USMLE step 1 experience by Dr Abbas M. Hassan
This forum motivated me a lot during my preparation for this exam, I used it as a guide and a learning tool. So here I am today sharing my experience as a payback to this amazing forum!
Studying for this exam is indeed one of the hardest things you will ever do but having the right approach will help and save you a lot of time. Remember to always be excited and have the foresight of making yourself a better doctor.
Also, don’t forget to always maintain a healthy lifestyle, as your state of mind is influenced by your health.
𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬:
The order of assessments taken is as follows;
NBME 13: 248
CBSE: 252 (91%)
NBME 15: 250
NBME 16: 256
NBME 17: 261
NBME 19 + UWSA1 (back to back): 264 and 271 respectively.
UWSA2: 264
NBME 18: 261
Free 120: 89%
Usmle Rx: 84%
Beckers qbank: 81%
Kaplan qbank: I don’t exactly remember but in the ’80s
Uworld qbank: 89% (Random, timed)
Old NBME’s: I did all of them on timed mode, scores ranged from low 240’s to high 250’s
Actual score: 𝟐𝟔𝟓
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝:
A) Subject-wise:
1-Pathology: Pathoma + Goljan rapid review and audio
2-Pharm: Beckers review + Sketchy pharm
3-Physiology: BRS physiology + Beckers review
4-Microbiology: Microbiology made simple + Sketchy micro
5-Behavioral science: Beckers review+ BRS questions+ 100 ethics cases +UW biostats review+ Randy Neil videos on YouTube.
6-Biochemistry: Beckers review
7-Anatomy: Beckers review+ BRS anatomy+ 100 concepts
8-Immunology: Beckers review and Abbas basic immunology
B) By resource:
1-First Aid: done 5-6 times, 5 stars, a must-do,
2-Goljan RR: done 2 times, very time consuming, do only if you have plenty of time or your path background is weak.
3-Pathoma: Must do, almost all you need to know about path.
4-Sketchy: I think this is a gift from God. The best resource out there.
5-Micro made simple: amazing, complement with sketchy for a stunning outcome
6-BRS physio: done 2 times, a must do for physio.
Qbanks: UW>>Rx>Kaplan>beckers
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
I am a NON-US IMG from Sudan. Top 1% of class on a mid-tier Caribbean medical school.
My preparation for this test is divided into two phases: 1) Pre-dedicated 2) dedicated study period.
1- Pre-dedicated:
Our program is 4 years, two are basic sciences and 2 are clinical sciences.
MS1-2: after studying every organ system I use to do UW, Rx and sometimes Kaplan qbank and read the relevant section from the First Aid. I also used pathoma and sketchy at this stage.
After finishing MS2 our school enrolls us in beckers USMLE step1 live courses.
I watched almost all their videos except path and micro, for which I did Pathoma+Goljan and sketchy.
I also did Integrated cases with Dr. Raymon, shout out to this amazing professor he is literally one of the smartest people I met.
After finishing their lectures, I did their Qbank followed by Kaplan Qbank.
2- Dedicated study period:
Total time: 5 weeks.
Focused primarily on doing UW + FA
On the first week, I used to do 80 questions/day and reading FA thoroughly
2nd week to 4th week: 120 questions/day of UW + FA
5th week: I focused on my week areas and did the Basics section of FA again
Note: I also used B&B for my week topics and also referenced my review books.
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲:
I slept well the day before my test. Woke up at 5 am to pray and meditate.
Packed all of my snacks and beverages the night before.
Arrived at the testing center early but I was allowed to start my test as soon as I arrived.
I had 280 questions on my test. Timing wasn’t a problem as I finished every block with 10-15 mins on average. I used the spare time to go over the marked question and to quickly make sure I didn’t do any stupid mistakes on the rest of the questions.
The exam is fair, with 80-90% covered in UW + FA. 5-10% was really out of nowhere, in this case, made my best guess and moved on without wasting so much time.
𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞:
1-In my humble opinion,
This forum motivated me a lot during my preparation for this exam, I used it as a guide and a learning tool. So here I am today sharing my experience as a payback to this amazing forum!
Studying for this exam is indeed one of the hardest things you will ever do but having the right approach will help and save you a lot of time. Remember to always be excited and have the foresight of making yourself a better doctor.
Also, don’t forget to always maintain a healthy lifestyle, as your state of mind is influenced by your health.
𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬:
The order of assessments taken is as follows;
NBME 13: 248
CBSE: 252 (91%)
NBME 15: 250
NBME 16: 256
NBME 17: 261
NBME 19 + UWSA1 (back to back): 264 and 271 respectively.
UWSA2: 264
NBME 18: 261
Free 120: 89%
Usmle Rx: 84%
Beckers qbank: 81%
Kaplan qbank: I don’t exactly remember but in the ’80s
Uworld qbank: 89% (Random, timed)
Old NBME’s: I did all of them on timed mode, scores ranged from low 240’s to high 250’s
Actual score: 𝟐𝟔𝟓
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝:
A) Subject-wise:
1-Pathology: Pathoma + Goljan rapid review and audio
2-Pharm: Beckers review + Sketchy pharm
3-Physiology: BRS physiology + Beckers review
4-Microbiology: Microbiology made simple + Sketchy micro
5-Behavioral science: Beckers review+ BRS questions+ 100 ethics cases +UW biostats review+ Randy Neil videos on YouTube.
6-Biochemistry: Beckers review
7-Anatomy: Beckers review+ BRS anatomy+ 100 concepts
8-Immunology: Beckers review and Abbas basic immunology
B) By resource:
1-First Aid: done 5-6 times, 5 stars, a must-do,
2-Goljan RR: done 2 times, very time consuming, do only if you have plenty of time or your path background is weak.
3-Pathoma: Must do, almost all you need to know about path.
4-Sketchy: I think this is a gift from God. The best resource out there.
5-Micro made simple: amazing, complement with sketchy for a stunning outcome
6-BRS physio: done 2 times, a must do for physio.
Qbanks: UW>>Rx>Kaplan>beckers
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
I am a NON-US IMG from Sudan. Top 1% of class on a mid-tier Caribbean medical school.
My preparation for this test is divided into two phases: 1) Pre-dedicated 2) dedicated study period.
1- Pre-dedicated:
Our program is 4 years, two are basic sciences and 2 are clinical sciences.
MS1-2: after studying every organ system I use to do UW, Rx and sometimes Kaplan qbank and read the relevant section from the First Aid. I also used pathoma and sketchy at this stage.
After finishing MS2 our school enrolls us in beckers USMLE step1 live courses.
I watched almost all their videos except path and micro, for which I did Pathoma+Goljan and sketchy.
I also did Integrated cases with Dr. Raymon, shout out to this amazing professor he is literally one of the smartest people I met.
After finishing their lectures, I did their Qbank followed by Kaplan Qbank.
2- Dedicated study period:
Total time: 5 weeks.
Focused primarily on doing UW + FA
On the first week, I used to do 80 questions/day and reading FA thoroughly
2nd week to 4th week: 120 questions/day of UW + FA
5th week: I focused on my week areas and did the Basics section of FA again
Note: I also used B&B for my week topics and also referenced my review books.
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲:
I slept well the day before my test. Woke up at 5 am to pray and meditate.
Packed all of my snacks and beverages the night before.
Arrived at the testing center early but I was allowed to start my test as soon as I arrived.
I had 280 questions on my test. Timing wasn’t a problem as I finished every block with 10-15 mins on average. I used the spare time to go over the marked question and to quickly make sure I didn’t do any stupid mistakes on the rest of the questions.
The exam is fair, with 80-90% covered in UW + FA. 5-10% was really out of nowhere, in this case, made my best guess and moved on without wasting so much time.
𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞:
1-In my humble opinion,