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Hi everyone,
Got my step 1 score 99/255
I would like to share my experience with you all.
Period of preparation: 3 1/2 months.
Exam date- 31/Jan/2011
result date- 23/Feb/2011
Books followed- kaplan books for all subjects except goljan for pathology.
Robbins pathology for reference.
Q banks worked out-
1. Kaplan q book during the initial period of preparation.
2. FIRST AID after completing the kaplan books once.
3. subscribed U world for one month after revising highly volatile subjects like biochem, immunology and physiology.
4. some offline Usmle rx- stopped working out because many questions are repeats from first aid.
5. BRS biochem[80%], BRS immunology, USMLE road map histology and embryology.
6. Pictures in pathology, microbiology from a book BIG PICTURE.
During preparation-
1.Anatomy was easy but neuro anatomy was somewhat difficult- atleast 3 times revision is needed to master it.
2.Physiology- was like physics really enjoyed reading it. used kaplan videos for cvs and RS.
3.Biochem- the nightmare. Needs minimum 4 complete readings before exam. u need to literally mug up the reactions. used kaplan videos for genetics.
4.Immunology- kaplan videos was very helpful. Its purely based on concept.
5. Behavioural science- just like psychiatry. good enough to follow kaplan book.
6. Used BRS genetics to understand some concepts especially hardy weinberg equation.
7. Pharmac- too kaplan sufficient. Anti neoplastic/ chemotherapy alone U need to refer for which the books u read during under-graduation is more than enough.
Generally videos are needed only when you dont understand concepts, its not mandatory. It also suits for goljan audios. I didnt listen to any of goljan audio. Reasons are I didn't have sufficient period at the same time I didn't realize that its necessary.
Month before exam-
subscribed U world exactly 40 days before exam. Did U world subject wise along with which I revised biochem, pharmac, physio and immunology.
completed U world in 20 days at an average 2 to 3 blocks per day along with explanations.
Took 2 seven hours test, one is the seven hr block given in first aid day before starting U world and another 7 hrs test compiling 7 blocks of U world in single day.
consistently getting 70 to 80%, initially struggled to get more than 70 % in biochem alone.
revised all incorrect and marked questions in 5 days.
10 days before exam-
did 2 usmle world simulation and revised anat, behavioural sciences etc except pathology. I felt kind of easy more or less similar to U world qbank.
took nbme form 7- 6 days before exam, I would say the most difficult of all preparation stuff tougher than U world simulation.
Had no time to revise pathology and more over i didn't even care because of the fear of biochem.
Day before exam-
Tried not to read but could n't resist, revised my own notes and U world notes.
And also watched some programs in TV along with my friend.
Summary of my scores-
U world- 82%
U world simulation 1 and 2- 265(810)
NBME form 7- 630(251)
On exam day-
Really had no problem till the exam started. There comes the thriller after the exam started, stunned because of lot of genetics, molecular biology and electron microscopy questions in the first 3 blocks. Not even able to remember those questions now. The next 4 blocks are moderate stuff. Had bitter feeling after the exam, started underestimating myself literally. But had a nice chicken meal as soon as the exam was over and watched 3 movies whole night.
ALL THE BEST FOR STEP 1 TAKERS
Got my step 1 score 99/255
I would like to share my experience with you all.Period of preparation: 3 1/2 months.
Exam date- 31/Jan/2011
result date- 23/Feb/2011
Books followed- kaplan books for all subjects except goljan for pathology.
Robbins pathology for reference.
Q banks worked out-
1. Kaplan q book during the initial period of preparation.
2. FIRST AID after completing the kaplan books once.
3. subscribed U world for one month after revising highly volatile subjects like biochem, immunology and physiology.
4. some offline Usmle rx- stopped working out because many questions are repeats from first aid.
5. BRS biochem[80%], BRS immunology, USMLE road map histology and embryology.
6. Pictures in pathology, microbiology from a book BIG PICTURE.
During preparation-
1.Anatomy was easy but neuro anatomy was somewhat difficult- atleast 3 times revision is needed to master it.
2.Physiology- was like physics really enjoyed reading it. used kaplan videos for cvs and RS.
3.Biochem- the nightmare. Needs minimum 4 complete readings before exam. u need to literally mug up the reactions. used kaplan videos for genetics.
4.Immunology- kaplan videos was very helpful. Its purely based on concept.
5. Behavioural science- just like psychiatry. good enough to follow kaplan book.
6. Used BRS genetics to understand some concepts especially hardy weinberg equation.
7. Pharmac- too kaplan sufficient. Anti neoplastic/ chemotherapy alone U need to refer for which the books u read during under-graduation is more than enough.
Generally videos are needed only when you dont understand concepts, its not mandatory. It also suits for goljan audios. I didnt listen to any of goljan audio. Reasons are I didn't have sufficient period at the same time I didn't realize that its necessary.
Month before exam-
subscribed U world exactly 40 days before exam. Did U world subject wise along with which I revised biochem, pharmac, physio and immunology.
completed U world in 20 days at an average 2 to 3 blocks per day along with explanations.
Took 2 seven hours test, one is the seven hr block given in first aid day before starting U world and another 7 hrs test compiling 7 blocks of U world in single day.
consistently getting 70 to 80%, initially struggled to get more than 70 % in biochem alone.
revised all incorrect and marked questions in 5 days.
10 days before exam-
did 2 usmle world simulation and revised anat, behavioural sciences etc except pathology. I felt kind of easy more or less similar to U world qbank.
took nbme form 7- 6 days before exam, I would say the most difficult of all preparation stuff tougher than U world simulation.
Had no time to revise pathology and more over i didn't even care because of the fear of biochem.
Day before exam-
Tried not to read but could n't resist, revised my own notes and U world notes.
And also watched some programs in TV along with my friend.
Summary of my scores-
U world- 82%
U world simulation 1 and 2- 265(810)
NBME form 7- 630(251)
On exam day-
Really had no problem till the exam started. There comes the thriller after the exam started, stunned because of lot of genetics, molecular biology and electron microscopy questions in the first 3 blocks. Not even able to remember those questions now. The next 4 blocks are moderate stuff. Had bitter feeling after the exam, started underestimating myself literally. But had a nice chicken meal as soon as the exam was over and watched 3 movies whole night.
ALL THE BEST FOR STEP 1 TAKERS
