Taking notes during breaks allowed??

[inspire316]

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So today I took the prometric practice test and was told that the only scratch paper I would be getting was the blue sheet where I put my id# down on with 2 black dry erase markers.

I was wondering if it's against usmle policy to take notes down during breaks (mainly the 15 min tutorial at the beginning) like a virus chart, gram+/- flowchart? Does anybody know if this is against the rules? I remember a former m2 giving advice about this saying he did take notes during the tutorial during his actual step1.

 

[FutureInternist]

I wouldn't risk doing anything like that during the tutorial since technically the test hasn't begun yet & it could be construed as "irregular behaviour".
Your best bet would be to try & finish the first block early, not submit the answer to the last Q, write out all your notes & then end the block.

Good Luck.

 

[Depakote]

I think as long as the test has started, you can put anything you want down on your dry erase sheets... even during your break time. But yeah, don't do it until after you've officially gotten going.

 

[Instatewaiter]

So today I took the prometric practice test and was told that the only scratch paper I would be getting was the blue sheet where I put my id# down on with 2 black dry erase markers.

I was wondering if it's against usmle policy to take notes down during breaks (mainly the 15 min tutorial at the beginning) like a virus chart, gram+/- flowchart? Does anybody know if this is against the rules? I remember a former m2 giving advice about this saying he did take notes during the tutorial during his actual step1.

We were told that as soon as you go in there and start the tutorial, you can do whatever you want. Personally I used some of that time to jot down flow charts I had memorized. The time you have for the test is limited and that tutorial is technically part of that time. Look at the tutorial before hand (on the free 150) so that you can use that 15 minutes for break time/jotting stuff down time.

You can also jot down stuff during your break, it just has to be inside the testing area. Clearly you aren't allowed to jot stuff down outside of the testing room and bring it in with you.