Got the big P! (3 months dedicated prep)
As the name suggests! Can't believe I am writing it after passing my Step 1!
But I owe a lot to the Reddit community.
I tested on May 5th.
DO NOT listen to people who say the exam is nothing like NBME!
It is definitely very similar to the latest NBMEs and Free 120, more like Free 120. The question stems are slightly longer, but the timing is manageable if you have practiced timed mode.
There are a few SOAP style questions which are obviously longer so save some time.
I would not call the exam easy. It is tough. I felt terrible after the exam, especially because the middle three blocks were brutal. But you also have to remember that you are not expected to know everything, and there are experimental questions too.
I know a lot of people here keep doubting whether they should go ahead and sit for the exam. Reddit gave me that final push too, and I hope this post gives someone else the same confidence.
This is definitely not the “ideal” preparation style people usually recommend, but it worked for someone like me with ADHD lol who cannot study consistently for months.
Detailed write-up:
I was extremely inconsistent during my preparation.
During final year of med school, I went through BnB videos, but personally found them very lengthy. They are good for people who want a complete foundation from scratch or do not remember basic concepts well.
I started studying dedicated from February onwards, so overall it was around a 3-month preparation period with baseline medical school knowledge.
Resources I used:
- UWorld: completed around 65%, first pass only
- Bootcamp videos were honestly gold for me. I discovered them late, but used them for systems I struggled with the most.
- MUST watch Bootcamp Immunology videos. Immunology is difficult and heavily tested.
I booked my exam date around the last week of March when I was only halfway through preparation.
Assessments:
- NBME 29: 62%
- NBME 30: 65%
- NBME 31: 68%
- Free 120 3 days before exam: 70%
Again, Bootcamp explanations for Free 120 were incredibly helpful.
I did not use Anki at all. Consistency has never really been my strongest point.
The biggest takeaway from my journey is that not every resource works for every person. Everyone has their own learning style and preparation method. Do not compare your journey or learning curve with someone else’s.
For me, I simply had to sit for the exam and push every part of myself during these three months to make it happen.
If I can do it, anyone can.
DO NOT MISS THESE during your last week before the exam:
- Mehlman Arrows PDF
- DIP Risk Factors podcast/videos (I skipped this and still got risk factor questions on the exam)
Feel free to ask more questions!