The USMLE was instituted in the mid-90s as a replacement test
for various tests accepted by different states (e.g. the FLEX
test and the NBME exams). The USMLE is a national standard that
makes it easier for physicians to get reciprocity in different
states.
Scores on the USMLE are increasingly important for residency
admissions. Since schools have different policies on grading
- some schools are pass-fail, others have a lot of grade inflation,
and others are strict about keeping a bell-curve in grade distributions
- residency programs are relying heavily on USMLE scores to
rank their applicants.
That means you have to concentrate your efforts on scoring
well on the USMLE steps 1 and 2. There is a wealth of advice
and experience on the usmle
forum.
USMLE preparation is about getting ready for a test - not necessarily
understanding everything about medicine. Here are the techniques
we think are most effective for studying for the USMLEs.
1. Sample questions. Sample questions. Sample questions.
Having been through the process, it is clear that the most effective
way to study for the USMLE is by using professionally developed
question banks (Kaplan
has a very strong USMLE question bank). These question banks
focus on the important, tested topics, and are pretty good at
identifying distractors (those "wrong" answers that sound pretty
believable).
2. Focus on your weaknesses. The USMLE is broken down
by topics. That means you have to perform in all the areas to
do well on the test as a whole. You know you're weak in an area
when you've done poorly in a course - but if you've done well
on a school-specific test or in a pass-fail course you can't
tell how you'll perform on the USMLE.
You can get an objective assessment of your strengths and weaknesses
using diagnoistic tests. Kaplan
offers a free a USMLE diagnostic exam
.
More importantly, built into Kaplan
USMLE prep materials 
are diagnostics - to let you know how you're doing in a specific
subtopic.
3. Study for the USMLE as you study your medical school
course. This seems like a trivial answer, but its not always
implemented. Some medical schools use board-exam like tests
in their courses, but some are pass-fail. If you're in a pass-fail
course its important to realize that you're preparing for the
USMLE - and study that way.
