Advice on timeline to take step I, ready?

[TJDoc7]

Hello,

Carrib. student, looking for advice from people who took step I and how their studying correlated w/various practice exams, if they were prepared, etc...Want to feel certainly CONFIDENT to pass, and hopefully score around 215,220+(being a realistic goal and not just saying 235+).

I have been searching on the internet and found a few forums w/simialr information, but they seemed a little dated and geared toward people scoring at the higher end (which is awesome, but would like to know anyone w/info a little more my average range)...so wanted to see if current trend still held true.

To sum up:
-Carrib. student, just started kaplan program.
-approx. 2 month ago,Only using first aid/UWorld (to study),untimed: 57%
-Uworld sim exam1: 400/192

This week:
-timed NBME free 150q: 68% (website said correlated to approx. 208)
-timed 150q kaplan diagnostic: 57% (which website stated 50-55% is "decent"...no confirmation from kaplan, other than around 40%=average).

-Still have the kaplan full length, some NBME's and the UWorld sim exam 2 to do, but looking to take the exam sometime first week in April about month after kaplan ends (about 3 mo. of hardcore studying, so still room to improve, just don't want to rely solely on these numbers and get some feedback as I heard a few stories about people getting somewhat burned on the step...scoring lower than anticipated by practice exams). So any experienced opinion as to enough time for prep?

I truly appreciate any advice/info that anyone has on subject. I will certainly try to pass along similar uptodate stats after I sit for the step.

Thanks.

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[TJDoc7]

Hello,

Carrib. student, looking for advice from people who took step I and how their studying correlated w/various practice exams, if they were prepared, etc...Want to feel certainly CONFIDENT to pass, and hopefully score around 215,220+(being a realistic goal and not just saying 235+).

I have been searching on the internet and found a few forums w/simialr information, but they seemed a little dated and geared toward people scoring at the higher end (which is awesome, but would like to know anyone w/info a little more my average range)...so wanted to see if current trend still held true.

To sum up:
-Carrib. student, just started kaplan program.
-approx. 2 month ago,Only using first aid/UWorld (to study),untimed: 57%
-Uworld sim exam1: 400/192

This week:
-timed NBME free 150q: 68% (website said correlated to approx. 208)
-timed 150q kaplan diagnostic: 57% (which website stated 50-55% is "decent"...no confirmation from kaplan, other than around 40%=average).

-Still have the kaplan full length, some NBME's and the UWorld sim exam 2 to do, but looking to take the exam sometime first week in April about month after kaplan ends (about 3 mo. of hardcore studying, so still room to improve, just don't want to rely solely on these numbers and get some feedback as I heard a few stories about people getting somewhat burned on the step...scoring lower than anticipated by practice exams). So any experienced opinion as to enough time for prep?

I truly appreciate any advice/info that anyone has on subject. I will certainly try to pass along similar uptodate stats after I sit for the step.

Thanks.

 

[howelljolly]

I dont know what any of those numbers mean. I will tell you that you will plateau off. After a certain point, you're scores won't get much better. You'll get fatigued, burnt out, and you'll start forgetting the stuff thats simply memorized (e.g. Micro)

If you are taking kaplan, follow their suggestions. I seem remember that during the class they just want you to review the notes, and do only the questions in the chapters for that day... so something like 5-10 questions per day... whatever

Do what kaplan says. after the course, take NO MORE than 2 months (If you're doing it right, you'll go crazy at 6 weeks).

Schedule your test day for 6 to 8 weeks after Kaplan ends. Do NOT change it unless you are getting <50% correct 2 weeks prior to the test day.

Any more than 2 months, and you are going to lower your score. Carib students who spent 1-2 months of serious studying did great. the ones that spent 6-8 or more months failed. There are outliers... but dont try that.

Point is... stick to a 6-8 week post-kaplan plan. Do not get nervous, and dont think that more is better. More just gives you more time to forget the stuff thats crammed up there by rote memorization rather than concepts.