11-22-2016, 03:49 PM
I scoured forums like this one when I needed to find out how to prepare for the exam, and to find out what the correlation between practice test scores and the actual exam was. Here's is my contribution to all the information out there.
Practice tests:
1) Uworld qbank: 59%
2) NBME (done before uwsa): 320
3) UWSA: 185
USMLE STEP 3 score: 206
Study schedule:
In the first 7 months, I eased my way into studying. The first book I tackled was Step Up to Medicine. I started by reading 5 pages a day so to build consistency. Then I moved to 10 pages, and finally 20 pages a day. I finally finished step up to medicine around May.
The next book I tackled was MTB. I read a chapter a day. If the chapters where less than 20 pages I would read about 2 chapters. I was done by the end of June.
In July, I added working with study groups to my routine. I had 3 study groups in total: CCS, statistics, uw qbank.
From July to my test date Sep 16, I studied from 4 am- 11pm. There were breaks in between of course but it was still intense. I did not want to look back on this exam thinking I could have done more. Pass or fail I would know I gave it my all.
In summary, I started slow and built up momentum. At the very beginning I mapped out the resources that I would use and how much time it would take to complete them. I followed my schedule as well as I could. It all worked out in the in the end because I passed!!!!
Things I would change:
1) I would start doing CCS a little earlier
2) I would read first aide along with the corresponding MTB sections. Note, I am not saying the whole first aide book. I would just read the sections that correspond with the chapters in MTB. There were some tough step 1 questions on the exam.
Good luck!!!
Practice tests:
1) Uworld qbank: 59%
2) NBME (done before uwsa): 320
3) UWSA: 185
USMLE STEP 3 score: 206
Study schedule:
In the first 7 months, I eased my way into studying. The first book I tackled was Step Up to Medicine. I started by reading 5 pages a day so to build consistency. Then I moved to 10 pages, and finally 20 pages a day. I finally finished step up to medicine around May.
The next book I tackled was MTB. I read a chapter a day. If the chapters where less than 20 pages I would read about 2 chapters. I was done by the end of June.
In July, I added working with study groups to my routine. I had 3 study groups in total: CCS, statistics, uw qbank.
From July to my test date Sep 16, I studied from 4 am- 11pm. There were breaks in between of course but it was still intense. I did not want to look back on this exam thinking I could have done more. Pass or fail I would know I gave it my all.
In summary, I started slow and built up momentum. At the very beginning I mapped out the resources that I would use and how much time it would take to complete them. I followed my schedule as well as I could. It all worked out in the in the end because I passed!!!!
Things I would change:
1) I would start doing CCS a little earlier
2) I would read first aide along with the corresponding MTB sections. Note, I am not saying the whole first aide book. I would just read the sections that correspond with the chapters in MTB. There were some tough step 1 questions on the exam.
Good luck!!!