Strategy for Step1

[mikramjafri]

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Hey guys,
I wanted to know what a good strategy for studying for step 1.
I have 4 months. (part time student)
books i am using for are kaplan books,lecture.with Golgan audio
Qbank Qbook and usmle world.
taking a read of a subject (example Pulm physio) then doing 20 questions each day at a time(as am reading the explanation of each )
Also what is the breakup of each subject on the exam.. i.e pharma 20%
thanks

 

[dhoonlee]

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[Law2Doc]

I have 4 months. (part time student)

Unless your memory is better than mine, 4 months is too early to study very intensely. Kick back and read through FA or some high yield stuff for a few weeks. Then once you've reviewed everything you can get qbank etc.

 

[Roy7]

I started studying around 6 months in advance. I dont know how it'll pay off (as I havent recieved my scores yet), but my NBME's were okay (244 3 weeks out, 251 1 week out).

Personally, I was very weak in all first year material (anatomy, phys, biochem, immuno), so I grilled the anatomy and phys along which each organ system in class.

Then I made sure I didnt forget anything form second year, I reviewed the organ systems from the beginning of the year again and that was priceless.

I started doing World questions about 3 months out and put all my notes into first aid from the questions on little post-it notes. That was okay - but I dont think it was nearly as helpful as reviewing the OS material.

I forgot stuff plenty, but when I went through again during cruch time 5-6 weeks out, it came back real quick, i had my notes, and everything was fresh and familiar. I had my notes organized and there werent any new concepts because conceptually I knew how the nephron worked my first time through during the semester (not OS).

The most most important thing you can do - that I kinda regret not doing more of it myself - is to make sure you learn lecture material damn well so you never forget it, once that's done, do everything else. The main reason I studied early is that I went through all the exam experience threads, and I never saw anyone start studying really early (5 months early +) and not break 230.
That was my strategy.

Dont believe everyone saying "you'll burn out". You know yourself better than anyone else does, if you think you'll be fine, you'll be fine. And on that not, do what works for you - if you learn best when cramming, dont study cram, if you learn best over a prolonged period of time, study early. The best advice I ever got for step 1 review is "do what you know will work for you".

 

[lord_jeebus]

What do you mean by part-time student? Have you already completed med school abroad? How long ago did you take your basic sciences?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

People say first aid is enough for pharm, but i had some obscure drugs on my test that definitely weren't in first aid. So make sure you get a good book for pharm.

 

[mikramjafri]

i am a 4th year medical student (MBBS after highschool)
a few questions
what do u think about kaplan medical essentials?
which subjects need supplementation?
there are 2 patho books kaplan and golgan? do both? i have time..
where can i get illustrations is web path ok? kaplan patho images?
but there are so many which ones shall i do?
as regards to strategy
i plan to do physio,patho,pharma micro 1st
then proceed with bio anat and beh
using usmle world for learning..
one thing is troubling me i have little experience solving question on the
computer.
shall i take qbank for testing myself on the internet?
how shall i attempt it subject wise or system wise?
thanks

 

[mikramjafri]

thanks dhoonlee

 

[SoCuteMD]

People say first aid is enough for pharm, but i had some obscure drugs on my test that definitely weren't in first aid. So make sure you get a good book for pharm.

There was one drug on my Step 1 that wasn't in FA at all. However, a number of the questions required me to know not only the drug's mechanism of action, but also the physiology behind that, so while I'd agree that FA isn't necessarily sufficient I would say it's good if you already have a strong background in pharm and physiology.

 

[treasurefull2]

KAPLAN KAPLAN KAPLAN

KAPLAN Notes is what it's all about....

i'll confirm that when I get my score... but I thought they were great....