Prep time required for Step 1? Question from an Aussie med student

[Free2Dream]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone,

I haven't posted here before but I lurk occasionally. I'm just finishing up my second year of med school in Australia (our academic year finishes in November) and I'm looking to sit Step 1 in mid-late Jan.

I'm a little bit concerned that I may not be giving myself enough prep time, as I'm not sure how much prep is considered 'normal'? From November 26th to December 26th I intend to be studying 3-5 hours per day (as I will also be working half-days) and from then until around January 17th I hope to dedicate full days of study. Does this sound like enough? I feel like I have a lot to cover; I've been doing a handful of Kaplan questions each week and they do a fantastic job at making me feel positively dumb (well, not quite but they're hardly a walk in the park either).

I haven't yet booked in my Step 1, so my other option is to sit it at the end of third year. The issue then is that I feel I won't be as knowledgeable about the content I learnt in the first two years and will have to study even more. I would like to think that I could prepare throughout all of next year, but I have some pretty full-on rotations so I'm not sure if that will be possible.

Any advice or suggestions would be very much appreciated!! Thanks 🙂

 

[Phloston]

Nice to see a fellow, Aussier here. I'm up in Brisbane.

Use as much time as you need. Some people study four weeks; some study a year. Use the NBMEs as your gauge and don't sit the USMLE till you're generally content with your performance(s).

 

[Free2Dream]

Thanks for the reply! Glad to know there are other Aussies about 🙂

I haven't done the NBME yet but will give it a shot after uni exams. Do you happen to know how far in advance we need to book step 1? Seeing as we are outside of the US I thought they may require a fair bit of prior warning, so wanted to book early, but I'm also a little cautious because it's a pretty hefty amount of money to be forking out.

 

[tk0102]

Thanks for the reply! Glad to know there are other Aussies about 🙂

I haven't done the NBME yet but will give it a shot after uni exams. Do you happen to know how far in advance we need to book step 1? Seeing as we are outside of the US I thought they may require a fair bit of prior warning, so wanted to book early, but I'm also a little cautious because it's a pretty hefty amount of money to be forking out.

Aussie here. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but you'll likely need substantial preparation. In general, the Aussie curriculum doesn't cover nearly enough basic science, especially biochemistry, pharmacology, and microbiology. Five hours a day for a month and then a few full days is nowhere near enough to make up for these deficiencies. That's less than what most American students do, and their curriculum is much stronger (at least with respect to the USMLE).

The real question is: what's your goal? For example, as an IMG, an average score is good enough for psychiatry or FM (if you're not picky about about location). If that's what you want to do, then the time needed to prepare is obviously different then if you were to want something more competitive.

Phloston's advice is solid. Don't take the USMLE unless you're getting the scores you want on the NBMEs. That's the only way to know if you've prepared enough. However much they cost, it's the USMLE you can't afford to do poorly on. How you do on your first go counts for everything.

To answer your last question, book as early as you can. There aren't that many testing centres, but there are a ton of internationals needing to take the USMLE.

Sorry if this sounds dour. I just want to be helpful and realistic.

 

[cgkc]

sorry for my ignorance, I am not familiar with the NBME. How do I use the NBME and what does it do?

Thanks for your help.

Nice to see a fellow, Aussier here. I'm up in Brisbane.

Use as much time as you need. Some people study four weeks; some study a year. Use the NBMEs as your gauge and don't sit the USMLE till you're generally content with your performance(s).