A 12-week Part I schedule that fits

Twelve weeks is a common runway for Part I. Here is how our study planner lays it out for 12 hours a week, and why.

Weeks 1 to 5: foundation

Two or three content areas a week, heaviest first: ocular disease and pathology, ocular anatomy and physiology, and optics. Spend about 60% of the time on review and 40% on untimed questions, reading every explanation. Start an error log on day one: what you missed and why.

Weeks 6 to 9: application

Switch to mixed, timed blocks at about 78 seconds an item, the pace of a real Part I session. Rotate through every area and give extra time to the ones your error log flags. Redo last week's misses before starting anything new.

Weeks 10 and 11: simulation

Sit a full 185-item session in 4 hours, then review every miss the same day. If you can, sit a second one later in the week: the real exam is two sessions in one day.

Week 12: taper

Halve your hours. Do light review of the error log and the formulas, confirm your Pearson appointment and ID, and protect your sleep for the last two nights.

Make it yours

Your dates and hours will differ, so let the study planner do the arithmetic. Enter your exam date, your weekly hours and the areas you want extra time on, and it builds the weeks for you.