ll apply to a 100% of students without knowing more. Most people will do quite poorly on their first assessment. as you may think you know a subject quite well only to realize you have forgotten major portions. Often they contain as much if not more information than the correct answer. 3. Consider annotating Uworld into First Aid. 2. before you panic and think Uworld or the NBME is saying you suck at everything – pick the 13 you struggle the most in. The important thing is to prevent analysis paralysis. Writing makes a passive process active. Mandatory Uworld Aside from the method being called UFAP. Identify your weaknesses: Guess what? You are different from almost every other student. This brief selfassessment is not normally enough. it is the exam. as it’s crucial time wasted. there is nothing I can recommend more than Uworld. I discuss how useful these resources are within my Step 1 Medical School Resource Page. Don’t worry I’ll break down your resources into more detail so you can make an informed decision. It’ll make it easier to go back and redo just those questions if you don’t have enough time to go back and redo all of Uworld. Now you should have a good idea of 13 subjects you struggle with. Identify your resources: You’ve probably realized you have a plethora of Step 1 resources to pick from.12/19/2014 UFAP USMLE Step 1 Study Guide order they occur in within the acronym. READ the WRONG answers as well. Remember to check the errata before you begin studying! No worse feeling than memorizing a fact incorrectly. Getting Started Before you get going. Writing makes a passive process active. you are not serious about this exam if you are not doing Uworld. You will need to get through it multiple times to do as well as possible. Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple – This is specifically if you struggle at Microbiology. Memorang costs ~$30 and is a flashcard system based off all the high yield facts in FA. Doctors in Training Course – While I’ve mentioned I’m not a fan of online classes. this is a fantastic review tool. They are so detailed I’d argue they essentially reteach everything you learned over 2 years of basic sciences. and complete any flagged or incorrect questions. Kaplan videos – Incredibly through and detailed. Sample Schedules Quick Hit 46 Weeks to Study – The original UFAP USMLE World – Complete entire bank. Microbiology is a topic that is mostly memorization on the real exam. High Yield Resources These are resources to supplement the mandatory resources above and address any specific weaknesses you may have. It’ll basically teach you everything in First Aid again. Goljan Rapid Review Pathology – Before Pathoma this was a go to notebook for studying Pathology. ideally sometime in 2nd year of basic sciences. The secret to scoring well on any standardized exam is questions.12/19/2014 UFAP USMLE Step 1 Study Guide High Yield review books listed below. That means people give it quite some credit. Dr. it allows you to consolidate your resources and put all your information in one source. Firecracker allows you to master topics individually and do relevant flash cards. If time permits do entire sections of the bank again http://aslackersguide. I’d recommend looking into one of the these banks. weeks and months later. but also often incredibly dull. if so it’s a fantastic resource. Again if you struggle with kidney. and know many students have the same problem. and repeat sections as necessary Pathoma – Complete Pathoma at least once 12 NBME examinations If time permits consider doing an additional Question Bank Moderate 610 Weeks to Study USMLE World – Complete the entire bank at least once. While it may not suit every single student’s learning style. Dr. DIT offers online videos with their own workbook as well. but if you have identified specific areas you can use help with. it’s still a great resource for those who need an extra boost in the subject. Far from mandatory. Nothing comes close in terms at improving longterm memory. however Kaplan is often accused of being far too detailed and pedantic. USMLE Secrets – Essentially a cram book full of high yield facts. and knowing the answer outright allows you to spend more time on more challenging questions. Much like DIT if you feel you are not well prepared after basic sciences or are years away from when you did basic sciences. I forgot a large part of the Microbio I learned during basic sciences. Keep an eye on it going forward as it’s still in beta but improving quickly. I’m not a fan of just watching videos. Rapid Review shines in pointing out a few facts First Aid may have missed. Firecracker Flash Card System – I’m a huge fan of the spaced memorization system. I’d recommend quickly going through HY Neuroanatomy if you struggle with Neuroanatomy and cramming what you can. and it’s concise enough to reinforce any weaknesses you may have in a particular area. If you feel your school prepared you poorly