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USMLE step 1 Thaer Shehadeh- 251





Hello everyone,
I think this is probably my first post on this forum. You guys have helped me alot throughout my study period and i would like to share my experience with you. Studying for this exam is definitely a challenge and needs well drawn-out plans and good time management. Always believe in yourself and never listen to any negative thoughts from others. Your ultimate goal is to be the best phyisician that you can be, and if you believe in that, you would definitely achieve that goal.
I'm currently a 6th year medical student from Jordan. I started studying in august 2018 and took the exam in October 8, 2019. (Total study time = around 1 year)
There were alot of gaps at first, but it became more consistent at the beginning of 2019
My first read was from cover to cover in the same order as the first aid book.
Resources:
First aid + Uworld are the most important
Biochem: kaplan videos
Pathology: pathoma
Microbiology and pharmacology: sketchy (it's a gift from GOD!)
Anatomy: high yield anatomy
Ethics: 100 cases
Biostat: Uworld review
Renal physiology: BRS physiology
The rest: Rx videos when needed
I did first aid 4 times (5x for some sections) before the exam, and 2 runs for Uworld (1st: systemic, 2nd: random timed)
Strategy:
I study the section (all of biochem for example) with its resource that i mentioned above. After that, i solve all its Uworld questions (a critical step to nail the concepts into your head). The first read should include adding all extra notes from Uworld + other resources to the first aid book. Take your time appreciating all concepts and don't miss out on a single word.
1) The first read + 1st round Uworld (both took about 5-6 months).
2) The 2nd read from first aid alone (+ the notes i added). (Took about 1 month and a half)
3) Uworld random timed only, done in 1 month vacation (add any missed notes to first aid)(took 1 month)
4) 3rd read first aid (took 25 days)
5) 4th and final read just before exam (took 4 days)
** Consistency and time management are CRITICAL during your preparation. Try as much as possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, enjoy your hobbies like you used to and avoid stresses.
One method that i liked to use for time management is the "Pomodoro technique". Its main aim is to study as much as you can every single day without wasting time and also to avoid burnout. It's a great method! And if you use it right you'll be able to study 5-6 hours/day while resuming most of your daily activities and hobbies.
Assessment exams in order:
UWSA1: 266
NBME 24: 230 (it was after a long on-call and most mistakes were silly ones, so i didn't mind it)
NBME 21: 250
UWSA 2: 260
Real deal: 251
one mistake that i did is that i took all these 4 self assessment exams in the 3 week period just before the exam 😅. It would've been more efficient to take them at least 2 weeks apart and if i'd started taking them earlier that would've been less stressful hahaha.
Also even though NBME 18 was said to be predictive, i thought that revising and relaxing only before the exam was the better choice.
I felt really confident towards the exam and i had a good feeling about it, so i booked it just after i took UWSA 2 in 6 days.
Last week before exam:
The last 6 days before the exam, i finished the last read and i looked at a couple of flash cards i made on Uworld for 4 days.
Night before exam:
The night before the exam, i stopped studying at about 5 pm, watched a new movie, hung out with my family, ate a heavy meal of shawarma (don't do that the night before 😅).
Day of exam:
I slept for 7 hours, woke up refreshed, took a hot shower, prayed and meditated, had a light breakfast, checked my permit, my passport and everything was ready to go.
I took a sandwich, a bottle of juice, and some chocolate chip cookies.
The exam was fair, it was doable and i had at least 7-10 minutes to review after i finished each block. I organized my breaks as:
2 - break - 2 - break - 1 - break - 1 - break - 1
Solve questions as if you were sitting in your own room practicing Uworld, do not overthink the questions and life would be easy.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
* Consistency, consistency, consistency. Study every single day (even if at least 10 mins if you're totally burned out)
* Time management makes your life way easier, take regular breaks between each study session, and do not allow the preparation to ruin your life and activities. (Pomodoro technique)
* Your performance and relaxed state in the exam >>> everything
* Thank god for all the blessings and the brain that you have, and always pray for the best
Do not hesitate to ask any questions 😁
And i wish the best of luck to all of you 🤟

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