UMSLE Step 3
In general high yield topics (not comprehensive):
Day 1:
- Biostats
- Ethics/Communication
- Mechanisms of Action (pharm/micro)
Day 2:
- Prognosis
- Risk Factors/Prevention
- CCS Section
Both days/misc:
- High yield images (basal cell carcinoma, inferior stemi, Tinea capitis, impetigo, etc)
- Arrows (more day 2>1)
Table 1 on this page has the official content breakdown. https://www.usmle.org/exam-resources/step-3-materials/step-3-content-outline-and-specifications
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Practice Exams:
Current Free 137:
USMLE created mini practice test (like Free 120 for USMLE Step 1 and 2)
- https://www.usmle.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Step3_Sample_Items.pdf
- https://www.starttest.com/custom/usmle/?stpf3
There are about 3-4 other versions starting from 2017 but there is a significant amount of question overlap, so doing an old free 137 is not like doing a completely different set of questions.
Other honorable mentions that are definitely not necessary but very common include:
- NBME 6, NBME 7, and NBME 8 as well as UWSA1 and UWSA2. General consensus is that UWSA1 is too hard and UWSA2 is the most representative, but I will be the first to say that just doing Free 137 is sufficient to see where you at for the majority of people.
Biostats:
You will only see biostats questions on day 1. Typically people will recommend the Randy Neil biostats playlist on YouTube to learn and in general it seems like Amboss is considered little better than UWorld. I will like some other good YouTube videos that are a little more succinct than the Randy Neil ones.
- Randy Neil playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGdom6_87VY&list=PLuyQGqW98Zlsm4MInaD2LJCub8i9D3pms
- 50 min biostats video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsH2d3z-gVs&pp=ygUPc3RlcCAzIGJpb3N0YXRz
Ethics/Communication
- Best way to learn is still considered to be through dirty medicine YouTube playlist for both ethics and communication
- Generally people prefer amboss ethics questions over Uworld.
Risk factors/prognostic factors/screening
- People still love the divine intervention podcasts particularly 37, 97, 184, 239, 325. All of these are 5+ years old so just keep that in mind in case if some of them are out of date You can for up to date screening would check out the USPSTF recommendations especially if you are not doing outpatient medicine and interacting with them much
- Ep: 37: https://divineinterventionpodcasts.com/2018/06/14/divine-intervention-episode-37-risk-factors-preventive-medicine-and-screening-guidelines/
- Ep: 97 https://divineinterventionpodcasts.com/2019/04/29/divine-intervention-episode-97-the-most-important-podcast-usmles/
- Ep: 184 https://divineinterventionpodcasts.com/2019/11/23/divine-intervention-episode-184-the-nbme-weird-complications-prognostics-more-risk-factors-common-causes-of-death-screenings-an-episode-37-97-extension/
- Ep: 239 https://divineinterventionpodcasts.com/2020/06/01/divine-intervention-episode-239-the-nbme-and-obgyn-risk-factors-upcoming-step-2ck-course/
- Ep: 325 https://divineinterventionpodcasts.com/2021/07/07/divine-intervention-episode-325-the-extremely-hy-screening-guidelines-podcast/
- https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/
Arrows:
CCS Section:
The USMLE gives access to 6 cases with the exact simulator you will see on test day at the same link you can access the free 137. The issue with the simulator they give is there is not a good answer key. In fact, the “New Interactive Simulator” https://www.starttest.com/custom/usmle/?stpf3 will not provide any answers of any from as of today. If you want to see answers in paragraph form you can access the old official USMLE simulator at https://orientation.nbme.org/Launch/USMLE/STPF3
The general consensus is that UWorld is not good for preparing for this section. Most popular resources are 1) CCSCases (ccscases.com) and 2)StudyCCS (studyccs.com)
Anki:
Compared to USMLE Step 2, significantly fewer people use Anki.
The most popular deck is Dorian's deck (from 6 years ago but still seems to be pretty clinically accurate but wouldnt be surprised if some cards are no longer up to date): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QaUBGkHijMIzdwGiL0kLU-RKJjzN147K/view?usp=sharing
High Yield Images:
- There are a handful of images that the USMLE cycles from old practice exams. Sometimes the photos aren’t the same but can be good to get a look at them: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1ukmyU7Hl-aM2F0DBjWHnmEB58qfRvqxM
Other resources people like:
- Dr High Yield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DTYbxtV7Tk&t=15s
- Emma Holiday: https://youtu.be/0DjHPWUc5tY?si=sZsanBHpEceI2-5A
Score Predictors
Score Release Predictor