Kaplan Medical, which annually prepares thousands of aspiring doctors for the USMLE® series of medical licensing exams, is rolling out a more engaging and effective Step 1 program designed to provide test takers with an enhanced, assessment driven study plan to help them maximize their prep time. Step 1 Qbank Integrated Plan includes 2,100 exam-style questions and explanations; two full length simulated exams; one mini-simulated exam; 26 mastery assessments; 150 warm-up questions; a customized study plan with recommendations; and between 40-70 hours of interactive videos, based on the individual student’s performance.

“Among all the three Steps of the USMLE, Step 1 is considered by many to be the most challenging, regarded as one the hardest academic hurdles for aspiring practicing doctors to conquer. Our proprietary research shows that top preppers follow certain study patterns and habits, and so key design elements of our Step 1 Qbank Integrated Plan leverage our findings to increase prep effectiveness,” said Dr. Chris Cimino, Chief Medical Officer, Kaplan Health programs. “We are excited about launching the enhanced course widely, as early adopters have told us how it can really be a gamechanger for students looking for a structured study plan.”

The USMLE Step 1 is a one-day computer exam taken by most medical students at the end of their second year of medical school. It is also taken by thousands of international medical graduates (IMGs) who wish to practice medicine in the United States. The Step 1 includes 280 multiple-choice questions and spans 8 hours of testing, broken down into seven 1-hour blocks of 40 questions each. The USMLE Step 1 emphasizes basic science principles, specifically anatomy, behavioral science, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology. Interdisciplinary areas such as genetics, immunology, and nutrition are also tested.

In 2016, approximately 42,200 medical school students took the USMLE Step 1, including 17,600 IMGs. The passage rate for graduates of American medical schools was 94 percent, while the passage rate for IMGs was 72 percent.

For more information about Step 1 Qbank Integrated Plan, please visit www.kaplanmedical.com/integratedplan. For students who need a less robust prep program, Step 1 Qbank also remains available.

USMLE® is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Kaplan or this course.

About Kaplan Medical

Kaplan Medical (www.kaplanmedical.com) is a unit of Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE:GHC)