Hello everyone.
Got my USMLE step 1 score today and I am very happy. I got 259/99 and thought I want to share some of my thinking about the exam as this forum has been an amazing resource during preparation.

My overall idea is that the score you get is strongly influenzed by how badly you want to achieve the best. In other terms, the more you are committed to score 99, the more you wanted and do what you have to do, the more it is likely you are gonna achieve your goal. It sounds pretty obvious, but talking to other who took the exams and did not do well, I figured out that it is not a matter of intelligence or being more or less smart.. it is matter of having passion, commitment and method. You have to be dedicated, if you want to score high.

The day of the exam I was very up.. a lot of adrenalin, but not too much.. I did break after each block and when I left the prometic center I had the feeing I did a good exam. Not sure how good, but I did not panic and got aright away a good % of questions. Of course.. I have been dreaming about the TATA box and holoprosencephaly for a long time, but it is fair You have to get some obvious questions wrong.. that's how it works.

As for my preparation: I studied for 6 months after work (that means 2-3 hrs/day+weekends) with a real serious commitment in the last month and half.. no parties.. only working, studying and going to the gym from time to time.

My sources:
First Aid.. very good overall review. Have to know it, but it is not enough.

Gross Anatomy, Neuroanatomy, Embriology and Behavioural Science: High-Yield

Physiology and Pathology: BRS

Pharmacology: FA, and Brenner pharmacology flashcards

Microbiology: FA, Happavat flashcards (very good strongly recommended)


And above all.. Goljan lectures+ USMLE step 1 notes. A must have.. Really worthed the time listening to him while running or cooking. His notes and FA give you a very good and wide background preparation in many areas especially biochemistry and pathology.

The other fundamental thing: questions.. I did Kaplan only and went into the explanations of both correct and wrong answers. That is one of the best way to learn, apart from testing your knowldge.

I started around 65-70 and end up around 78-85.
I also took all the 4 NBME self assessments:
Form 1 (1 month and half before): 610 (242)
Form 2 (1 month before): 680 (253)
Form 3 (1 week before): 690 (254)
Form 4 (2 days before): 790 (265)


That's pretty much all.
Hope this is gonna be helpful. Good luck to everybody and thanks to all.