Sprinters train by sprinting. Medical students train with multiple choice questions.

I finished watching the 160 hours of Kaplan lectures at the center yesterday. Today I'm finishing the USMLE world question bank. Between the questions in my Kaplan course and the questions in the USMLE world question bank, I've done at least 4,000 questions since September. Since everyone I've spoken with that has recently taken USMLE step 1 says that the USMLE world questions are very representative of the types of questions that are on the actual step, I am planning on taking a few full day practice exams using the USMLE world question bank next week (hopefully, I'll be able to go though the whole question bank at least twice). I know academically that it is a good idea, but the thought of spending 7 hours doing question every day for the next week or so doesn't sound like fun. There is an analogy between sports and training for standardized exams. An Olympic sprinter does not just run around the tract and lift weights to prepare for the 100 meter dash, she practices the 100 meter dash. USMLE step one will not ask if I can read and understand the text book as well as the next medical student; they want to know that I can answer multiple choice questions, so I will practice as many multiple choice questions as I can from now until test day. I hope I'm ready!