Step 1, do these resources cover enough?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Jdp00921

Jdp00921

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
May 22, 2013
Messages
296
Reaction score
320
Basically just looking to see if those with relatively high Step 1 scores, maybe 245+, find that what I've been doing will cover enough to nearly ensure a high-ish step score.
"Nearly ensure" is in italics because obviously, test taking ability has a pretty large role in Step score but ignoring that, do these resources cover pretty much everything that would be tested, or will I find myself short on certain topics (ie - is this covering enough pharm, micro, etc.?)

Resources:

zAnki - I've been following along with my systems courses. I don't just dump old cards. I keep them in review and hopefully, I can continue doing so until Step.
Pepper Decks (micro/pharm) - will this cover pretty much all of micro and pharm on Step 1? Is there another resource I should be using in addition to cover things pepper doesn't cover?
Pathoma - I go through pathoma the weekend before each new block begins and try to continue reviewing it here and there throughout the weeks of each block. zAnki also covers pathoma so that helps.
uWorld - Didn't start this yet, was planning on saving for dedicated. I see mixed feelings here on SDN about doing it twice, once before once during dedicated, and doing it only during dedicated. Any recommendations here?
First Aid - covered by zAnki so I don't plan on formally using first aid (ie - using the actual book) until dedicated as an assistant to uWorld, etc.

Are these comprehensive enough? I've been doing well on my systems courses thus far using the above + reviewing the in-class lectures as well. However, most of my knowledge for course exams is coming from Step resources. A friend of mine followed a similar routine and scored pretty well on Step (245+) and also in class so I've been feeling good about my methodology so far. I just wanted to get an idea of what others think. I also found that this number of resources has been very manageable. Many have told me to avoid resource overload so I'm not trying to add anything else. I have a B&B subscription that I used during MS1 a bit but I'm finding I wouldn't really have the time to use this with what I'm already using other than using the practice questions. I also wasn't planning on adding anything other resources even next semester when I begin to really prep for Step.

Thanks all!
J
Members don't see this ad.
 
This is pretty much what I used, but added B&B videos as introductions/refreshers to topics. You should be just fine.
 
Are you doing Sketchy micro/pharm along with pepper or just pepper?
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Yeah those resources are fine - covering the material is one thing, learning it is another.
 
LyMed said:
Yeah those resources are fine - covering the material is one thing, learning it is another.
Click to expand...

Of course! I think it's definitely been helping me to learn the material though. As I mentioned, I've been doing well in class exams so I would hope that correlates to a good Step!
 
I am using basically the exact same resources as you and follow a similar study plan. Right now, I'm not planning on doing UWorld until dedicated (or maybe a bit before), but that's just my personal preference. I'll do Rx before.
 
Jdp00921 said:
Basically just looking to see if those with relatively high Step 1 scores, maybe 245+, find that what I've been doing will cover enough to nearly ensure a high-ish step score.
"Nearly ensure" is in italics because obviously, test taking ability has a pretty large role in Step score but ignoring that, do these resources cover pretty much everything that would be tested, or will I find myself short on certain topics (ie - is this covering enough pharm, micro, etc.?)

Resources:

zAnki - I've been following along with my systems courses. I don't just dump old cards. I keep them in review and hopefully, I can continue doing so until Step.
Pepper Decks (micro/pharm) - will this cover pretty much all of micro and pharm on Step 1? Is there another resource I should be using in addition to cover things pepper doesn't cover?
Pathoma - I go through pathoma the weekend before each new block begins and try to continue reviewing it here and there throughout the weeks of each block. zAnki also covers pathoma so that helps.
uWorld - Didn't start this yet, was planning on saving for dedicated. I see mixed feelings here on SDN about doing it twice, once before once during dedicated, and doing it only during dedicated. Any recommendations here?
First Aid - covered by zAnki so I don't plan on formally using first aid (ie - using the actual book) until dedicated as an assistant to uWorld, etc.

Are these comprehensive enough? I've been doing well on my systems courses thus far using the above + reviewing the in-class lectures as well. However, most of my knowledge for course exams is coming from Step resources. A friend of mine followed a similar routine and scored pretty well on Step (245+) and also in class so I've been feeling good about my methodology so far. I just wanted to get an idea of what others think. I also found that this number of resources has been very manageable. Many have told me to avoid resource overload so I'm not trying to add anything else. I have a B&B subscription that I used during MS1 a bit but I'm finding I wouldn't really have the time to use this with what I'm already using other than using the practice questions. I also wasn't planning on adding anything other resources even next semester when I begin to really prep for Step.

Thanks all!
J
Click to expand...
Never heard of pepper decks. Can you enlighten me as to what they are?

My students are insane about Sketchy for those subjects.

Suggest considering Boards and Beyond
 
Goro said:
Never heard of pepper decks. Can you enlighten me as to what they are?

My students are insane about Sketchy for those subjects.

Suggest considering Boards and Beyond
Click to expand...

