Scattered STEP 1 Preparation -Please Help

[sonichedgehog17]

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I am an IMG & have been studying for step 1 for past 1.6 years now but not regularly .I never had an issue in understanding any concept from Kaplan. But i feel like i don't remember much of what i have read so far .
I even tried doing FA , but with its very hard for me memorize anything from that book as its very condensed.
I subscribed to UW a week ago .Solving questions in random mode dint help me much & added to my frustration ,so i am doing it in system-wise pattern now.I read a chapter from FA and solve questions from UW for that particular chapter.
My exam is in MAY & i m looking to score 230+. Any suggestions as to what i should do at this point of time to achieve this score?

 

[Polymyxin]

Has Kaplan been your main study source so far?

 

[sonichedgehog17]

Has Kaplan been your main study source so far?

yes .. But i feel like my preparation is lacking somewhere & due to limited time in hand i cant go through it again .There is a lot of stuff don't remember.

 

[Polymyxin]

2 quick things that are problems:
**You used all of the Kaplan books
**You've been studying for 1.6 years

Regarding Kaplan:
For some reason, IMGs rely heavily on Kaplan. Most AMGs don't go through all of the Kaplan program (The Kaplan people told me that. It is for that reason they created the Kaplan High Yield program). My advice is to forget Kaplan. It is NOT a great resource. Some of their subjects are great (ex: I used it for Biochem), but most of it is too low yield and a HUGE waste of time.

Regarding 1.6 years:
(I haven't taken the exam yet, so take this with a grain of salt). IMO, the exam requires a lot of MEMORIZATION and a lot of CONCEPTUAL understanding. Most people cannot retain all the step 1 material for months and months. AMGs typically get 6-8 weeks to study for the exam...i think that is ideal so that you don't forget what you learn in the beginning. Therefore, if you have until May you can totally get this done!!

A lot of people's advice is to just use FA + UWorld. That is not true for everyone. If you finish as an AMG and did average/well in your first 2 years, then i think FA + UWorld is sufficient to score well in 6-8 weeks (if you do the exam right after 2nd year). But if you're background is weak (like me!) FA is very difficult to understand and make sense of. My advice would be to build up some knowledge background so that you can approach FA + UWorld properly. For me, after I built up some knowledge base, FA starting making sense. In terms of good resources...(DON"T USE KAPLAN LECTURE NOTES for everything)
Pathoma - this is a must!
BRS Physiology (and if that is hard to undertand try Physiology, also by Costanzo)
First Aid Express Video Series (This really helped me get through First Aid, someone talks you through FA page-by-page)
USMLE-Rx QMax question bank (i did it by organ system, after i read corresponding organs system in Pathoma, BRS Physiology, and FA Express videos)

Those are the main resources that helped me. Keep in mind not to just stick to one series of material (BRS, Kaplan, HY).

 

[sonichedgehog17]

2 quick things that are problems:
**You used all of the Kaplan books
**You've been studying for 1.6 years

Regarding Kaplan:
For some reason, IMGs rely heavily on Kaplan. Most AMGs don't go through all of the Kaplan program (The Kaplan people told me that. It is for that reason they created the Kaplan High Yield program). My advice is to forget Kaplan. It is NOT a great resource. Some of their subjects are great (ex: I used it for Biochem), but most of it is too low yield and a HUGE waste of time.

Regarding 1.6 years:
(I haven't taken the exam yet, so take this with a grain of salt). IMO, the exam requires a lot of MEMORIZATION and a lot of CONCEPTUAL understanding. Most people cannot retain all the step 1 material for months and months. AMGs typically get 6-8 weeks to study for the exam...i think that is ideal so that you don't forget what you learn in the beginning. Therefore, if you have until May you can totally get this done!!

A lot of people's advice is to just use FA + UWorld. That is not true for everyone. If you finish as an AMG and did average/well in your first 2 years, then i think FA + UWorld is sufficient to score well in 6-8 weeks (if you do the exam right after 2nd year). But if you're background is weak (like me!) FA is very difficult to understand and make sense of. My advice would be to build up some knowledge background so that you can approach FA + UWorld properly. For me, after I built up some knowledge base, FA starting making sense. In terms of good resources...(DON"T USE KAPLAN LECTURE NOTES for everything)
Pathoma - this is a must!
BRS Physiology (and if that is hard to undertand try Physiology, also by Costanzo)
First Aid Express Video Series (This really helped me get through First Aid, someone talks you through FA page-by-page)
USMLE-Rx QMax question bank (i did it by organ system, after i read corresponding organs system in Pathoma, BRS Physiology, and FA Express videos)

Those are the main resources that helped me. Keep in mind not to just stick to one series of material (BRS, Kaplan, HY).

Thanks a lot or your suggestions ..really appreciated
Kaplan doesn't suit me i guess. I'll switch to other resources like Pathoma & keep revising FA .Wish me luck .

 

[Polymyxin]

Some students at my school really like Doctors In Training (its also a comprehensive video program like Kaplan, but its supposed to a LOT shorter). I sampled a video or two and I hated it...but other people swear by it. I think its about 80 hours...checkout their website. It has a schedule to finish it all in 2 weeks or something.