hi everyone, I got my score last night. I'm very happy with my score report. Through this post, would like to thank to everyone on this forum who has been a guide for students like myself. Posts on this forum have been extremely helpful during my prep. I'll be more than happy to help anyone who is preparing for step 1 and guide them thru their difficult time.
NBME 13 online: 243
NMBE 17 online: 249 (quite predictable)
Usmle Step 1: 247 Exam month: December
Total prep time: 7-8 months (13-14 hrs of study/day)
Study material: Kaplan (except Goljan for pathology), Dr. Najeeb lecture notes (it took me extra 2 months to see all 400 hrs of lecture notes and make written notes), first aid, Uworld q bank
Study plan: Started with neuroanatomy from Dr. Najeeb videos, made notes from Dr. Najeeb (for revision)+ did Kaplan neuroanatomy side by side.
Followed same plan for subjects like biochemistry, immunology, Physiology.
Goljan: Total three reads, also did CNS (most students tend to skip it), Chapters like immunopathology and genetics were really helpful while doing their respective Uworld questions.
Some people prefer pathoma, its a great book i would say. i didnt read it cuz i had already gone thru goljan and didnt want to waste time on a new book. Goljan has soooo much information that On first read, u end up confused that "do i actually remember what I just read". Thats the reason why i had to go through goljan three times
So if u like to grasp more info (which might prove helpful) go for goljan. Otherwise Pathoma is a choice of book for students who have less time and want to get maximum out of a book in 1-2 reads.
Behavioral/ biostats: Kaplan + FA + Uworld. Some people prefer BRS but I had already gone thru kaplan videos and lecture notes. and didnt have time go thru another book.
Ethics: Most tested on my exam. I did Conrad fischers ethics book. Go thru it atleast twice. I wish i had read it twice .
Pharmacology: Kaplan videos and lecture notes. + ANS from Dr. Najeeb. + FA+ uworld
Microbiology: Kaplan + FA+ Uworld
Embryology: Kaplan + Dr Najeeb + FA + UW. Uworld has now added many new illustrations in embryology and they are quite helpful in memorising stuff.
Anatomy: kaplan (must do) + FA + UW. most difficult part of my exam. Although i had a higher performance in my score report in gross anatomy and embryology but i can't believe it lol.))
upper limb and lower limb are a must from kaplan (FA doesnt really explain every injury, Not sure about the 2016 edition)
I also referred Netters anatomy for better understanding of nerves of upper limb and lower limb.
Arteries of upper and lower limb are also important.
If u really want to score good in anatomy, choose a good book (not kaplan) that has explainations in a little more detail than kaplan. For that ofcourse, you need more time.
First revision: After I was done ONCE with kaplan and dr.NAJEEB, I started a second read of My notes that i made from Dr. Najeeb + Kaplan books itself, this time along with FA and Uworld.
I would do one unit e.g. Neurology, do its FA and then uworld.
and so on for all the other subjects
uworld score was ~70-75%
Second revision : Only First Aid and Uworld online.
So I Did uworld online twice, second time score was ~90% (idk if that matters but just for your reference)
by this time, it was end october. My next step was revision of uworld.
for that, i made uworld notes while I did it online, Although i still had a uworld subscription but i preferred reading my notes cuz they included notes from ques that were new to me and The ques i DID wrong. Revising uworld proved VERY VERY HELPFUL
I would advise each one of you to make ur own uworld notes for revision. ( i know some people who dont )
November: revised uworld notes and First aid, Took NBME 13 online in last week of november: 243 (extended feedback)
repeated same in december: Uworld notes + First aid 4th revision,
Took NBME 17 online 1 week before exam- 249 (extended feedback)
during the last week: Last and fifth revision of First aid only (although I couldnt go thru Psychiatry and one more unit).
Final EXAM: 247.
Thankyou everyone for bearing with me. I wish everyone good luck and pray for your good score on step 1.lz:lz:
NBME 13 online: 243
NMBE 17 online: 249 (quite predictable)
Usmle Step 1: 247 Exam month: December
Total prep time: 7-8 months (13-14 hrs of study/day)
Study material: Kaplan (except Goljan for pathology), Dr. Najeeb lecture notes (it took me extra 2 months to see all 400 hrs of lecture notes and make written notes), first aid, Uworld q bank
Study plan: Started with neuroanatomy from Dr. Najeeb videos, made notes from Dr. Najeeb (for revision)+ did Kaplan neuroanatomy side by side.
Followed same plan for subjects like biochemistry, immunology, Physiology.
Goljan: Total three reads, also did CNS (most students tend to skip it), Chapters like immunopathology and genetics were really helpful while doing their respective Uworld questions.
Some people prefer pathoma, its a great book i would say. i didnt read it cuz i had already gone thru goljan and didnt want to waste time on a new book. Goljan has soooo much information that On first read, u end up confused that "do i actually remember what I just read". Thats the reason why i had to go through goljan three times
So if u like to grasp more info (which might prove helpful) go for goljan. Otherwise Pathoma is a choice of book for students who have less time and want to get maximum out of a book in 1-2 reads.
Behavioral/ biostats: Kaplan + FA + Uworld. Some people prefer BRS but I had already gone thru kaplan videos and lecture notes. and didnt have time go thru another book.
Ethics: Most tested on my exam. I did Conrad fischers ethics book. Go thru it atleast twice. I wish i had read it twice .
Pharmacology: Kaplan videos and lecture notes. + ANS from Dr. Najeeb. + FA+ uworld
Microbiology: Kaplan + FA+ Uworld
Embryology: Kaplan + Dr Najeeb + FA + UW. Uworld has now added many new illustrations in embryology and they are quite helpful in memorising stuff.
Anatomy: kaplan (must do) + FA + UW. most difficult part of my exam. Although i had a higher performance in my score report in gross anatomy and embryology but i can't believe it lol.))
upper limb and lower limb are a must from kaplan (FA doesnt really explain every injury, Not sure about the 2016 edition)
I also referred Netters anatomy for better understanding of nerves of upper limb and lower limb.
Arteries of upper and lower limb are also important.
If u really want to score good in anatomy, choose a good book (not kaplan) that has explainations in a little more detail than kaplan. For that ofcourse, you need more time.
First revision: After I was done ONCE with kaplan and dr.NAJEEB, I started a second read of My notes that i made from Dr. Najeeb + Kaplan books itself, this time along with FA and Uworld.
I would do one unit e.g. Neurology, do its FA and then uworld.
and so on for all the other subjects
uworld score was ~70-75%
Second revision : Only First Aid and Uworld online.
So I Did uworld online twice, second time score was ~90% (idk if that matters but just for your reference)
by this time, it was end october. My next step was revision of uworld.
for that, i made uworld notes while I did it online, Although i still had a uworld subscription but i preferred reading my notes cuz they included notes from ques that were new to me and The ques i DID wrong. Revising uworld proved VERY VERY HELPFUL
I would advise each one of you to make ur own uworld notes for revision. ( i know some people who dont )
November: revised uworld notes and First aid, Took NBME 13 online in last week of november: 243 (extended feedback)
repeated same in december: Uworld notes + First aid 4th revision,
Took NBME 17 online 1 week before exam- 249 (extended feedback)
during the last week: Last and fifth revision of First aid only (although I couldnt go thru Psychiatry and one more unit).
Final EXAM: 247.
Thankyou everyone for bearing with me. I wish everyone good luck and pray for your good score on step 1.lz:lz: