How many weeks to take to study for Step 1?

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alisepeep

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My first rotation will be vacation so im not too worried about being burned out...so should i take the maximum time (6 weeks) between school end and boards?
 
alisepeep said:
My first rotation will be vacation so im not too worried about being burned out...so should i take the maximum time (6 weeks) between school end and boards?
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I think 6 weeks is too much time but that seems to be the "gold standard" for ppl.. def no more but I took like 5 1/2 weeks and act moved up my exam a little and I was still so burnt out and ready to get it over a week before the exam which was rlly not fun.
 
I'm trying to plan out how much time to allot myself - how much is a reasonable amount of time to do 2 blocks of world, with reviewing the answers/annotating into FA?
 
Five weeks is enough to go through multiple resources multiple times. I took 5.5 weeks, and honestly, I was about to die during the last couple of days. The studying was not productive at all. I could have easily moved my test up by a week and probably still do as well and be less burnt out.
 
I used 6 weeks. Thought it was sufficient for Step 1; I could probably have taken the exam at 5 weeks and done about the same. You should schedule wisely as this is an incredibly important test.
 
VisionaryTics said:
3-5 weeks.
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Concur. I ended up taking 4.5 weeks (timed it to where I'd have a week off before 3rd year). I was pretty much ready to take the test at 3.5 weeks. Not sure how much the 1 week helped my score or my sanity.
 
Gave myself 5 weeks, at the 2 week mark point I moved up the test and did about 3 1/2-4 weeks.
 
Hey all just wanted to bump up this thread... it seems like the consensus is 6wks is too long. Could anyone else comment on their experience? I am trying to find the right date...

It seems ppl get burned out around the 5 week point?

My goal is around ~250 so I don't want to sell myself short, but then again I don't want to add useless days that could be taken as precious vacation before 3rd yr...

Also, I would like to take a few days to recuperate from the end of classes...
 
starstarie said:
Hey all just wanted to bump up this thread... it seems like the consensus is 6wks is too long. Could anyone else comment on their experience? I am trying to find the right date...

It seems ppl get burned out around the 5 week point?

My goal is around ~250 so I don't want to sell myself short, but then again I don't want to add useless days that could be taken as precious vacation before 3rd yr...

Also, I would like to take a few days to recuperate from the end of classes...
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I did about 23 days which turned out fine (passed my goal) but it was a little cramped and required a bit of compensatory planning ahead of time. I'm pretty certain that about 5 more days would have benefited me. That being said, I lost steam like 1-2 days before my test -- just in time (but this could have been because I knew the end was near also). Maybe do 30 days?

Whatever you do, try not to let your MS2-3 vacation factor into the decision. You'll hate yourself if you don't reach your goal after that.
 
I took 7 weeks. I thought I was ready by 5 weeks. 4 weeks would have been way too short. Was tired by 6 weeks. But having the extra time gave me peace of mind and let me read review books like kaplan biochem but I don't think that it was necessary. pathoma, goljan, uworld will take you a long way if you have a good foundation to begin with

Vacations are key though, definitely take one after you take the test. If you have 6 weeks, I would take 5-5.5 weeks to study and give yourself a little break.
 
Curious about the lack of any mention of preparedness affecting study time. If someone's been organized with Firecracker or other review products, wouldn't they be able to review in a shorter amount of time? Or is all of this assuming the OP has already done this?
 
SuckySurgeon7 said:
Curious about the lack of any mention of preparedness affecting study time. If someone's been organized with Firecracker or other review products, wouldn't they be able to review in a shorter amount of time? Or is all of this assuming the OP has already done this?
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But you also need to time to go thru Qbanks and review the answers.
 
Some may disagree with my approach but I started reviewing stuff about 3 months before my dedicated study period of 5 weeks. I would read a little bit of FA every day and by the time I got to my 5 week period I had made one thorough pass through FA which really helped facilitate my studying since I was familiar with everything in the book. Also, Qbanks take a lot of time to do well, so I started Uworld a bit early to make sure I could make the most of it. When the dedicated period came around I felt that 4 weeks would've been plenty.
 