Anki decks built out of sketchy basically. I thought the micro one was just ok, the pharm one is pure gold though.

OP, yes those resources are enough. It's better to know a few resources cold, than to know a lot of resources superficially.
 
AnatomyGrey12 said:
Anki decks built out of sketchy basically. I thought the micro one was just ok, the pharm one is pure gold though.

OP, yes those resources are enough. It's better to know a few resources cold, than to know a lot of resources superficially.
Click to expand...
But sketchy is that collection of oddball glyphs (subway train = this bug; rotten tomatoes = that bug) , while Anki is flashcards. Or did you mean the pepper decks?
 
Goro said:
But sketchy is that collection of oddball glyphs (subway train = this bug; rotten tomatoes = that bug) , while Anki is flashcards. Or did you mean the pepper decks?
Click to expand...
They use the sketchy pictures in the cards and they ask questions on each symbol on the pictures.

Sent from my SM-G973U using SDN mobile
 
Last edited:
Members don't see this ad :)
Goro said:
Never heard of pepper decks. Can you enlighten me as to what they are?

My students are insane about Sketchy for those subjects.

Suggest considering Boards and Beyond
Click to expand...


As others have already kind of explained, Pepper decks are simply anki cards that were made to compliment sketchy. The basic premise (at least this is how I/others I know use them) is that you watch the sketchy video, then add that videos cards to your current deck. The pepper cards then will ask for example "adverse effects of bisphosphonates?" and when the card is revealed, it will give you the answer BUT the card will also reveal the image from the sketchty video reminding you of the cartoon that should help you remember the answer.

I like it because instead of watching the video multiple times or using the image just blindly, this helps put it into a convenient flash card exploiting the whole "spaced repetition" thing.
 
What you use is less impactful than how well you learn the material from whatever it is you're using. Most of the resources you mentioned and the resources that people tend to mention on here do a pretty good job of teaching the material. But one mistake many med students make is using too many resources. It's much better to learn a topic very well and in-depth than to learn 10 different minutiae on it because you used too many resources that didn't go deep enough into the material.

So find a few resources that tend to work for you - Zanki/Bros, Costanzo, Pathoma/Goljan, and FA is a good starting point - and use them as your core set of resources. You can always supplement with other stuff as needed, e.g. Sketchy, etc.
 
I'm considering only doing Zanki Pathology cards (for each system), Lolnotacop Sketchy Micro, and Zanki Pharm Anki cards. I want to skip Zanki Biochem/Physiology/etc to cut down on the insane amount of cards and just cover the other subjects with practice questions. Do you guys think that's enough to still score highly? What are the most high yield subjects for Zanki?
 
MareNostrummm said:
I'm considering only doing Zanki Pathology cards (for each system), Lolnotacop Sketchy Micro, and Zanki Pharm Anki cards. I want to skip Zanki Biochem/Physiology/etc to cut down on the insane amount of cards and just cover the other subjects with practice questions. Do you guys think that's enough to still score highly? What are the most high yield subjects for Zanki?
Click to expand...

If you're going to use a comprehensive resource, I really wouldn't pick and choose. Anki works because it reinforces all the material that you learn. Pathophysiology is a huge huge part of Step 1 and you can't understand pathophysiology without understanding physiology. If you find that you don't have enough time to devote to all your resources, then it's a sign that you're probably using too many resources and should focus on a few core ones. If you're looking for a deck that's shorter but (IMO) is just as good if not better, then I would look at Bros.
 
MareNostrummm said:
I'm considering only doing Zanki Pathology cards (for each system), Lolnotacop Sketchy Micro, and Zanki Pharm Anki cards. I want to skip Zanki Biochem/Physiology/etc to cut down on the insane amount of cards and just cover the other subjects with practice questions. Do you guys think that's enough to still score highly? What are the most high yield subjects for Zanki?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't. That stuff your skipping is the stuff that separates out the high scorers.
 
MareNostrummm said:
I'm considering only doing Zanki Pathology cards (for each system), Lolnotacop Sketchy Micro, and Zanki Pharm Anki cards. I want to skip Zanki Biochem/Physiology/etc to cut down on the insane amount of cards and just cover the other subjects with practice questions. Do you guys think that's enough to still score highly? What are the most high yield subjects for Zanki?
Click to expand...
Only you can decide this. But this is why everybody doesn’t just do Zanki and get 240+. Bc it’s insanely hard. It’s really easy as a premed to say they’ll just do Zanki and ufaps, but it’s easier said than done. Typically the harder thing you hate is what gets the better results.
 
Haven't taken Level or Step yet, but just to add my 2 cents...

I love the Pepper deck. However, soon will be done with it and am planning to hit Lolnotacop and Zanki pharm. Sketchy def has some holes in it, but overrall it's a great place to start and categorize the bugs and drugs, rather than just words you'll get in other decks.

I suggest doing BnB also to LEARN the FA information.

