High Yield Study Guide 1

 
 

I. Introduction  
 
Welcome to Kaplan’s Step 1 High Yield course! This Study Guide will help you manage your time and meet your
learning needs. A description of the course materials will be provided first, followed by suggested methods for
creating your study plan.  
 
II. Description of Kaplan’s Step 1 High Yield Course  
1. Warm-up Question Sets  
• 28 sets of questions, divided into General Principles and Organ Systems, as outlined by the USMLE.  
• Open-ended questions written by Kaplan’s Master Faculty to ensure review of the most High Yield,
foundational concepts prior to viewing the High Yield course lectures.  
• Each set of questions has a corresponding Video Explanation on the Warm-up Questions page, recorded
by the same faculty who wrote the questions.  
 
2. Diagnostic Exam  
• Access via the Step 1 QBank.  
• 3 blocks of 50 multiple-choice, exam-like questions.  
• Take Kaplan’s Step 1 Diagnostic Exam to set a baseline performance level for yourself before you begin
intense exam preparation.  
• Analysis of your performance will identify your strengths and weaknesses so that you can make informed
adjustments to your study plan.  
 
3. Lecture Videos  
• The Step 1 High Yield lecture videos are organized into General Principles and Organ Systems.  
• Each General Principle and Organ System is subdivided into Topics, with each Topic corresponding to a
lecture video.  
• Each lecture video is launched into a video player, with a selectable menu on the right to guide you
through the content.  
• Lecture videos can be viewed at both 1x and 1.5x speed.  
• Page references are provided in the bottom right corner of the video player.  
o These include references to First Aid, MedEssentials, and Pathoma.
• The “My Playlists” feature is provided to help you organize the videos you plan to view or want to revisit.  
• Runtimes of each General Principle and Organ System are listed in the table at the end of this section.
• Each Topic has a corresponding Quiz, containing 3-5 multiple-choice, exam-like questions.

4. Course Pack  
• On the Dashboard page next to each General Principle and Organ System is a downloadable PDF of the
slides that appear in each lecture video.  
• Page references appear at the bottom of each slide, except for Behavioral Medicine and Neuroscience,
where page references appear in the bottom right corner of the video player.  
 
5. High-Yield Workbook  
• Over 2000 questions written by Kaplan’s Master Faculty.  
• Questions relate directly to the content presented in the lecture videos.  
• Question types include open-ended, fill-in-the-blank, complete-the-table, multiple-choice, and matching.  
• By working with content in multiple interactive ways, these exercises will help build and solidify long-
term memory.  
 
 
 
 
 
 

                                               
High Yield Study Guide 2  
 
 
6. High-Yield Workbook Video Explanations  
• Recorded by the same Kaplan Master Faculty who wrote the questions, these video explanations provide
answers to the Workbook questions, as well as additional clues for how you might see concepts on your
exam or with patients presenting to you during clinical rotations.  
• A selectable menu on the right-hand side of the video player allows for navigation to the explanation for a
particular question.  
• Playable at the end of each lecture video, at both 1x and 1.5x speed.  
 
7. Animations, Clinical Correlates, and Clinical Videos
• When applicable, these videos appear at the end of Topics to further enhance content.
• Animations provide a visual representation of high yield concepts across the General Principles and
Organ systems.
• Clinical Correlates use a case-based approach, integrating the basic sciences to answer questions related
to high yield conditions.
• Clinical Videos demonstrate commonly tested physical exam findings.

8. Lecture Video Quizzes  

• 3 to 5 multiple-choice, exam-like questions are presented following each Topic video.  
• The correct answers and explanations are provided after submitting your response.  
• Each question has an explanation video recorded by the Kaplan faculty who wrote the question.
• Explanation videos are beneath each question when reviewing the Analysis of your performance.
 
9. QBank  
• Over 2000 multiple-choice, exam-like questions to help you master the content and prepare for the test.  
• Analysis and explanations to tests you have completed can be reviewed to help you gauge areas in need of
more attention.  
 
10. Simulated Exams  
• Two full-length, simulated exams are accessed via the Step 1 QBank.
• These will help develop your stamina for answering multiple-choice, exam-like questions efficiently for 8
hours.  
• Simulated exams should be taken after completing the QBank or 2-3 weeks prior to your exam date to
evaluate your test readiness and pinpoint subjects in need of further review.  
 
