Award-Winning USMLE Tutors

The USMLE is actually a three-step examination process. Taking this exam series is important for a few key reasons. First, you'll need to pass all three USMLE tests in order to practice medicine in the United States. Thus, if you want to pursue your medical career in the U.S. then you really have to take the USMLE exams. Secondly, the way that you perform on these exams could have an impact on where you're able to complete your residency. Medical school students usually take the first step exam at the end of their second year of school. Thus, a student's score on this test is often an important aspect of their residency applications. Many residency directors cite it as one of the most important things they look at when determining whether or not a student will succeed in the residency they've applied to pursue. Considering how impactful your performance on these exams could be, working with a USMLE tutor could be the right choice for you.

Who Can Take the USMLE Exams?

There are some eligibility criteria that you should keep in mind when deciding whether or not to sign up to take a USMLE exam. To have the right eligibility to sit for the first two tests in the series, you'll need to be enrolled in a medical school. If you are currently dismissed or withdrawn from your school, then you won't be able to take the first two USMLE tests until you return to an officially enrolled status.

The third test in the series, on the other hand, requires those who register for it to have completed their final year of medical school. Of course, you must also pass each test in the series before you become eligible to take the next one. If you need to retake one of the USMLE exams, then you should know that you're only allowed to do so three times within a 12 month period. Test takers are also limited to six overall attempts for each section. It's a good idea to make sure you satisfy these registration requirements before you sign up to take the USMLE.

Breaking Down the USMLE Test Series

Below, you'll see an overview of the Step 1 exam that you can prepare for during USMLE tutoring sessions:

• 8 hour exam
  • Seven 60 minute test blocks
    • Up to 40 questions per block
  • Maximum of 280 items
• Physician Task/Competencies
  • Medical Knowledge/Scientific Concepts
    • 55-65% of exam
  • Patient Care: Diagnosis
    
    • History/Physical Examination
    • Laboratory/Diagnostic Studies
    • Diagnosis
    • Prognosis/Outcome
    • 20-30% of exam
  • Patient Care: Management
    • Health Maintenance/Disease Prevention
    • Pharmacotherapy
    • 7-12% of exam
  • Communication & Professionalism
    • 2-5% of exam
  • Practice-based Learning and Improvement
    • 4-6% of exam

As the information above indicates, step 1 of the USMLE is a very comprehensive, challenging exam. You'll need to have a strong understanding of many different topics to perform well on this test. Overall, the test was created with the goal of assessing how well medical students are able to apply their understanding of basic science topics to the practice of medicine. Some of the topics covered on the exam are anatomy, genetics, microbiology, and pathology, among others. Students generally take this exam after finishing their second year of medical school. If you'd like some additional help developing your understanding of these subjects areas, then working with a USMLE tutor could be the right addition to your test preparation process.

Students usually take the second step in this exam series during their fourth year of medical school. Step 2 of the USMLE is actually split into two different exams. The first part uses traditional test formats and covers clinical knowledge. The second part assesses a candidate's clinical skills with simulated patient care experiences. Together, they aim to assess whether or not a medical student is capable of using their medical knowledge and skills to provide quality care for patients. Below, you'll see a breakdown of the USMLE step 2 clinical knowledge exam:

• 9 hour exam
  
  • Eight 60 minute exams
    • No more than 40 items per block
  • 318 total items
  • Physician Task/Competencies
    • Medical Knowledge/Scientific Concepts
      • 10-15% of exam
    • Patient Care: Diagnosis
      • 40-50% of exam
    • Patient Care: Management
      • 30-35% of exam
    • Professionalism, Systems-based Practice/Patient Safety, & Practice-based Learning
      • 3-7%

Similarly, here is a look at the format of the clinical skills exam:

• Pass/fail test
• 12 standardized patient encounters
  • 15 minutes each
  • Physical examinations
  • Telephone patient encounters
  • After the examination/encounter, record patient notes with relevant medical history, most likely diagnoses with evidence, and any diagnostic studies you would order

