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School of Medicine

How Do I Construct A Board Preparation Plan?

Board Prep Plan Inclusions

(for all students regardless of your preparation plan)

  • “First Aid” – get familiar with the format now – refer to it while in the Pathology course
  • Kaplan Q Bank – do questions, questions, and then more questions
  • “BRS for Behavioral Sciences” or “High-Yield Behavioral Sciences”
  • Study buddy – someone to whom you are accountable so that you stay on track with your study plan.

Data Points To Assess Your Readiness

  • Current GPA and end of year two OGPA
  • Performance on NBME shelf examinations (past and future)
  • April 4 – USMLE Comprehensive Basic Science Examination (CBSE)
  • Week of May 8 – recommend that you take a Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) - uses multiple-choice items based on information typically covered during basic science medical education courses. The content of the CBSSA items resembles the content of those in Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™).  Participants will receive a performance profile and a score interpretation guide immediately after completing a self-assessment. The performance profile provides an assessment score and graphically displays relative strengths and weaknesses in general topic areas.  Cost of exam: $45. 
  • CBSSA exam information: http://www.nbme.org/programs/sas/sas.asp 
  • CBSSA exam description: http://www.nbme.org/programs/sas/essential.asp
  • CBSSA sample performance profile:     https://external1.nbme.org/nsasweb/doc/sample_CBSSA.pdf
  • Two weeks before test date take you are required to take the UMKC full length mock board exam.   Instructions will be sent to you later in the semester.
  • One week before test date – recommend that you take a second Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) – this will be your confidence builder exam and your final check of what areas of weakness may still exist that you have time to correct.  Keep doing Kaplan Q-bank to build up your stamina for test day.
  • Day before test date – go to movies, run, take a walk…doing anything but study - GET A GOOD NIGHT OF SLEEP.  Pack lunch/snacks for test day.

Self-Study Prep Plan should include:

  • You should prepare a day by day planner to map out how you are going to do your content review.  All of the areas noted above should be included in your plan.  Make sure you meet with an Educational Specialist at various predetermined intervals.

IntensePrep Plan should include:

  • What are you going to do the week of May 8th prior to the start of the course?  Would this be a good time to review Behavioral Sciences (see review books noted above), how about Kaplan Q-bank and “First Aid”?  What will you do in the evenings when you get home?  What will you do when the three week course is over and you have a week or more to finish preparing for your test?

Test Date

  • Schedule your test date as soon as you receive your orange admission card in the mail from NBME. Do not delay as there is limited seating at each test site.

Test Sites

  • Lee’s Summit, MO;  St. Joseph, MO – go night before and stay in a motel; Raytown, MO; Topeka, KS – go night before and stay in a motel; Wichita campus test site – Call Karen Drake at 3-2616