USMLE Step III Exam (Day 2) Computer-Based Simulations - Understanding the Program

In order for an individual to successfully complete the computer-based simulations that he or she will receive on the second day of the Step III Exam, it is essential for the exam-taker to have a basic understanding of how the simulation software works. The simulations that the exam-taker will receive are administered using a computer-based case simulation (CCS) program created by Primum that presents the individual with a series of simulations one after the other where the exam-taker acts as the primary care physician for each simulated patient within each simulated case. The exam-taker can issue a variety of orders including orders for various consultations, examinations, and procedures simply by typing the desired orders into the program's order sheet. The program is also designed to understand a large number of medical abbreviations associated with writing orders that the exam-taker can use to quickly issue commands to the program. In order to make the program carry out these orders, the exam-taker simply needs to use the clock within the program to advance the time in the simulation. The exam-taker has the ability to cancel or rewrite orders at any time, but the exam-taker can not turn back time in the simulation and any procedures, examinations, or other orders that have already been carried out by the simulation cannot be undone once the time has been advanced.

It is important to note that the simulation software is extremely in-depth and relatively easy to use, but it may still be difficult to complete the simulations if the individual is using the program for the first time on the day of the exam. Each simulation is timed and the individual will only have a set amount of real time to complete the simulation so it may be difficult to complete the simulations in the time allowed if the individual is not familiar with the software prior to the exam. In fact, statistics show that individuals who practice with the Primum CCS program prior to taking the exam tend to perform significantly better on the case simulations than individuals who are not familiar with the program. It is also important to note that, although the program understands a variety of orders, there are certain orders and abbreviations that the program may not be able to recognize and the exam-taker may have to rephrase orders so that the program understands what the exam-taker is trying to accomplish.