Preparation for my Step 1

Hey all.....

I have got my first step score - 99. Let me tell you how my preparation for the first step went.....
Here is a brief description of my preparation for my first step. I have followed advices from my seniors and customized them to my needs.
I am posting this because, anyone who is starting their preparation would find it very much confusing regarding their plan of action.

" Dont make delay in starting the preparation"

" Your step 1 preparation should not be more than Five months"

" The only books that you have to go through are - Kaplan reviews ".

First reading

Now that you have settled in some place for ur step preparation, start the first reading. It is quite possible to complete the first reading in one month or at the maximum of one and a half month.

Regarding the order of reading the books,first start Anatomy. You can complete it very easily and you get some confidence. Then go for Physiology. Then pharmacology and Pathology.

Now comes ur first rough road. Start Behavioral science. Go for kaplan tapes when you are reading the Epidemiology and biostatistics. Read Behavioral science carefully and spare a considerable amount of time to understand the concepts. Excepting a few topics,most of the topics can be easily understood.

Now, start Biochemistry. I suggest you to spend the maximum possible time when you start biochemistry. I say this because, if you don't go through it in detail or read it superficially, the USMLE exam is gonna take you to task. A in depth understanding of concepts of Molecular biology is a MUST.
By now, you must have had come to an end of the first reading. Dont you let it go beyond one and half month.



Second reading

Now that you have completed your first reading, start the second reading. You now have a brief idea on what is what in step one preparation. So, the order of the sequence is up to you in this second reading.

But , this is the time when you have to start doing Bits.
After reading a subject do the bits for that subject immediately. Kaplan online qustion bank is the apt choice at this moment.

Kaplan is providing a free trial of 15 days access to its q bank. You can make use of it. Some may have an of line version of the Kaplan Qbank (called Kaplan blocks). I have given the link below. Register yourself and have fun.

Kaplan two week q bank trial

you can complete the second reading along with the bits in two months straight. Many advise to go for even Kaplan Q book along with the second reading.


USMLE World

Now,you have come to a pretty confident stage of going for USMLE world online question bank. Dont you dare to attempt USMLE world before you have "atleast two readings".
USMLE question bank is an absolute requirement for you to go to exam with confidence.

The Q- bank should be subscribed online and it costs a 100$ ( which is worth its cost). The questions in it are presented to you in the same way as that of the main exam.
Here is the link to USMLE world Question bank

USMLE World- online q bank . Step 1

Installation instructions- Take care that you dont have any screen capture softwares in your system. The software detects such programs and shuts down.
You will have to install a Java program on your desktop. You choose your user ID an password. You cant copy any of the slides. So, dont go for such tricks.

HOW TO DO THE USMLE WORLD BLOCKS

Allocate atleast 25 dsys for USMLE world. For the first 10 dsys, do, the bits subject wise. Do, half of the bits in each subject and save the remaining half for the next ten days so that you can do "CUMULATIVE" blocks which would boost your confidence.
In the next ten days do the cumulative blocks.
If your preparation is good enough, you ll get past 35 corrects per each block.

Write down those point which you find you dont know.
Do the same even when you are doing the Kaplan blocks.
Now you have 20- 30 dsys with you.
Revise the bits which you have written when doing the kaplan and USMLE blocks and give an online assesment test called NBME form 2 ( there are four forms and do which ever form is better for you. But, I am advised a form 2 )
Here is the link to that form 2

NBME Self assesment examination

This NBME assesment gives you an idea of how your preparation is.
When you are confident, go for your examination without changing the date.

The final preparation

Now you have come to the final part of the preparation. YOu can easily complete revision in 12 to 15 days. and spend a couple of days for revising the bits you have written.
Go to the exam with confidence.
Dont read anything on the day and the day before exam. It really makes you tensed. I have faced the same situation. I left reading on the evening before the exam date and had fun playing.