The secret to scoring in the top 1-5% is repetition. This is how I scored above 250 on Steps 1 and 2 (and a 235 on Step 3 - a little lazy).
Don't just focus on the minutia. Don't just focus on the big stuff. Don't get stuck at the beginning trying to memorize anything.
Make it through all the material - I mean everything as fast as you can three times. For Step 1 I used First Aid and Step Up and BRS Path with a few other books. I went through each of them as fast and as hard as I could. The first time through, retention is low - 15%, the second time it's better - 40%, the third time through it's really high - 80% to 90%. I used audio because it was easier for me to get through everything fast.
Then, and only then, after you have made it through everything three times - THEN you sit down and memorize stuff that has to be memorized. You have to make it through every bit of the minutia and the big stuff before memorization.
I call it FAMILIARIZATION FIRST, MEMORIZATION LAST. And it was a great formula for success for me.
Memorization is a temptation that must be resisted until you have really gone through everything. Then it's time to memorize.
Best of Luck,
Stark
www.ApolloAudiobooks.com