SuckySurgeon7 said:
Curious about the lack of any mention of preparedness affecting study time. If someone's been organized with Firecracker or other review products, wouldn't they be able to review in a shorter amount of time? Or is all of this assuming the OP has already done this?
Click to expand...

I guess because the preparedness will help whether you take a short or long amount of time, and more study time will help whether you were unprepared or prepared.

I would never settle into the mindset of "oh, well I have a good foundation, so I'll just study less" for the most important test of the rest of your life.
 
I would take between 5 and 5.5 weeks. Then a 1 week break.
 
Everyone is different. However, the majority of my class (including myself) who scored well above average spent about 5+ weeks studying. In addition, a significant percentage started studying along with classes in March/April for the test in June.

Do you plan on doing a little studying (i.e. q bank or first aid) along with classes this spring?

Depending on the above answer, you might want the full 6weeks if you're going for a 250.

The bottom line is this:

1. You only get to take step 1 once.
2. How would you feel if you only studied for 4 weeks and ended up with a 230?
 
If I have 7-8 weeks for Step 1 and vacation before 3rd year, would it be a really bad idea to take a vacation the 3rd week? My gf will have a week off then and she will definitely want to go somewhere. Would 5-6 days off during this time be very inadvisable?
 
I used about 2-2.5 weeks of my dedicated period to study and used the rest for vacation and some research/conference stuff.

Don't do what I did.

It worked for me, but probably not advisable unless you know yourself to be a very good test taker and feel confident you can do well with minimal dedicated time.

I feel like I did Step study along and along using FC and Qbanks throughout M1/M2 along with my classes. By the time dedicated study time rolled around I felt pretty solid and my baseline score was already something I'd be happy with. I think the 2 weeks helped me refresh some stuff and get used to long blocks of USMLE style questions.

If anyone is leaning toward a shorter period, a nice compromise might be to schedule a date 5 weeks out and then move it up if things go really well and you feel pretty solid.
 
DermViser said:
Only on f'ing SDN is a 230 (still higher than the average which is 227) considered a bad score. +pissed+
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A 230 is not bad at all. It's a very good score.

My comment was meant for below poster and any other med students shooting for around a 250.

starstarie said:
Hey all just wanted to bump up this thread... it seems like the consensus is 6wks is too long. Could anyone else comment on their experience? I am trying to find the right date...

It seems ppl get burned out around the 5 week point?

My goal is around ~250 so I don't want to sell myself short, but then again I don't want to add useless days that could be taken as precious vacation before 3rd yr...

Also, I would like to take a few days to recuperate from the end of classes...
Click to expand...
 
If you're happy with a 230 and are consistently getting above that mark on practice exams, then by all means, take the test sooner.

There's no reason to study for 5 or 6 weeks in that case.

Enjoy the extra vacation time.
 
alpinism said:
A 230 is not bad at all. It's a very good score. My comment was meant for below poster and any other med students shooting for around a 250.
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I think huge confounders are how much extra legwork the student has done in preparing for Step 1 before that 4-8 week cram period, that person's stamina and endurance in studying and doing Qbank questions, and ability to take in, process, and learn new information. That's why the question overall is not a great question bc these 3 factors are different for everyone.
 
Thanks for all the opinions guys! I scheduled for 5.5 weeks! I think that sounds like a good happy medium. I have also been doing an anki deck along with classes and some questions from the Rx bank (though just leisurely). I was planning to step it up this spring.

Unfortunately for me, it seems that everything I'm interested in really competitive, so I'm trying to keep my options open with a high score!
 
starstarie said:
Thanks for all the opinions guys! I scheduled for 5.5 weeks! I think that sounds like a good happy medium. I have also been doing an anki deck along with classes and some questions from the Rx bank (though just leisurely). I was planning to step it up this spring.

