USMLE Step 3 can be taken at any Prometric test center in the United States or its territories, and can be scheduled either on two consecutive or on two non-consecutive days. You must complete Step 3 Day 1 before taking Step 3 Day 2. It is recommended that you take Step 3 after completing (or when you are close to completing) at least one year of postgraduate training at a US-accredited graduate medical program. What is the format of USMLE Step 3? Day 1 The first day of the USMLE Step 3 exam, also called Foundations of Independent Practices (FIP), focuses on testing your knowledge of basic medical and scientific principles. This testing session includes six 60-minute blocks of 38-39 multiple choice questions, similar in style to what you experienced with Step 1 and Step 2 CK. The first day takes about 7 hours, including 45 minutes of break time and an optional 5-minute tutorial. Day 2 The second day of the USMLE Step 3 exam, also called Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM), focuses on your ability to apply comprehensive health and disease knowledge to patient management and the evolution of disease over time.
Master the Boards This is one most complete and high yield book and in comparison to First Aid, is less complicated. Many of the interns also suggest this book to go through for the preparation of USMLE STEP-3. Crush Step 3 This book is the fastest and far by easy of all the books. But, this book too has holes in its skeletal structure. It is fastest one to blaze through. Step Up To Step 3 Another source material for the preparation. First Aid First Aid also is a genuine and, not very high yield, the book to go through. But, most of the interns, due to their busy schedule, cannot go through this whole book. The outlines and the structure of this book are very complex and complicated. If you want to study this book as your study material for preparing USMLE STEP-3, you definitely will have to give it a lot of time. Conclusion: Study Source Importance U-World Kaplan Q-Bank CCS (App/Software) Online MedEd Very High Yield Master The Board Step-3 Triage Crush Step-3 Step up to STEP-3 High Yield Not High Yield Scoring/Grading Criteria Testing Criteria Examinee Criteria v Passing Score v Mean Score v Standard Deviation v Pass/Fail v Graphical Performance profile v Three-digit Score The result is available after 3-4 weeks after the exam but, it is recommended to wait 8 weeks for the result; owing to any irregularity.
It's best to begin studying about a month before the exam. Because Step 3 is a clinically-focused exam, you should let this guide your studying. Focus on case studies, to prepare for the case simulations you'll encounter on Day 2. Even the multiple choice questions will often as you to apply medical concepts to clinical situations, so keep this in mind as you study. AMBOSS and UWorld are both great resources for preparing for the exam. (It's likely that you used one or both of these as you prepared for previous USMLE steps. ) Your Step 3 study schedule should include a block of focused exam prep time each day. If you're nervous about Step 3, or have not performed as well as you would have liked on previous steps, then having a tutor to help you prepare a study schedule may be helpful. Medlearnity's highly-experienced tutors would be happy to help you. They're physicians themselves, so they've been through this process and are excellent at guiding others to do their best on the USMLE. You can schedule a free one-hour tutoring session here.
A numerical score is used for Step 2 CK, while Step 2 CS is pass/fail. Generally, both parts of Step 2 are taken during the third or fourth year of medical school. In fact, many medical schools require passing Step 2 in order to graduate, and some residency programs will also require Step 2 CK scores in order to rank an applicant for the Match. This means the test must be taken by around January or early February of the fourth year of med school. (This gives time for the results to be reported, which can take 3-4 weeks. ) Many people choose to take Step 2 CK by July or early August of the fourth year, so that results are available when ERAS opens for beginning residency applications in September. Step 3 The USMLE Step 3 is a very clinically-focused exam, and is usually taken during the intern year (the first year of residency, after medical school graduation). This means that much of the material will be fresh in your mind from your time on the wards; however, it also means that you'll have to study for the exam while simultaneously completing your highly demanding intern year.
Eclampsia… presented with seizures and peripheral edema at 38 weeks pregnancy. ( Magnesium sulfate, induce delivery, if still seizure – follow status protocol) 74) Uncontrolled DM type 2 – came with increased thirst and urination 75) HIV in a 25 y/o f with multiple partners – came with weightloss, fatigue and cough. Do HIV test, viral load, genotyping. Then cd4 count. 76) Acute pericarditis. 77).
Last week on the blog, we went over they key questions you need to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to take the USMLE Step 3 before you apply to a US medical residency program. Unlike the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS (which we have also been discussing in recent weeks), the USMLE Step 3 is not required for ECFMG certification or for success in the residency application process. However, as mentioned in the previous blog post, you may consider it as an option, depending on your circumstances. If you have made the decision to take the USMLE Step 3 before applying for your residency, there is nothing more important than ensuring that you are well-prepared to ace the exam on test day. There are several key reasons why: If you fail the exam, the attempt appears on your transcript, which may cause concern for admissions officials when they review your application. Some post-residency fellowship programs consider your USMLE Step 3 score as one of the factors in the admissions process.
** The general principles category for the Step 3 MCQ examination includes test items concerning normal processes not limited to specific organ systems. These test items are typically related to normal development. Categories for individual organ systems include test items concerning those normal and abnormal processes that are system-specific.
20 month old african american boy brought for fatigue and lethargy to office/ Fe deficiency 93. Acute Bacterial Prostatitis 94. ALL in a 5 year old/ 5 yr. old boy who came with weakness, disinterest in activity and lesion on leg. 95. Acute pericarditis – rx ( make sure to do echo, dont do unnecessary pericardiocentesis if there is mild to moderate pericarditis with out clinical or echocardiographic evidence of tamponade) 96. Osteoarthritis of the Knee ( if there is large joint effusion, always do arthrocentesis) 97. CIN III 98. Congestive heart failure in a post-op patient ( make sure they are not giving too much IV fluids in post op setting, I/O monitoring, daily weights, lasix, 2d echo, r/o MI, EKG, CXR, BNP – Lasix, if flash pulm edema, give morphine) 99. Hypercalcemia/ renal mass ( likely RCC) – Elderly man presenting with fatigue 100) Complete Heart Block - Woman coming with Motor Vehicle Accident/ only minor injuries on the arm, Vitals reveal Heart rate 38. - EKG shows complete Heart block
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2014 Verified Purchase I am studying for the step 3 and really like this book so far. I have heard everyone say to use master the boards by Kaplan which I also have. Honestly I like this book better. I was a big fan of step up to medicine for step 2 and I plan on passing step 3 here soon in September. Good luck. Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2010 Verified Purchase The format of this review book is very unique -- it starts with a clinical case, explains it step by step, goes over the differential diagnosis and explains why other choices from the differential are less likely or entirely wrong. I am sure that some people would not find it as appealing and prefer some other ways of studying, but to say that this book is mediocre???!!! The previous reviewer says that there are much better books out there; I personally think that in addition to this one, the truly good review (not question) books are: Kaplan Medical USMLE Master the Boards Step 3 First Aid for the USMLE Step 3, Third Edition Blueprints Computer-Based Case Simulation Review: USMLE Step 3 Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2013 Verified Purchase This is a fantastic book which is a thin comprehensive study guide to prepare you for step three.