My USMLE Step 1 Experience

My USMLE Step 1 Experience



4 years ago

~2.8 mins read
Step 1 Score: 265
Graduated from JSMU, YOG: Dec’17.
Preparation time: 21 Months
Uworld first pass, random: 83.7%
After wrong: 86%
I started my prep in 3rd year but I didn’t give much time to it due to extracurricular activities. I could not even finish Kaplan physiology in 2 months of vacations. Like this I spent my whole 2 years and graduated. The real deal started on January 8th, 2018. It took me 8 months to complete my FA and another 9 months to complete my Uworld. Yes, I am a slow reader.

Advertisement

Step 1 has a lot of NBMEs. It took me almost 3 months to complete these assessments after Uworld, and then took my exam on October 9th, 2019.
Resources:
- I used Goljan (just general part), Kaplan(notes and lectures), 100 cases of ethics, Uworld Biostates review, bnb just for extremely selected topics, High yield anatomy(just for upper and lower limbs), pathoma, and of course FA and Uworld. And above all, GOOGLE :P
- Goljan was useful for me. It cleared a lot of concepts of mine. Could not do systems from it because it required a lot of time which I could not afford.
- I did Kaplan and FA side by side.

Admin Sponsored

Make money posting ads on your blog

Generate passive income with your blog, website or social media. Join Adsterra

Cinque Terre
And also noted down points on FA which I felt were important. Kaplan is way more useful if you are weak in basics.
- I did same with Pathoma.
- Started my Uworld on September 2018. Initially my scores were low but it got better with time. I am a slow reader so did less questions a day and no. of question I did varied each day. Noted down Uworld points on my FA so that I can revise it for later.
Assessments:
I took assessments in the following order:
Nbme 7 at 60% Uworld: 15 mistakes
Nbme 11 at 80% Uworld: 19 mistakes
Nbme 12 just after Uworld: 15 mistakes
UWSA 1: 269
Nbme 15: 13 mistakes
Nbme 20: 27 mistakes. It was hard.
Nbme 23 (online): 246
Nbme 17: 7 mistakes
Nbme 19: 12 mistakes
Nbme 22(online): 263
Nbme 21: 16 mistakes
Nbme 16: 8 mistakes
UWSA 2: 269; Free 120: 89%. I did these two together to get exam feeling and it went pretty well.
Nbme 24 (online): 263
Nbme 18(online): 252
I read nbmes like the way we study uworld with FA. And that’s the way I revised my FA after uworld. It took me 3 to 4 days each nbme with new ones taking longer time.

Advertisement

That’s how I ended up giving 3 months to assessments.
Exam day:
I reached prometric center at 8:00am and at 8:35 my exam was started. I don’t know how and why but I was super chill, had zero anxiety and was calm the whole time unexpectedly. I had 4 hours sleep. I took some chocolates and some biscuits with me; no energy drinks. I took 4-5 minutes break after each block. Marked 3-7 questions each block.
I found exam easier than uworld and nbmes.

Advertisement

Uworld and nbmes prepare you for worst case scenario which is rare. Overall exam is doable.
Some suggestions from personal experience:
Every guy has a different approach and each approach has its own value. Whichever suits you just pick that and stick to it. Nobody is better tutor for you than you; you know yourself better. So whatever and whoever makes you understand and clears your concepts, go for it; it can be Kaplan notes and lectures, can be bnb etc. The main thing is to understand, now whoever does that, that doesn’t matter a lot.

Advertisement

Whatever you choose is right for you but but but after analyzing everything; not just blindly decide something and going for it. No! The things which suits you, which makes you understand go for those things.
If you forget things then congratulations you are just as same as others. Because everyone forgets; it’s too volatile. It’s completely okay to forget. Don’t stressed up on this or else you won’t be fully functional. Just see what you forgot, remember it again.

Advertisement

If you forget again, do the same. Eventually you will remember it and trust me this time you won’t forget for good.
Happy to answer any questions.

Was my post useful? Support me to keep creating useful content

Disclaimer If this post is your copyrighted property, please message this user or email us your request at team@pejoweb.com with a link to this post




14 likes
 

Advertisement

";

Advertisement