Unfortunately for me, it seems that everything I'm interested in really competitive, so I'm trying to keep my options open with a high score!
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You may want to use this app: http://cramfighter.com/, it will actually make a schedule for you, based on the review books you use (they're all in there - split by chapter) and Qbanks you use. You just have to put in how much time you'll need.
 
DermViser said:
You may want to use this app: http://cramfighter.com/, it will actually make a schedule for you, based on the review books you use (they're all in there - split by chapter) and Qbanks you use. You just have to put in how much time you'll need.
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I studied for a week and got a 300. Fancy wins!

(I was actually just going to ask if there were apps out there that could help schedule study time. nice post dermie)
 
I'm debating taking the test with 5 weeks of full time studying (I'm taking both the USMLE and COMLEX) so that I have enough time to do last minute relaxing/wedding prep stuff vs taking the test after 6 weeks and getting married a few days after so I'm having a similar dilemma. :S
 
sobored said:
Some may disagree with my approach but I started reviewing stuff about 3 months before my dedicated study period of 5 weeks. I would read a little bit of FA every day and by the time I got to my 5 week period I had made one thorough pass through FA which really helped facilitate my studying since I was familiar with everything in the book. Also, Qbanks take a lot of time to do well, so I started Uworld a bit early to make sure I could make the most of it. When the dedicated period came around I felt that 4 weeks would've been plenty.
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I haven't Stepped yet, but I think starting off your dedicated period having a thorough pass of FA under your belt is a solid plan.
 
I am just an accepted med student, but it seems like the average SDNer studies for 3+ months for the MCAT yet it seems like most posts in this thread are advocating for less time for Step 1. Is this just due to time constraints built into the medical school schedule/curriculum? Or is it a test that just ultimately requires less studying to do well? Anyone thoughts?
 
Sketcha said:
I am just an accepted med student, but it seems like the average SDNer studies for 3+ months for the MCAT yet it seems like most posts in this thread are advocating for less time for Step 1. Is this just due to time constraints built into the medical school schedule/curriculum? Or is it a test that just ultimately requires less studying to do well? Anyone thoughts?
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You should have been studying for months prior during second year on the side and as you study for your own curriculum. MS2 curriculum usually has a 6-8 weeks or so of built-in study/break time before third year. How much of that you take for dedicated 10 hour per day studying vs. getting a much needed rejuvenation before 3rd year is what's up for debate. Right now, I'm planning about 5 weeks dedicated study time for myself. I have to move before my next clinical rotations and I still will be able to fit in a week long vacation if everything works out.
 
Sketcha said:
I am just an accepted med student, but it seems like the average SDNer studies for 3+ months for the MCAT yet it seems like most posts in this thread are advocating for less time for Step 1. Is this just due to time constraints built into the medical school schedule/curriculum? Or is it a test that just ultimately requires less studying to do well? Anyone thoughts?
Click to expand...
People here are referring to the number of weeks of focused review and testing/assessment (thru Qbanks and NBME self-assessments) at the end of MS-2. However, students are studying throughout MS-2 and doing a Qbank (like USMLE Rx) to solidify that information for later retrieval.
 
Sketcha said:
I am just an accepted med student, but it seems like the average SDNer studies for 3+ months for the MCAT yet it seems like most posts in this thread are advocating for less time for Step 1. Is this just due to time constraints built into the medical school schedule/curriculum? Or is it a test that just ultimately requires less studying to do well? Anyone thoughts?
Click to expand...

Another thing to keep in mind is that when most people talk about studying for the MCAT, their study schedule is only a few hours per day during the week or even just on the weekends for 3 months.

Step 1 dedicated study schedules are typically 5-6 days a week and 8-12 hours a day of studying.
 
Thanks for the reply Alpinism. Good to know for the future!
 
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