for the USMLE during basic sciences or are several months/years removed from basic sciences. It’s incredibly well constructed and an up and coming favorite of many test takers. The workbook and daily questions are also a great way to keep you on task. Another Qbank – Kaplan or USMLERx are the most popular behind Uworld. it is still a fantastic supplementary book. Both are comprehensive question banks. BRS Physiology – A great quick review for some of the more difficult concepts in Physiology. Kaplan is an excellent resource. cardiac of pulmonary physiology this provides a great quick review. While no longer as popular or prominent. I’d strongly recommend using them before you start your dedicated studying. and do it in a more enjoyable way. Najeeb is a great educator. Make sure to check the errata as well before you begin studying. but if time permits the more questions you do the better. It’s not dense enough that it’s draining. The problem is unless you have several months to space them out over it’s overwhelming. Memorang – The new kid on the block. I don’t believe it’s necessary for everyone as Uworld provides a wealth of information in every question. Picnomic – A relatively new resource. While not strictly necessary. Najeeb – Great review for any specific topics you either don’t completely understand or need a refresher in. Great to review in the last few days/weeks before the exam without being too draining. Pathoma solidifies pathology and pathophysiology concepts. days. HY Neuroanatomy – Another common weakness of medical students is Neuroanatomy. Pathoma – The P of UFAP.com/ufap/ 3/6 . maybe people attribute the recent rise in Step 1 ccores to Pathoma. and try to repeat any flagged or incorrect questions First Aid – Get through First Aid at least once. and if you have enough time to do more than Uworld. I’ll list them roughly in order of usefulness. which makes up the bulk of the examination. if you are visual learner with a penchant for mnemonics this is your nirvana. and an entertaining one. A solid foundation in Pathology and completing as many question as possible should allow you to score extremely competitively. Picnomic. leechblock (firefox) and rescue time as great addons to limit distractions. This examination like all Steps is a marathon not a sprint. Long Hauler 10 weeks + USMLE World – Complete the entire bank at least once. I recommend taking at least 1 full day off for every 68 study days to support some level of sanity. http://aslackersguide. management. 2014 at 3:47 am Writing assignment services are available in diverse fields which include science. Good luck. Also learn how to become a better student and test taker. Email Address* First Name Last Name * = required field Subscribe USMLE1 Comments 2 1. social sciences and many others. BRS Physio or Microbiology MRS. and build up that endurance. weight lifting or even those quick 7 minute exercises a day. or mentally you will see the effects. Ensure you exercise; if that’s running. do whatever it takes to get some exercise daily. and most often scores suffer in the latter blocks due to mental fatigue.com/ufap/ 4/6 . I’ve seen students go up 100200 wpm in just a few weeks. Ensure you sleep enough. and learn how to stick to it. Take some time to make your schedule. Lind July 2. I talk more on these tips on another article here. ensure you don’t burn out. Take a few practice test as close to a test like environment. Lahore November 7. Balance Make sure you take care of yourself physically. consider doing it first before Uworld but ensure you have enough time to complete Uworld.12/19/2014 UFAP USMLE Step 1 Study Guide First Aid – Annotate First Aid and attempt to get through First Aid 23 times Pathoma 12 NBME Examinations If you wish consider doing an additional question bank Consider incorporating a High Yield Resource such as Picnomic. really professional essay service can help us to get on time and quality writing services. arts. tourism. You have enough time to excel. Include downtime. I recommend chrome nanny (chrome). DIT. I recommend checking out spreeder and readline (currently my favorite extension) to boost your reading comprehension and speed. Consider Firecracker. 2014 at 8:50 pm This is it 2. If time permits do entire sections of the bank again First Aid – Annotate First Aid and attempt to get through First Aid 3 times Pathoma 12 NBME Examinations Do a second question bank. and complete any flagged or incorrect questions. and are on a regular sleeping schedule to give yourself the best opportunity to combine all these facts. DIT and/or BRS Physio or Microbiology MRS. Find a great study spot. and get ready to destroy the USMLE Step 1! Want to know more about the Match Process? Sign up for A Slacker's Guide Email List Valuable advice to help you get the Residency you deserve.It makes the writer quite knowledgeable adept and skilled in various fields. 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