As for questions, yes UW is gold, but I also have started doing Rx questions (block 6). Rx is a product of FA, so reviewing the question concepts is super easy. I'll take a mini test, review the questions with BnB vids and FA annotating.

I'm also trying to do AnKing pathoma sub-decks as I make a 2nd pass of Pathoma. It's tough keeping up with all these cards though, while doing questions and still having class exams/busy work!
 
aldol16 said:
If you're going to use a comprehensive resource, I really wouldn't pick and choose. Anki works because it reinforces all the material that you learn. Pathophysiology is a huge huge part of Step 1 and you can't understand pathophysiology without understanding physiology. If you find that you don't have enough time to devote to all your resources, then it's a sign that you're probably using too many resources and should focus on a few core ones. If you're looking for a deck that's shorter but (IMO) is just as good if not better, then I would look at Bros.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. I have been doing Zanki Physiology but felt like a decent amount of the cards (~25%?) are just unnecessary. For example there are almost 800 CVS physiology cards with a significant portion of them are basic knowledge from the MCAT and if not that then from my lecture classes. See below:

1. (Blood flows from the tissues to the systemic veins and ultimately the {{c1::vena cava}} before returning to the right atrium.

2. {{c1::Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)}} catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II

3. The equation {{c1::ejection fraction = SV/EDV}} may be used to calculate ejection fraction

So yeah I'm just deleting all of these introductory physiology cards because they are a waste of time. I really do not think I am missing that much by just skipping them... By comparison the Zanki Pathology cards are a lot more detailed and actually contain information I haven't already seen in undergrad. I understand that Zanki is trying to be extremely comprehensive but is Bros much better? But you're right there are still a lot of important cards in the physiology decks I just have to put in the time to weed out cards.
 
Last edited:
MareNostrummm said:
Thanks for the response. I have been doing Zanki Physiology but felt like a decent amount of the cards (~25%?) are just unnecessary. For example there are almost 800 CVS physiology cards with a significant portion of them are basic knowledge from the MCAT and if not that then from my lecture classes. See below:

1. (Blood flows from the tissues to the systemic veins and ultimately the {{c1::vena cava}} before returning to the right atrium.

2. {{c1::Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)}} catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II

3. The equation {{c1::ejection fraction = SV/EDV}} may be used to calculate ejection fraction

So yeah I'm just deleting all of these introductory physiology cards because they are a waste of time. I really do not think I am missing that much by just skipping them... By comparison the Zanki Pathology cards are a lot more detailed and actually contain information I haven't already seen in undergrad. I understand that Zanki is trying to be extremely comprehensive but is Bros much better? But you're right there are still a lot of important cards in the physiology decks I just have to put in the time to weed out cards.
Click to expand...
If you feel like the cards are too easy for you then feel free to personally suspend the ones you are confident in, but I wouldn't just entirely skip the phys decks. As others mentioned, knowing those seemingly random, obscure facts is what will separate out the high scorers from the rest.
 
7331poas said:
zanki + zanki pharm (i prefer over pepper) + lolnotacop.
Click to expand...
Just had a thought looking through my decks: I use these 3, Zanki for pharm and lolnotacop for bacteria/fungi/whatever. I noticed lolnotacop has an antimicrobial deck and a gout drugs deck. Is it worth it to do the lolnotacop decks pertaining to pharm if we're doing all of Zanki pharm?
 
fldoctorgirl said:
Just had a thought looking through my decks: I use these 3, Zanki for pharm and lolnotacop for bacteria/fungi/whatever. I noticed lolnotacop has an antimicrobial deck and a gout drugs deck. Is it worth it to do the lolnotacop decks pertaining to pharm if we're doing all of Zanki pharm?
Click to expand...

lolnotacop is the best deck in step 1 imo.
 
MareNostrummm said:
I'm considering only doing Zanki Pathology cards (for each system), Lolnotacop Sketchy Micro, and Zanki Pharm Anki cards. I want to skip Zanki Biochem/Physiology/etc to cut down on the insane amount of cards and just cover the other subjects with practice questions. Do you guys think that's enough to still score highly? What are the most high yield subjects for Zanki?
Click to expand...
In a similiar thought as you.

I am almost done with Pepper decks and will jump ship to Zanki pharm + Lolnotacop micro soon.
As for other Zanki... think I'll just run thru the pathology sub-decks once I've gone thru the material in Pathoma/FA/BnB.

Hope the thousands of Q's comes thru as far as physio/anatomy/biochem/etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Step 1 Advice Needed
Replies
4
Views
728
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight
L
STEP 1 Prep Advice
Replies
2
Views
1K
eteshoe
eteshoe
D
Any Recommendations for Neuro Resources?
Replies
2
Views
401
Powdermonkey
Powdermonkey
Doctoscope
Is there a benefit to doing Step 1 Amboss on top of Step 1 UWorld for Step 2?
Replies
14
Views
3K
PandaBaer
PandaBaer
T
Step 1 advice
Replies
4
Views
837
eteshoe
eteshoe
Top