USMLE USMLE Strategy and Practice

Faculty of Medicine
spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. Type of Completion: -.
Teacher(s)
MUDr. Martin Barák (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Jiří Kratochvíl, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. MUDr. Lubomír Křivan, Ph.D.
Faculty of Medicine
Contact Person: Bc. Zuzana Pilátová
Supplier department: Faculty of Medicine
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract

Enrolling in the course allows students of the General Medicine program to systematically work with professional literature and electronic educational resources in order to prepare for the prestigious international USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) Step 1 and Step 2 exam.

The course focuses not only on deepening medical knowledge in the context of exam requirements, but also on developing clinical reasoning, test strategies, and effective study habits. Students will become familiar with the typology of questions, principles for solving them, and the most common mistakes.

The course includes interactive seminars during which the lecturer presents strategies for solving test tasks, analyzes model questions, and leads a discussion of clinical scenarios. Emphasis is placed on active student involvement, sharing experiences, and working with modern online platforms (e.g., question banks).

The course supports students in individual preparation and provides a structured framework for effectively achieving the goal of passing the USMLE exams and preparing for entry into residency programs in the USA.

Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student will:

  • understand the structure and requirements of the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams
  • apply strategies for solving typical test questions
  • analyze clinical scenarios and identify key information
  • work with recommended study resources and question banks
  • plan their own preparation for the exam, including time management
  • reflect on their strengths and weaknesses in the context of test performance

Key topics

  • Structure and content of USMLE Step 1 and Step 2
  • Typology of test questions (single best answer, clinical vignettes)
  • Question solving strategies and time management
  • Clinical reasoning in the context of testing
  • Most common errors and "test traps"
  • Overview of recommended study materials and online tools
  • Preparation planning and study strategies
  • Self-assessment and progress evaluation

Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching

  • interactive seminar
  • analysis of model test questions
  • discussion of clinical scenarios
  • independent work of students with questions (self-study)
  • peer learning (sharing of strategies between students)
  • demonstration of work with online platforms
  • formative feedback from the teacher

Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

  • active participation in seminars
  • engagement in discussions / solving questions

Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught each semester.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, autumn 2018, spring 2019, autumn 2019, spring 2020, autumn 2020, spring 2021, autumn 2021, spring 2022, autumn 2022, spring 2023, autumn 2023, spring 2024, autumn 2024, spring 2025, autumn 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/med/spring2026/USMLE