USMLE Step 3

ようやくUSMLE Step3の試験結果が出ました。何とか無事にギリギリ合格でした（笑）。

私が使用したのは、
１）Crush USMLE step3
２）First Aid　USMLE step3（特にCCSは重要）
３）Kaplan　Q book
４）USMLE World（UW；Online 問題集）です。

約1ヶ月前から少しずつ勉強を開始し、試験前10日間ほど休みをとって集中しました。前回は余り勉強せずに「記念受験」のような感じでしたが、今回はさすがに集中しました。前回の結果をもとに、弱点から勉強を開始し、ボトムアップに努めました。CCSは前回の成績が非常に良かったので、そのままほとんど手をつけずに試験に臨みました。MCQが75〜80%、CCSが20〜25%という点数配分のため、CCSに気をとられる受験者も居るようですが、CCSの形式に一度慣れておけばさほど恐れる必要はないでしょう。

この手の試験を受験する際には、やはり他者がどのように対策を練っているかなどを把握することが大切です。それには、このサイトが役立ちました。CCSに実際に出題されたケースなども匿名で投稿されています。

http://www.usmleforum.com/forum/index.php?forum=5

Step3受験のコツは、できるだけStep 2CKを受けてから時間を空けずに受験することです。私の場合は3年以上経過してしまったので、記憶を呼び戻すのが大変でした。　
これでUSMLEとは、おさらばです。Good bye USMLE！！　

ここに今後のUSMLE Step3受験者のために、上記Forumで投稿された文章(試験対策）をアップしておきます。下のほうに、UW、NBMEと実際の試験成績の相関も記載されています。

This is a MILLION dollar question, and was aksed BILLIONS of time.
So, let me summerize what I have heard so far from forum GURUs
(Note: I have not taken my test yet, so this is not my opinion).

The recommendations are: according to priority..

a. Kaplan CK books
b. UW MCQ and CCS
c. First aid/Crush
d. Kaplan step 3 video
e. Kaplan Q bank and or Kaplan Q book
f. Premier review notes (with or without audio)
g. Swanson (at least sports medicine, geriatrics etc, if possible, cover to cover, no harm in reading more)
h. MKSAP14 questions only
i. Step BOOSTER (ask sir steve for his personal opinion)
j. Harrison online assessment Qs

Now, from where to start:
Start with CK notes and UW MCQs

Minimum requirement:
at least a to e.

For CCS:
UW 88 cases and FA CCS
Shaher CD to practice CCS
some people recommend USMLE step 123 CCS .....

how long it take to prepare:
for 1 week to 12 months...depending on your ambition, capacity etc.

I hope you can start with these basic info...more info will coome gradually...
GL




hi guys,

I recently passed my Step 3 with 216/91. can't complain abt the score, bcoz i did not study much.. u know the Step 3 score doesnt matter, right?

I had read some excellent tips on this & some other forums. can't say i can make significant additions, but would like to highlight certain aspects of preparation.

first, the material i used..
some Step 2 Kaplan books, especially medicine (i didn't get time to read all of them, but u should read them if u have time).
UW (both CCS and MCQs)
CCS Software from the USMLE website- this is VERY IMP!

now, this doesnt seem like much of reading. i mean i've seem some ppl advocating a lot of material. but i personally believe in reading small amount of material with a right approach.

so on that note, while u r reading Kaplan CK books, remember the shift of focus from Step 2 to Step 3. Step 2 stresses on pathophysio, initial investigations, diagnosis & initial management. Step 3 focusses more on management. it's all about the next step (not necessarily the first step) in management (inv/Rx), complex clinical decisions, prognosis, etc. No doubt some questions are on diagnosis, but management (including investigations and treatment) carries more importance. so while reading CK books, ignore the pathophysiology & focus on management. try to develop the logical thinking & algorithms required for actual patient management. forget the rare conditions, but u must thoroughly know even the rare presentations & complications of common conditions.

& most imp, be rational. & use ur common sense in exam. it's a long, tiring exam. so it's imp to keep ur cool..

again, do the CCS cases from UW & USMLE website. this is very imp. but remem, this carries only about 25% of importance. so majority portion is still MCQs. so dont neglect that aspect.


& finally, i used to always think about correlation between UW & actual score. i looked around different websites & following is the general idea i got..


correlation between 2 & 3 digit scores in exam..

198/81
200/82
207/86
216/91
218/92
223/94


correlation between UW and actual score..

UWorld Actual test
49 192
50 206
60 221
54 216/89
58 212-217
54 208
54 214


i read somewhere.. Step 3 = 2.3UW + 80

so basically u're all set if u get around 55-60% score on UW.

now, all this is based on feedback from other ppl..


finally, NBME and actual score.. i dont remember where i found this.. (thanx to whoever posted this!)

Actual Exam NBME

75---- 182
------- 183
------- 184
------- 185
------- 186
------- 187
------- 188
------- 189
------- 190
------- 191
------- 192
------- 193-- 1sd--- -------400
------- 194
------- 195
------- 196
80---- 197
------- 198
------- 199
------- 200
------- 201
82---- 202
83---- 203
83---- 204
83---- 205-- -1/2 sd------- 450
84---- 206
84---- 207
------- 208
85---- 209
------- 210
86---- 211
86---- 212
------- 213
------- 214
------- 215
88---- 216
88---- 217-- mean--------500
88---- 218
89---- 219
89---- 220
89---- 221
90---- 222
90---- 223
------- 224
91---- 225
------- 226
92---- 227
92---- 228
93---- 229-- 1/2 sd------- 550
93---- 230
94---- 231
94---- 232
94---- 233
95---- 234
95---- 235
95---- 236
96---- 237
96---- 238
97---- 239
97---- 240
97---- 241-- 1sd--- -------600
98---- 242
98---- 243
99---- 244
99---- 245
99---- 246
99---- 247
99---- 248
99---- 249
99---- 250
99---- 251
99---- 252
99---- 253-- 1.5sd--------650
99---- 254
99---- 255
99---- 256
99---- 257
99---- 258
99---- 259
99---- 260
99---- 261
99---- 262
99---- 263
99---- 264
99---- 265-- 2sd----------700
99---- 266
99---- 267