Skip to main content

USMLE step 1- 260


Hey guys, this is my experience:
•Graduated in May 2017, from An­Najah National University\Palestine.
•Target score: 250+
•Stages of my preparation:
1- First First Aid read + Dr. Turco Biochemistry Videos (Biochemistry was my weakest area)~ took about 2 months, during this time I traveled once, and after that I did the step 2 CS exam and Hands-on experience in the US ..
2- BACK to step 1, I purchased UW by the end of March 2019, started with the first run UW along with FA together ~ took about 5 months
1st run UW score: 65+%
3- FA thorough read and memorization ~ took me about 3 weeks.
4- Second run UW along with FA ~ one month
2nd run UW score: 85+%
During that time I started doing some of the NBMEs, the thing I did wrong is that some were offline, my scores were in the range of 230 - 245.
5- Then on 22 Dec 2019, I did an online NBME, it was NBME 23, scored around 235, the score wasn’t meeting my goals, I was devastated at that point, but actually it was the best thing because It helped me addressing my weak points, so I worked on them for a few days and that made a huge difference!
6- I scheduled my exam on 15 Jan 2020, and I decided to do my best and try to be ready by that time.
7- About two weeks before the scheduled date I started reviewing about 2-3 systems/ day, used to wake up early in the morning, start studying for about 15 hours/ day with few short breaks inbetween.
I wanted to let my assessments decide for me whether to take the test or postpone it, so I did 3 online assessments:
NBME 21: 250 (7 Jan 2020)
I had a weak area and it was biostatistics, so that day I revised all the biostatistics from FA and UW.
UWSA1: 260 (8 Jan 2020)
UWSA2: 260 (9 Jan 2020)
So I decided to take it ..
8- I decided to keep calm and stress-free, tried to eat and sleep well, and 2 days before the exam I traveled to Jordan (the center of my exam), the day before the exam I revised some of the biochemistry charts, some random CT scan images I googled, I started feeling anxious so I went for a walk at about 5:00 P.m., also I watched the tutorial before going to sleep, then went to sleep at 8:00 p.m., I woke up early, had my breakfast, took my coffee and snacks and went to the center..
•Since doing the second run of UW, I trained myself to do 2 blocks in a row each time!
•I skipped the tutorial except for the headphone check, also followed the order of 2 blocks/ break/ 2 blocks/ break/ 1 block/ break/ 1 block/ break/ 1 block during the exam.
•The results were 3 weeks after the real exam date, scored 260.
•Preparation days were not easy at all, lots of stress but we have to stay positive and never give up!
•I used to write down ‏everything I did during the day before I go to sleep to encourage myself.
Good luck everyone!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MY Step 2 CK Experience 284 Medhat Farwati

Dear (future) Doctors, I am Medhat Farwati, a Syrian graduate from Aleppo University, Faculty of Medicine. Hereby I share with you my experience with Step 2 CK. 1. Score: 284 2. Self-assessments: UWSA 1: 273 (2 months out) UWSA 2: 276 ( 1 week out) NBME 7: 277 (1 week out) NBME 8: 280 (3 days out) 3. Preparation time: After I was done with Step 1, I moved to the US as a postdoctoral research fellow. As such, I realized it is going to be challenging to navigate my research du ties, US rotations, Step 2 CS exam, and Step 2 CK preparation. Collectively, the actual preparation time for CK was 12 months with an average studying time ranging from 4 hours a day for the first 10 months to 8 hours a day for the last 2 months prior to my exam. 4. Materials used: UW Step 2 CK (x3) UW Step 3 (x2) Kaplan Q bank (x1) Internal Medicine Essentials Q bank De Virgilio (surgery textbook) Up to date and Medscape Google, YouTube, and Siri 😊 UW Step 2: Your baseline. Most people preparing for CK rega...
1 comment
Read more

Alfonso H. Acosta‎ to USMLE Step 2 CK Preparation FORUM

‎ Hello! I want to share my preparation and experience in Step 2CK, hoping to help some of you. The basis of my preparation was UWorld, I purchased a two-month subscription and completed about 70% of questions (1816), with 73% correct. In the meantime I reviewed Kaplan notes, especially for biostatistics and psychiatry (my weak points). I did UWorld system-based for the most part, but sometimes I would randomize Gyn/Ob and Pediatrics. I solved an average of one block per day (40 questions), and some days I managed to fit in two blocks. My advice is to use UWorld as the basis, as A LOT of the subjects covered in UWorld were in the real thing. As for the exam itself, the clinical cases to me seemed too long and tiring to read, especially after a while. Just use your break time wisely to get up for a bit, splash some water in your face, eat a snack, etc. The exam is not difficult for the most part, although there are a couple of WTF questions. Psychiatry is a highly evaluated subje...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dr Zeeshan Mansuri : Personal Statement Dos and Donts by ECFMG

Personal statements are an important part of your application to residency programs in the United States. A personal statement is intended to complement your other qualifications by allowing you to express who you are and why you are applying to residency. This is your opportunity to discuss your passion for medicine and/or your chosen specialty, why you want to practice medicine in the United States, important milestones that have happened to you thus far, and your goals for the future. The personal statement should show what kind of person and physician you are and wish to become. The following guidelines are derived from what program directors and staff have told us they do and do not like to see in an applicant’s personal statement. ECHO Do's DO describe your passion for and commitment to medicine and patient care. Other documents in your application, such as your curriculum vitae (CV) and transcripts, may describe your education and experience in medicine thus far. ...
Post a Comment
Read more