[jbbossardi]

Hello everybody,

I'm in the third year of medical school in Brazil (here we don't have the pre-med, we have 6 years of med school instead) and I'm planning on taking the step 1 but I'm really afraid of it.

Some people told me that knowing everything that is on FA and doing a lot of questions I'll do great, is that really true?

Thanks in advance!

 

[khanar]

Yes, that's true

That's absolutely true

Am in US medical school but most of my seniors have aced this exam using FA and FA only + Kaplan Qbank + USMLE World

Seriously FA is enough

 

[convalescence]

you know its not just about knowing whats in FA, but understanding whats in FA, you can memorize FA all you want but if you dont understand the concepts behind it youre not going to do very well on the exam. there are questions on the exam that ask you details and are specific that come straight out of first aid, but a good portion of the exam also tests you on concepts. so I say know whats in FA but also know the Why and How behind "the what."

 

[heights]

I have not taken Step 1 yet, but I seriously find it difficult to believe FA by itself is enough. FA is an outline, and for sure if you understand everything in it then you would be fine for Step 1, the trick is that you will have to use other books or sources to really understand most of what's in FA. I am currently in medical school and I am annotating FA with explanations so that next year when I get ready to really study it will be more comprehensive. So if next year you hear me say I am only using FA, it's because this year I am reading Robbins, Costanzo and Goljan in my classes. In fact, that's what many AMGs do. Even the authors of FA say that it's not meant to be a stand-alone book, and suggest other books to complement it. If your class textbooks are good enough complements, then you might not need other review books, but don't sell yourself short by limiting your resources.

 

[donofitaly]

Hello everybody,

I'm in the third year of medical school in Brazil (here we don't have the pre-med, we have 6 years of med school instead) and I'm planning on taking the step 1 but I'm really afraid of it.

Some people told me that knowing everything that is on FA and doing a lot of questions I'll do great, is that really true?

Thanks in advance!

This link might be useful for you : http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-s.../786-usmle-step-1-preparation-books-plan.html

 

[convalescence]

I have not taken Step 1 yet, but I seriously find it difficult to believe FA by itself is enough. FA is an outline, and for sure if you understand everything in it then you would be fine for Step 1, the trick is that you will have to use other books or sources to really understand most of what's in FA. I am currently in medical school and I am annotating FA with explanations so that next year when I get ready to really study it will be more comprehensive. So if next year you hear me say I am only using FA, it's because this year I am reading Robbins, Costanzo and Goljan in my classes. In fact, that's what many AMGs do. Even the authors of FA say that it's not meant to be a stand-alone book, and suggest other books to complement it. If your class textbooks are good enough complements, then you might not need other review books, but don't sell yourself short by limiting your resources.

You're absolutely right, I did Kaplan, and as I was doing Kaplan I was taking notes. and then after I finished with Kaplan, I transferred all those notes into my FA 2010 because FA is not complete, so like your FA, it's also annotated. Because like you said, FA is an outline, and I can tell you there are some chapters that are really good and didn't need much annotating, but there are some chapters, like Neuro that needed more annotating. But I definitely agree with you, if your class textbooks are good complements, you don't need the review books, but FA still needs explanatory notes

 

[good_boy_1234]

I suggest that you postpone it after the first clinical year bcz most of step 1 now contains clinical scenarios.

 

[lsheghewi]

As u know u have to be fully prepared for the exam so u get a nice score, i say its better if u wait till u finish coz when u know the clinical side of the info, u answer much better and it takes fewer time, the exam is LONG, im sure u know these details, but its one chance.. So dont blow it my friend.. the materials i suggest & wich are the most popular: FA, kaplan videos, & ALOT OF MCQs (usmleworld.com) and the most important is to read the explanation of the answers, Wishing u the best of luck.. ^_^​