The USMLE is a long exam to take in one sitting. Even longer is the amount of time you as a student will spend preparing for it. Many successful test takers have shown a pattern of qualities that have helped them excel on the USMLE. Here are some of their techniques:

1.       Exercise and stay fit – Keeping your body in shape through regular exercise can help you fight off anxiety and panic attacks. In addition, taking a break from studying will help you focus better the next time you study.

2.     Keep a list of “to-do’s” – Keeping a list of what you need to do – whether it is reviewing a topic or running an errand – can help you accomplish those goals in a timely fashion. Students often forget to cover some topics simply because they fail to jot down what topics they need to review again. Planning your review topics for the day and then checking off those topics as you do them can help you stay focused.

3.       Time your reading sessions – Some students have found that timing their reading sessions and measuring their reading speed helps them map out their USMLE study course. For example, if it takes you 2 hours to read 20 pages in a USMLE review book, then you can approximate how long it will take you to finish that book.

4.       Stay in touch with friends and family – With as much stress as the USMLE adds to your life, past exam takers have found that their family and friends have been a huge source of support in encouraging them to stay focused.

5.       Take mock exams in exam mode – Often students spend a lot of time reading and reviewing books. This is fine, but do make sure that you train your body and mind to perform in the actual exam setting by practicing with a test bank such as USMLERx.com. Students who take a mock exam or practice under timed conditions feel more confident about their preparation than those who simply spend all their time reading books.