Step 1 Experience

I got my score yesterday: 240/99. I spent some time to think over what I can
do to improve if I re-start the whole preparation.

A. Notes review
1. behavior: I will watch Kaplan video once, take notes, and rely on FA and
UW questions.
2. anatomy and neuro-anatomy: high yield anatomy/neuroanatomy(especially the
clinical part), watch Kaplan video once and take notes
3. embryology: FA only
4. biochemistry: very few problems were tested on my exam, but I would still
read Kaplan notes for more than 3 times.
5. physiology: kaplan notes only, need do all the problems after each
chapter
6. pharmacology: read kaplan notes for mechanisms for each important drugs
and then stick to FA
7. pathology: kaplan notes + ck internal medicine notes, each at least three
times
8. cell biology, histology: kaplan notes
9. muscle and bone: heavily tested, need to know everything in details
10. diagnosis: need find a good book for diagnosis, know how to diagnose and
the underlying mechanism
11. Microbiology: Kaplan notes provide very systematic presentation of
microbiology, but Ridiculous give more clinic relation, I will read both for
many times.
12. Immunology: Kaplan notes suffice, very high yield

B. Question banks
1. Sequence of question banks: When reviewing notes, do Kaplan qbank of
USMLERX by subject, after all notes are done, do NBME 6 and review all the
uncertain concepts. then do UW in a 48 qs block mode(do not guess during
test, if you don't know, leave it incomplete), review each problem and
concepts. When every one third of UW is done, do NBME 5, 4, 2 and review
every concept shown on NBME forms. Review FA 1-3 times, then do NBME 1,
NBME 3, UW simulation, all UW wrong problems, and finally the real test.

2. Psychology: don't be intimidated by the low UW score, it will be low for
most ppl. do NBMEs from the web, you will find which area you are weak, it's
a guide for your preparation. following this, my last NBME is 120 points
higher than the firs NBME. if NBME is low, think about study method and
examine the weak links in your preparation. if the last NBME is still low,
postpone the UW simulation and the real test.

C.Last words
the problems on the real exam are very long and a lot of step 2 knowledges
are integrated in the problems. don't stretch the preparation too long, but
do have at least 6 months of part-time preparation.