Finally, the last exam in the USMLE series is typically taken by residents who have recently completed their first year of residency work. This test assesses how prepared a resident is to begin practicing medicine without any supervision. To that end, the exam focuses on things like patient management. To perform well on this exam, you'll need to have a strong understanding of a wide variety of topics in subject areas like anatomy, biology, and much more. When you work with a USMLE tutor, you can go over the following format of this test:

USMLE Step 3 Overview

• 2 day exam
  • Day 1
    • 7 hours
    • 232 multiple-choice questions
      • Six 1 hour blocks of 38-39 items
  • Day 2
    • 9 hours
    • 180 multiple-choice questions
      • Six 45 minute blocks of 30 items each
    • 13 case simulations

How Can a USMLE Tutor Near Me Help Me with Prep?

Now that you know a little more about each exam in the USMLE test series, you may be interested in putting together a study plan. If so, then consider signing up to work with a USMLE tutor by contacting Varsity Tutors today. Your USMLE tutor will work with you in a one-on-one setting where your needs always remain the top priority. Your USMLE tutor can set you up with a customized lesson plan that is based on your specific academic needs, learning style, and test goals. For instance, if you need extra help developing your knowledge of anatomy, your USMLE tutor can spend additional time with you on this subject and less time on other topics that you may already understand. The flexibility of this teaching approach makes USMLE tutoring a completely personalized learning experience.

USMLE tutors are also flexible in terms of scheduling. Varsity Tutors knows that medical school students and residents are incredibly busy. That's why we make every effort to connect you with USMLE tutors who are able to work around your schedule. The ability to cater to your schedule ensures that you can sign up for USMLE tutoring without worrying about how it will impact your existing obligations. If you're someone who places a premium on flexibility, then USMLE tutoring may be the right fit for you.

USMLE tutors can also help students build a better set of general test-taking skills. For example, if you've ever experienced test anxiety, you know how difficult it can make staying focused while taking an important exam. Test anxiety is an unfortunately common occurrence on important tests like the USMLE. However, when you search for "USMLE tutoring near me" and find Varsity Tutors, we set you up with an instructor can show you exercises you can do to deal with any anxiety you may experience while taking your test. Being calm, relaxed, and focused on test day can make it easier to remember what you learned while preparing for your exam and may help you to have a better exam experience.

If you're on the lookout for a USMLE tutor,Varsity Tutors makes the process of finding an appropriate private instructor easy. Your USMLE mentor can also help you with your time management skills if you're concerned about the restrictive time limits you'll encounter while taking the USMLE exams. They can give you practice questions and tests so that you can improve your question-answering speed through repetition. Your instructor can also go over any answers you provide to ensure that you're understanding the material you need to know for your upcoming test.

Understanding Your USMLE Scores

Each test section has a scoring range that spans from 1 to 300. The mean score for steps 1 and 3 in the test series are generally somewhere in the 220s depending on the year. The mean score for students who take step 2 of the series, on the other hand, is usually somewhere in the 240s. As touched on briefly above, earning a great score on step 1 of the USMLE could lead to you getting your desired residency outcome. That's why it's important to put together a strong test preparation plan when you're studying for this part of the exam series.

Instead of looking up "USMLE tutors near me," you can easily get started with your own ideal tutoring plan by reaching out to Varsity Tutors. This is a great first step towards creating the in-depth study plan that you need to get more out of your potential while taking your exam. Preparing for a test as comprehensive as the USMLE can be difficult to do alone. Let an expert in test preparation and medical disciplines assist you in getting ready for this exam

How Can I Get Started with a USMLE Tutor Near Me Today?

Do you think that you would benefit from working with a private tutor while preparing for your upcoming exam? If so, then the best way to get started isn't by continuing to look up "USMLE tutors near me." Instead, consider reaching out to an educational director at Varsity Tutors today. They can provide you with more information on how a tutor can address your specific test preparation concerns and can also easily connect you with a great tutor who can start working with you today.

Performing well on the USMLE exam series is a difficult thing to do. However, it's possible to stand out from the crowd with excellent prep. Working with a test preparation tutor in the lead up to your exam could be just what you need to feel confident on the day of your test. We hope to hear from you soon and would love to work with you.