High Yield Lecture Video Runtimes   1x Speed (hr:min)   1.5x Speed (hr:min)  
General Principles      
• Biochemistry   5:11   3:42  
• Pharmacology   1:32   1:06  
• Immunology, Hematology, Oncology   5:13   3:44  
• Infectious Diseases   4:17   3:04  
• Epidemiology and Biostatistics   1:44   1:14  
• Behavioral Medicine and Ethics   6:20   4:31  
Organ Systems      
• Neuroscience   4:47   3:25  
• Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue   3:07   2:14  
• Respiratory Medicine   4:47   3:25  
• Cardiology   6:31   4:39  
• Endocrinology   1:50   1:19  
• Gastroenterology   2:58   2:07  
• Nephrology   2:00   1:26  
• Reproductive Medicine   3:14   2:19  
Total Runtime   54:39   39:02  
 
                                               
High Yield Study Guide 3  
 

III. Suggested Study Plans for Kaplan’s Step 1 High Yield  

 
High Yield—At a Glance  
• Warm-up Question Sets  
o 28 sets of open-ended questions that preview foundational basic science concepts.
• Each Warm-up question set is a downloadable PDF on the Warm-up Questions page.
• Each set has a corresponding video explanation.
o Designed for completion prior to viewing the High Yield lecture videos.
• High Yield lecture video features:  
o 6 General Principles and 8 Organ Systems, consisting of 119 Topic video lectures.  
o Each Topic has a set of 10-15 exercises in the Workbook.  
§ Each set of Workbook exercises has a video explanation.  
o Each Topic has a Quiz, each with 3-5 USMLE-style, multiple-choice questions.  
§ Each question has a video explanation.  
• Estimated Study Times:
o 1 Warm-up Question Set + Explanation video = ~3 hours of study  
o 1 High Yield video + Quiz + Workbook exercises/video = 3+ hours of study  
o 1 QBank block = 46 USMLE-style questions + Review = ~3 hours of study  
 
Preparation Principles  
• Create a plan that you are comfortable with before you start studying intensively.  
• Ask an upper-classman and/or a professor to review your plan.  
• Take one day off from studying each week. In an emergency, these can act as catch-up days—however,
relaxation time is key to making it through your Step 1 preparation time.  
• Develop a plan that gets you through two different QBanks. When we survey US medical students, there
was a clear relationship between number of QBank questions completed and scoring higher.  
• Once you have a plan that you feel confident about, stick to it.  
 
In-Curriculum Preparation (While in 2nd Year of Medical School)
• If your medical school curriculum is not already in a calendar application, work with your classmates to
add it. Include all tests, breaks, and your school’s Step 1 “must test” date. Add your study plan to that
calendar based on the recommendations provided here and what works for you.
• Complete the Warm-up Question Sets during the school year that correspond with your medical school
curriculum.
• View lecture videos that align with your medical school curriculum. As well as helping with your
coursework, this will ensure that you are comfortable with the content.
• Take the Kaplan Step 1 Diagnostic exam or a NBME Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment
(CBSSA) Form before studying in earnest. Many students score less than 50% on this exam; do not be
discouraged if that is the case. This is a useful tool to identify what areas of content you will need to
spend the most time reviewing before your exam, and how well you have retained material from earlier in
your curriculum.
• Most students find the NBME forms to be fairly reflective of the test and a reasonable predictor of
performance. However, use all score estimates to reduce stress and not as a reason to stop studying.
• We do not recommend focusing on NBME forms as the test approaches, as they don’t include
explanations and are not an efficient learning tool.
 

                                               
High Yield Study Guide 4  
 

STUDY PLAN

More than 6 months before exam | Prep time: ~1 hr/day  

• High Yield: 1 Warm-up set/week
• QBank: 15 Qs/day
 
6 months before exam | PROGRESS CHECK #1  
• Complete a NBME Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) Form (as an optional
baseline assessment of your strengths and weaknesses)
• Kaplan's Step 1 Diagnostic Exam
 
Between 2-6 months before exam | Prep time: ~2 hrs/day  
• High Yield: 3 Lecture videos/week and corresponding Workbook exercises/videos and Quizzes
• QBank: 15-25 Qs/day
 
8 weeks before exam | PROGRESS CHECK #2  
• Kaplan Simulated Exam, once QBank is completed
 
Between 4-6 weeks before exam | Prep time: variable  
• High Yield: Repeat weak Lecture videos and corresponding Workbook and Warm-up exercises
• QBank: Incorrect/MyQuestions, Complete 2nd QBank if possible
 
4 weeks before exam | PROGRESS CHECK #3  
• Complete a second NBME Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) Form
 
Between 1-4 weeks before exam | Prep time: 8-10 hours/day  
• High Yield: Review 1 General Principle/Organ System/day and corresponding Workbook and Warm-up
exercises
• QBank: 3 blocks/day, 2nd Kaplan Simulated Exam
 
Between 2-7 days before exam | Prep time: 8-10 hours/day  
• High-Yield: Review High-Yield notes
• QBank: 2 blocks/day
 
FINAL DAY  
• Relax
 
 
ACCELERATED PLANS  
We recommend using the plan above in full. If you need a faster plan, here are some recommendations:  
 
14 week Study Plan | Prep time: 6-8 hours/day  
• High Yield: 1 General Principle or Organ System set of lecture videos per week, as well as corresponding
Warm-up questions, Workbook exercises, and Quizzes.
• QBank: 1 full block (46 questions)/day
 
6 week Study Plan | Prep time: 8-10 hours/day  
• High Yield: 2 General Principles or Organ Systems sets of lecture videos per week, as well as
corresponding Warm-up questions, Workbook exercises, and Quizzes.
• QBank: 2 full blocks/day | When completed, repeat topics in which you are weak and redo incorrect and
MyQuestions.

