# When Is a System Actually Finished?

> A five-point checklist that defines a finished Step 1 system by evidence — all questions attempted, misses traced to First Aid, last two blocks above 65%.

URL: https://usmlevault.com/blog/finish-a-system.html
Canonical: https://usmlevault.com/blog/finish-a-system.html

## Summary

Replaces the feeling of being done with a five-point completion checklist for each Step 1 system. Argues that doing about 70% of a system's UWorld and saving the rest for random mode guarantees that unopened concepts resurface during revision when there is no time to learn them. The checklist requires every question attempted, every miss traced to its First Aid page, the last two blocks above 65%, that system's Anki cleared, and the last block feeling boring. Done is redefined from days elapsed to evidence gathered.

## Key facts

- Five conditions must all be true — not four
- Condition 3 is the exit rule: your last two blocks held above 65%, a score not a date; move on at day eight or continue to day twelve
- Every miss is traced back to its First Aid page, not just the explanation — a second and third pass of the book
- Clearing a system's Foundation Anki takes roughly two days and is another complete pass of that system's First Aid
- The typical failure pattern is doing ~70% of a system's UWorld and moving on
- 70% system takes 5–6 days now; the finished system takes 7–10 days but removes weeks of emergency relearning
- Check UWorld completion percentage, not score — anything under 100% means the system is not finished

## Covers

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## Source

USMLE Vault — https://usmlevault.com
Author: Dr. Marish Asudani

Updated: 2026-08-26