Medical student Adam Manly shares the strategies he used to stay motivated and reach his goal on the USMLE Step 1.

We asked Adam Manly, a medical student at Ross University, what study tactics helped him score a 240 on USMLE Step 1. Adam shared his tips for preventing burnout and keeping yourself accountable during your study period.

What study strategies or tactics helped you score a 240?

First and foremost, maintaining my motivation throughout my studies was a crucial component to my success. I saw many students burn out from studying, which compromised their scores. It is very important to take time for yourself throughout your preparation process to prevent burn-out. Cram Fighter is definitely a great tool to prevent burnout because you can schedule free time for every day. Cram Fighter also gives you peace of mind because you know you have not fallen behind on your study schedule.

Understanding the fundamentals of the first two years of medical school is essential. While studying for Step 1, you have no time to learn new material. Study hard during those first two years. If you do not understand something, ask someone to help you out.

Finally, keep yourself accountable! I had a study partner throughout medical school. We went through every lecture together at least twice. This helped to clarify points of confusion that I would have normally skipped over if I were studying by myself.

How did Cram Fighter help you reach your goal?

Cram Fighter is an amazing tool for Step prep. I would have lost a lot of study time if I had to organize and prepare a study schedule on my own. I certainly could not have done it as efficiently as Cram Fighter does. If you fall behind, Cram Fighter has overdue alerts on the home screen to make sure you don’t forget. For this reason, Cram Fighter serves as another major source of accountability, and, in addition, it provides you with peace of mind that you are staying on track!

Cram Fighter is an amazing tool for Step prep. I would have lost a lot of study time if I had to organize and prepare a study schedule on my own. I certainly could not have done it as efficiently as Cram Fighter does.

What suggestions or tips can you give to students who will be studying for the exam in the future?

Take lots of practice exams and do thousands of practice questions. I recommend UWorld and Kaplan QBank. Most importantly, stay on top of the material, and challenge yourself every day.