                                               
High Yield Study Guide 5  
 
QUESTION PRACTICE
• Start doing ~15 USMLE questions per week that align with your coursework. Understanding the way the
USMLE tests material will help you identify the test-relevant material.
• Create mixed topic tests out of incorrect questions and questions from your QBank MyQuestions pool.
• If you have time, repeat questions you answered correctly in areas where you are weak.
• You have 78 seconds per question. You should start using the timed-tutor mode in QBank as early as a
possible. Aim to finish practice blocks with at least 2-3 minutes to spare.
• Do not waste time checking the timer. Check your timer at the halfway point and then with 10 questions
remaining to make sure you have a chance to answer each question.
• Treat any correct answer that you were uncertain about as incorrect.
• For incorrect items, review full explanations and then reKaps. For correct items, it is better to read
explanations but you may find that the reKaps are enough.
• Bear in mind that you will answer re-used questions more quickly and score higher on them.
• You will be provided with a white board for note-taking on test day—keep scrap paper handy when using
QBank to determine how you will want to use this resource.
• QBank and the test software both provide access to lab values. Many questions include panels of lab
values. Being able to quickly recognize abnormal values will save you time. Lab values on your test will
not be gray; learning to recognize key values will save you time.
• On test day, students taking other, shorter tests come and go throughout the day. Consider taking your
practice tests in a library environment so you can practice shutting out distractions.
• We don’t recommend taking a simulated exam less than 2 weeks from test day. A poor practice
performance could unsettle you and damage your test-day performance.
• You are not going to know every question on test day. Practice picking the most plausible choice,
marking the question, and returning if time allows.
• The test includes a few experimental questions that do not count towards your score; however, assume
that even the most bizarre question will count.
• Questions that you perceive as unfair or obscure can throw off your performance on subsequent questions.
Practice moving on calmly.
• Don’t expect any obvious clues on the test (e.g., correct answers more precisely defined than distractors).
Buzzwords still appear occasionally but don’t count on them.
 
FINAL MONTH  
• Consider scheduling a practice test at the Prometric center. Using the exam software in exam conditions
will alleviate any uncertainty on test day.
• If you decide not to schedule a practice test, know your route to the testing center. Download the NBME
test software, work through some questions, and take the tutorial. This will give you the confidence to
click through the tutorial on test day and add that time to your break. The only part of the tutorial you
must complete on test day is testing your headphones.
• If you change your test date within 30 days of the test, you will incur a fee. We strongly recommend that
you avoid changing your test date. If you follow a good study plan, delays will be counter-productive.  
• At the end of each week, set aside time to review your notes from the previous week.
• Use 1.5x speed to compress your review time, but be honest with yourself. If you are not absorbing
information at the faster speed, use the regular 1x speed.
• Answering the questions at the end of each section a second time is helpful but optional.
• QBank
o Consider purchasing an additional, 1-month QBank.
o Do two blocks of mixed questions a day and complete the QBank within 1 month.
 
 
 

                                               
High Yield Study Guide 6  
 
FINAL WEEK  
• Avoid studying new material during the last week.
• Create a cheat sheet for yourself with topics that remain challenging.
• Study material with facts you find difficult to retain last. Subjects like immunology, microbiology, and
pharmacology.
• Continue doing two 46-question mixed topic blocks.
 
FINAL DAY  
• Your goal today is to ensure that you are well rested and relaxed on test day.
• Some students take the day off.
• Some students find a day off more stressful than studying.
o If studying, limit yourself to 5 hours and focus on reviewing your cheat sheet.  
o Absolutely no study of new material.  
• Keep the same sleep schedule/meal schedule you have been using up until this point.
• Avoid talking about the test with others who have taken the exam. It will only stress you out.
• Make preparations for test day. Buy snacks, drinks, and make yourself lunch.
• Plan how you will take your breaks: if you skip the tutorial, you will have 60 minutes of break time to use
between 8 blocks of questions.
 
TEST DAY  
• We recommend that you do NOT review material on the morning of the test.
• Get to the Prometric test center on time.
• Bring snacks, water, and a simple lunch.
• Wear layers of clothing so you can adjust for temperature.
• You can’t bring anything into the exam room except your ID. No watches or hats.
• Keep in mind that it takes a few minutes to get in and out of the testing room, when you schedule your
breaks.
• Many students report seeing strings of related questions—don’t be distracted by perceived patterns or
over-sampling.