The Archives
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04.20.08Is Kaplan enough for Step 1 Review?This is the question often asked by newbies in various USMLE forums. The usual answer is either a yes or no, but the honest answer is another question. Enough for what? For acing the exam? Probably not. For getting above average scores? Maybe depending on whether you are a fresh grad or not. For passing? Probably yes. It also depends on what you plan to do with Kaplan Notes. If you plan to read it once, probably you’ll fail. If you plan to read it 3 to 5 times, you’ll probably do well. But do you have the time? And probably not if that’s the ...
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04.19.08How we recall information and its impact in reviewing for USMLEThe USMLE is the type of exam that tests not only your knowledge and mastery of medicine but also your ability to recall those facts. What you cannot recall, usually in the space of a minute or less, you do not know as far as the USMLE is concerned. :-( There are actually 4 types of recall: 1. Immediate Recall. These are concepts you can recall with a snap of a finger. In order to do well in the exam, this is the type of recall you need for most of the concepts tested in USMLE. 2. Aided Recall. These are concepts you ...
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07.10.06Review of Standards for Step 2 Clinical SkillsThe USMLE Step 2 Committee is responsible for setting and monitoring pass/fail standards for the Clinical Knowledge (CK) and the Clinical Skills (CS) examinations. Initial standards for the CS examination were set by the Committee in November 2004. Because this process was completed with less than a full year’s cohort of examinees, the Committee decided to closely monitor cumulative data on CS during the following year and to undertake a review of the CS standards in the Spring of 2006. This review process is underway and will be completed in the last half of June 2006. One of the possible outcomes ...
