How to Study for the IMLE While Still in Medical School

Preparing for the Israeli Medical Licensing Examination (IMLE) while you are still enrolled in medical school is entirely possible — and, if done well, advantageous. This guide explains what the exam tests, which reference textbooks you should use, how to begin preparation during clinical years, practical study methods (including question practice), and how professional support can help you balance IMLE prep with your university responsibilities. At the end I summarize Brocali’s integrated IMLE program options so you can see one practical pathway to prepare efficiently.

What subjects are tested on the IMLE?

The IMLE focuses on core clinical disciplines. The main subject areas are:

• Internal Medicine

• Pediatrics

• Surgery

• Obstetrics & Gynecology

• Psychiatry

These fields form the backbone of the exam — plan your study around them. Note that some topics (for example, neurology) are often de-emphasized in IMLE items; check the official content table to confirm topic coverage and exclusions.

Official reference textbooks (what the ministry expects you to use)

The IMLE references specific textbooks as the primary sources for tested content. Study from the editions listed by the official site or later editions that meet the ministry’s timing rule (see note below):

• Psychiatry: Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry, 11th edition

• Internal Medicine: Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st edition

• Surgery: Sabiston: Textbook of Surgery, 21th edition

• Pediatrics: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st edition

  • Exception note from ministry: “All chapters except those dealing with the healthy infant (Chapter 11), resuscitation of infants (Chapter 13) and the breast (Chapter 63).”

• Obstetrics & Gynecology: Lange — Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Obstetrics & Gynecology, 12th edition 

Important ministry rule: The textbooks named above are required study material based on the most recent edition provided that the edition was published at least 9 months prior to the exam date. Always confirm edition eligibility with the official IMLE materials before relying on a later edition.

Familiarize yourself with the IMLE content specifications

Before deep study, read the official content table published by the Israeli Ministry of Health / IMLE organizers. The content table shows exactly which topics are included — and which are not — and should drive your prioritization.

Official content table: https://www.ima.org.il/main/viewcontent.aspx?categoryid=4906

Practical tip: use the content table to build a study checklist. Mark topics that are explicitly listed as tested, deprioritize those explicitly excluded, and treat frequently-omitted areas (e.g., neurology) with lower priority unless you encounter repeated exam items on them.

How should you start while you are in medical school? 

Begin during your clinical years. Clinical rotations are the natural moment to start IMLE work because you’ll be learning many of the exam’s core topics in the hospital setting.

Steps to start effectively:

1. Light, consistent exposure during rotations

   • Read relevant chapters of the reference textbooks that align with each rotation (e.g., read the corresponding Harrison chapter while on internal medicine).

   • Use short daily sessions (30–60 minutes) for IMLE reading rather than long weekend marathons.

2. Use summarized, textbook-referenced resources

   • If time is limited, use high-quality summaries and library collections that are built from the IMLE reference textbooks. These condense chapters into exam-focused notes without losing the ministry’s expected content. Brocali’s clinical knowledge library is one such example — articles summarize textbook chapters and map them to IMLE topics.

Figure. Brocali’s online medical library.

3. Watch focused clinical videos

   • Short, expert-led videos help turn dense textbook material into memorable explanations. Prefer videos created by clinicians who understand the licensing exam style and the local healthcare context. Brocali offers a modular short-video library aimed at exam-style learning and clinical rotations.

Figure. Brocali’s online video library. 

4. Integrate learning with clinical practice

   • Use patient encounters to anchor facts: tie a patient case to the textbook pathophysiology, typical presentation, and diagnostic approach. Clinical linkage improves retention and mimics IMLE-style vignettes.

Practice IMLE-style questions early and often

Question practice is essential. While you are doing hospital rotations:

• Start solving IMLE past questions and exam-style items. Doing questions exposes you to the exam’s language, typical distractors, and the types of clinical clues emphasized by the IMLE.

• Use past papers where available. Past questions help you understand real-format items (Brocali’s QBank includes many past IMLE items from ministry releases).

• Make question practice active: review explanations carefully, create short notes for recurring weak points, and return to the same topic after spaced intervals.

Practical rhythm: aim for frequent short question sessions (e.g., 20–40 questions, 2–3 times per week) during rotations; increase volume closer to your dedicated study block.

Figure. Brocali’s online QBank with comprehensive explanations. 

Ask for professional guidance to balance IMLE and university duties

Balancing IMLE prep with required university coursework requires planning. A few practical supports help:

• Academic planning: create a realistic calendar that maps rotations, exams, and incremental IMLE goals (topics, question sets, assessment dates).

• Progress checkups: schedule regular reviews to measure strengths and weak areas, then adapt the plan.

• Targeted tutoring: one-to-one sessions can accelerate learning on specific weaknesses without derailing your university performance.

Brocali’s approach combines structured planning, periodic assessments, and tailored tutoring to help students advance steadily without sacrificing university obligations.

What Brocali’s IMLE program offers 

Brocali offers a comprehensive IMLE plan that covers all the subjects, with the possibility of studying each topic separately. You can opt to learn all IMLE topics, or subscribe to specific topics like Internal Medicine and others. 

Feature	Unit / Quantity
Live group sessions	75 sessions (2 hrs each)
1-on-1 tutoring	16 hours (1 hr each)
Peer-peer mentorship	14 hours (1 hr each)
IMLE-style question bank	4,445+ cases
IMLE past test questions	2014–2025 (collection)
Module-based assessments	26 exams
Evaluation exams	2 exams
Question-practice workshops	14 sessions (2 hrs each)
Question-solving marathon	10 sessions (2.5 hrs each)
IMLE learning videos	720+ videos
Review sheets	560+ sheets
IMLE-focused flashcards	4,000+ cards
Academic planning	2 sessions (0.5 hrs each)
Progress checkups	4 sessions (0.5 hrs each)
Exam registration assistance	Optional
Technical support	Program period
WhatsApp study group access	Program period

How to use the program efficiently: pair live group sessions with concurrent QBank practice, use short video modules for quick topic refreshers during rotations, and book focused 1:1 tutoring for persistent, high-impact weaknesses. Use the progress checkups to time your evaluation exams so you only enter the full IMLE when your assessment scores and question performance are consistently strong.

Contact us now to find which plan suits you best!