How Many UWorld Questions a Day? USMLE Study Questions Students Ask Sean

How many UWorld questions should I do a day?

During a full study period, Sean’s daily checklist starts with “did I hit my 80 to 100?” Those are question-bank questions, and the bank he points students to is UWorld: “I’d recommend UWorld, to tell you the truth.” He sets the day in question blocks rather than a loose count: “The goal is to reach about two to three blocks on the daily.” On lighter or busier days the number is set lower with him, and the rest of the checklist (Anki, a text to Sean, the misconcepts list) stays the same.

Should I just do random questions?

Not only random. Sean’s answer: “You should not be doing just random questions. Yes, that mimics game day settings.” Random blocks show you how you perform under test conditions; focused blocks go after the weak areas your misses point to. Most students do a mix of both.

How often should I take a practice test, and which one?

When a student asked this close to a test date, Sean said once a week, with the NBME practice exams as “the biggest thing.” He suggests taking the free 120 about three days before your exam.

When should I review a practice exam?

The same day. Sean’s reasoning: if you wait, “You’re gonna forget all of it by the time you review,” and every question takes much longer to unpick. Review it while you still remember what you were thinking.

Should I write my own Anki cards from my misses?

No. “I would never ever physically ever tell you to write a card up.” Find the card for that concept in a premade deck and unsuspend it.

How many Anki cards should I unsuspend for each miss?

One per concept. “If you start unsuspending more than one… it becomes so overwhelming and then people stop doing Anki all entirely.” If no card matches, text the concept to Sean instead.

How much time should Anki take each day?

Less than most students expect. Anki is meant to be quick, “not supposed to be a quality thing,” and Sean caps new cards in the deck settings so reviews do not pile up. As he puts it: “If I do more than an hour of Anki a day, I’m gonna start losing my mind.”

Do I need to know this level of detail?

Often not. Sean regularly tells students when a detail is not worth their time, and his rule is “to prioritize the stuff that gets tested consistently.” Know the main disease, the main treatment and why it is given before chasing rare mechanisms.

Can I send you questions between sessions?

Yes, and Sean asks for them: “Keep sending questions. Just keep that stream of communication open.”