Step I Break Time?

[prominence]

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how many breaks do u get during USMLE Step 1? do u get an hr for lunch? also, besides lunch, when is a good time for taking ur break(s)? obviously u dont want to use up ur break(s) early and be dying for a break late, and vice versa.

 

[theodore]

Hi there,
You have the right for a break after each block you go through. If you skip the tutorial, your total break time is one hour. However, if you finish a block early, you can add this time to your total break time. I think that the best thing is to take 5 minute breaks until you are done with the first 3-4 blocks, so you can have something to eat in peace and quiet, and you can have a couple of bigger breaks before your last couple of blocks, when you will realy need it. I don't think that time is a problem in step1. I took it 2 weeks ago, and 60 minutes was enough to go through at least 2 times over each block. I had a lunch break of about 10 minutes, and before the last block, i had 40 minutes of break time left. I used only 30 of them, because I was so tired that I just wanted to finish with the damn thing and go home.
Hope it helps,
Theodore

 

[prominence]

theodore, thanks for the reply.

heres a few other quick questions for theodore or anyone else who has taken USMLE step I:

1. do u need to bring anything else to the test center besides your orange ticket and driver's license?

2. do they give u any paper to write on to do calculations (i.e. for biostats or genetic caluculations)?

3. do they provide a place to store ur lunch and bookbag (like a locker)?

 

[prominence]

anyone?

 

[Brewster]

1 - It should say on the ticket what to bring. As I recall, all you need is an ID (driver's license) and the ticket, but you should double check the info they sent you.

2 - The do provide scratch paper (or a dry erase board).

3 - Yes, they have lockers in which to store personal items, including a lunch.