This announcement from USMLE.org

A small number of multiple-choice items with associated audio and/or video clips will be introduced into the USMLE Step 1 Examination beginning in mid- to late May 2008. No more than 5 items with associated media clips will appear in a single examination. The 2008 USMLE Orientation Materials include a small number of multiple-choice items that contain exhibits involving audio and/or video clips. Instructions for practicing with items with associated media clips on Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 are provided in the Tutorials for each Step examination in the orientation materials.

Items with associated media were introduced into Step 2 CK in 2007, and into Step 3 in March of 2008. As of May 2008 all three multiple-choice question components of the USMLE examination will include items with associated audio and/or video.

This update from USMLE.org

Starting on or around May 15, 2008, a transitin period will begin in which the number of items in current forms of the Step 1 examination will change from 350 items to 336 items. Although the transition will occur quickly at many test centers, there may also be some locations where the changes take slightly longer to complete. The overall transition period will likely last approximately 6 weeks. The length of the examination day will remain unchanged.

The decrease in the number of items per form will be accounted for in scoring the examination results, so that scores on new and old forms will be comparable. Because of these changes in timing, as well as modifications to the test item pool and the processing load caused by a heavy volume of test takers, there will be a delay in score reporting for most Step 1 examinations administered in the second half of May and June.

The target date for reporting Step 1 scores for most examinees testing from May 15 through late June will be Wednesday, July 16, 2008.

Dr. Tao Le invites you to a free Webinar Tuesday, April 22nd from 9-10pm EDT!

This high-yield talk from Dr. Tao Le, the series editor for First Aid, will cover need to know information on how to become an outstanding medical student on the wards and get outstanding clerkship evaluations.  Learn how to effectively work with a medical team, study and learn on the run, avoid the mistakes other students make and get a gratifying clerkship experience that will enhance your career choice.  There will be an opportunity for a live Q & A session at the end of the talk.

ATTENTION:  You will need to be able to make a long distance telephone call to listen to the conference audio.The way it works:

1. Register to hold your place now (space is limited).
2. Make sure that your computer meets the system requirements for the visual portion of the online conference (details below).
3. Be able to call the conference phone number to listen to Tao’s presentation. This can be done with a home phone, cell phone, or internet phone.
4. Come with questions!
5. Try to call in a few minutes early for the Webinar as the phone lines tend to get a little jammed around 1pm.

• Title: First Aid for the Wards by Dr. Tao Le
• Date: Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
• Time: 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM EDT
• System Requirements
  Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista OR
  Required: Mac OS® X 10.3.9 (Panther®) or newer
• Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
  https://www.gotomeeting.com

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/244930633

Dr. Tao Le (series editor for the First Aid for the USMLE Step 1) invites you to a free Webinar Thursday, April 17th from 9-10pm EDT!

This high-yield talk will cover the basics of the USMLE Step 1 including an overview of the boards, goal setting, high-yield topics in each subject area, study strategies, review resources, and study schedules. There will be an opportunity for a live Q & A session at the end of the talk.

ATTENTION: You will need to be able to make a long distance telephone call to listen to the conference audio.

The way it works:

1. Register to hold your place now (space is limited).
2. Make sure that your computer meets the system requirements for the visual portion of the online conference (details below).
3. Be able to call the conference phone number to listen to Tao’s presentation. This can be done with a home phone, cell phone, or internet phone.
4. Come with questions!
5. Try to call in a few minutes early for the Webinar as the phone lines tend to get a little jammed around 1pm.

• Title: First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 by Dr. Tao Le
• Date: Thursday, April 17th, 2008
• Time: 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM EDT
• System Requirements
  Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista OR
  Required: Mac OS® X 10.3.9 (Panther®) or newer
• Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
  https://www.gotomeeting.com

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/308576534

We gave USMLERx a major upgrade this Monday:

• 1,400+ significantly revised Step 1 questions and hundreds of minor updates.
• All question explanations now integrated with the high-yield facts from 2008 First Aid for the USMLE Step 1.
• The high-yield facts now tagged with a page number for easy referencing back to First Aid.
• Hundreds of new questions coming online this week.

Finally, check out our Spring Special! Save hundreds versus what you would pay for other test banks. It’s all here at www.usmlerx.com!

The following is the official update list for the 1st Ed of the First Aid Q&A for the USMLE Step 2 CK Errata. This list does not include suggestions/additions submitted and accepted for the text.

Download the up-to-date list:  PDF - 3/31/2008

1. Page 7
   1. Question 13: The patient’s sodium level should be 134 mEq/L, rather than 34 mEq/L.
   1. Question 14: The patient’s glucose level should be 133 mg/dL, rather than 33 mg/dL.
2. Page 17
   1. Question 50: The question should read, “What is the reasoning behind avoiding nonselective B-blockers in this patient?”
      Page 41
   1. Question 50: The third sentence should start, “Nonselective B-adrenergic blockade…”
3. Page 169
   1. Question 14: The third sentence should read, “Pathologic examination reveals a population of atypical mononuclear cells infiltrating the dermis and epidermis.”
4. Page 187
   1. Question 14: CTCL is a B-lymphocyte (rather than a T-lymphocyte) lymphoma and involves B (rather than T) lymphocytes.
5. Page 486
   1. Answers 45 and 46: The correct answers should be switched, K is correct for answer 45 and D is correct for answer 46.