| name | board-exam-prep |
| description | USMLE/COMLEX board exam preparation tool with practice questions, spaced repetition, and high-yield topic reviews. Tracks performance and identifies weak areas.
|
Medical Board Exam Preparation
Prepare for USMLE (Steps 1, 2 CK, 3) and COMLEX (Levels 1, 2-CE) board examinations with an AI-powered study assistant that combines evidence-based spaced repetition, performance analytics, and adaptive study planning. This skill implements the SM-2 algorithm for optimized review scheduling, tracks accuracy across all USMLE disciplines and organ systems, identifies knowledge gaps, and generates personalized study plans based on time remaining and performance data.
Quick Install
npx skills add Open-Medica/open-medical-skills --skill board-exam-prep
What It Does
- Implements the SM-2 spaced repetition algorithm to schedule review of high-yield material at scientifically optimal intervals, adjusting ease factor and interval length based on recall quality (0-5 scale)
- Tracks performance across 17 USMLE disciplines (anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, immunology, behavioral science, biostatistics, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, OB/GYN, psychiatry, preventive medicine, neuroscience, genetics) and 12 organ systems
- Identifies weak areas (below 60% accuracy with 5+ attempts) and strong areas (above 80%) to prioritize study time where it matters most
- Generates structured study plans with phase-appropriate strategies: Early Preparation (>12 weeks), Content Review (6-12 weeks), Intensive Review (2-6 weeks), and Final Review (<2 weeks)
- Provides high-yield topic banks with priority rankings based on historical exam weighting, including First Aid rapid review, Pathoma fundamentals, Sketchy antimicrobials, and core discipline topics
Clinical Use Cases
- Step 1 Dedicated Study Period: A second-year medical student with 8 weeks until Step 1 generates a study plan. The tool recommends the "Intensive Review" phase: organ system-based review with 40+ questions per day, 8 hours daily, structured as morning content review, midday question blocks, afternoon review of incorrect questions, and evening spaced repetition
- Identifying Knowledge Gaps Mid-Study: After 200 practice questions, a student reviews their performance analytics. The tool identifies pharmacology (52%) and renal physiology (48%) as weak areas below the 60% threshold, and pathology (85%) and behavioral science (82%) as strong areas. The recommendation: "Solid foundation. Target specific weak areas to push into the high-performance range. Priority review areas: pharmacology, renal."
- Optimizing Retention with Spaced Repetition: A student reviews a pharmacology flashcard on autonomic drugs and rates their recall as 3 (correct with difficulty). The SM-2 algorithm adjusts the ease factor downward and schedules the next review in 1 day rather than the 6-day interval a perfect response would yield, ensuring the difficult material is revisited sooner
- COMLEX-Specific Preparation: An osteopathic medical student targets COMLEX Level 1 and receives a study plan that includes OMM (osteopathic manipulative medicine) integration alongside the standard basic science disciplines
Safety & Evidence
- Safety Classification: Safe -- This is an educational tool for exam preparation. Question content is illustrative and does not represent actual NBME or NBOME examination material
- Evidence Level: Moderate -- Spaced repetition efficacy supported by Deng F, et al. "Spaced Repetition in Medical Education" (Medical Education 2015;49(3):286-298), demonstrating 200-400% improvement in long-term retention compared to massed study. SM-2 algorithm from Wozniak PA (SuperMemo 1990). Study structure recommendations aligned with NBME content outlines
Example Usage
Generating a study plan:
Create a USMLE Step 1 study plan with 8 weeks until exam
Returns: Phase "Intensive Review," strategy "Organ system-based review with heavy question practice (40+ questions/day)," 8 hours/day recommended, priority topics (First Aid Rapid Review, Pathoma Fundamentals, Sketchy Antimicrobials, Biostatistics Study Design, Autonomic Pharmacology, Renal Physiology, Cardiac Pathology, Immunology Hypersensitivity Reactions), and a daily structure (morning: content review 2-3 hours, midday: question blocks 2-3 hours, afternoon: review incorrects 1-2 hours, evening: spaced repetition 1 hour).
Reviewing performance analytics:
Analyze my board prep performance: 150 questions attempted, 98 correct, pharmacology 12/25, pathology 35/40, renal 8/20, cardiology 25/30
Returns: Overall 65.3%, weak areas (renal 40.0%, pharmacology 48.0%), strong areas (cardiology 83.3%, pathology 87.5%), recommendation "Solid foundation. Target specific weak areas. Priority: renal, pharmacology."
Technical Details
- Category: Education
- Author: Open Medical Skills Community
- License: MIT
- Version: 1.0.0
- Script Language: Python
- Specialty: Medical Education
- Supported Exams: USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 3, COMLEX Level 1, COMLEX Level 2-CE
References
- Deng F, et al. "Spaced Repetition in Medical Education: Theoretical Considerations and Practical Applications." Medical Education. 2015;49(3):286-298.
- Augustin M. "How to Learn Effectively in Medical School: Testing and Spaced Repetition." Yale J Biol Med. 2014;87(2):207-212.
- Wozniak PA. "SuperMemo 2 Algorithm." 1990.
- NBME. "Content Classification for USMLE Step Examinations."
