
Every individual pursuing medical education must pass board exams, commonly referred to as licensure exams. However, this confusion typically doesn’t arise for students already enrolled in a college, as they have been accepted into a degree program that clarifies whether they need to take the USMLE or the COMLEX Level 1 exam. Each exam has significance in the related field of expertise. All students who are enrolled to pursue MD will write USMLE and those in osteopathy school will write COMLEX. These exams serve as a crucial stepping stone in a physician’s training, yet they cater to different pathways within the medical field.
So, if you are already a medical student, then the right question is not which exam to take; it is how to prepare for either of the licensure exams. If you are still planning to enter into a med school program and are going to take your MCAT exams, then you will need to understand the difference between an MD and a DO. So the key difference between USMLE and COMLEX is that the former is an exam taken by students of Doctor of Medicine or MD programs whereas the latter is taken by students of DO students or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both exams may have some overlapping content that examines a person’s fundamental medical knowledge and clinical skills. Now that we know medical students have clarity on which exam to take and may need preparation tips, here are some pointers that will help in cracking either of the exams:
Strategize Your Study Plan
The first step to preparing for the boards is understanding the exam format. Once you cross this level, you will be familiar with the type of questions, scoring patterns, and content layout. This way you can spare more time for high-scoring topics and cover the rest at least once. Based on this information you can come up with a schedule that will set up a study time to accommodate your routine and ease. If you are a morning person, early to bed and morning prep time of two hours before heading to college with an extra hour after classes will help in setting your timetable.
Concentrate on Active Learning Methods
We don’t easily forget actions in comparison to audiovisuals. So if you hear the lectures, and go through interactive videos, your learning curve will improve. But when you make notes, use mnemonics, and make and use flashcards, then you will automatically increase the retention of the content that you learned. It is easy to recall during the test and helps you frame the answers within the timebound limitations.
Use High-Quality Resources
Choose study materials that are well-regarded and effective. Consider a mix of textbooks, online courses, question banks, and review books tailored for your specific exam. Popular options include
Conclusion:
Always remember to take care of your mental and physical health with a good diet, and exercise to stretch those legs from sitting and studying for long hours. Take breaks in between to relax your mind and destress.