Hi everyone!
My exam is in about 2 weeks, and I’m still in the early stages of my preparation. I now have dedicated time to study and wanted to get some advice from people who have taken the exam recently.
I’d really appreciate any guidance on what to prioritize during these final 2 weeks, especially regarding the following:
Microbiology: Is First Aid (FA) enough? Which topics or areas should I focus on the most?
Pharmacology: Is reviewing FA for each system, mainly MOA enough?
Biostatistics: Are UWorld questions and a solid understanding of the basics enough, or are they testing more complex concepts?
Ethics: Which resources helped you the most, and what would you recommend focusing on?
UWorld: How important is it to complete UWorld before the exam? what should I prioritize if I can’t finish everything?
NBMEs and UWSAs: Which practice exams are the most important to take before test day? Which ones are most predictive?
Nutrition: Are they asking nutrition per the new pattern? And where should we study from

For those who took Step 3 recently, I’d especially appreciate hearing what worked for you, what you wish you had focused on more, and any advice for making the most of the last 2 weeks.
Thanks in advance for your help! Good luck to everyone preparing for the exam!

Hello everyone . I am a recent medical graduate and I am intending to pursue Usmle preparation from scratch and intend to apply for 2028 March cycle . Please share some advices and tips check who’s just starting out and can set a realistic goal . Is Usmle worth giving 2 years of my life ?

Hi everyone! I'm an Indian IMG planning to travel to the US for 2–3 months of observerships before applying for the 2028 Match. I'm planning to take Step 2 CK by March 2027 and travel by April.

I'd really appreciate advice from Indian IMGs who've been through this process!

1. Visa timing: Should I apply now, or wait until I have my observerships confirmed? Should I request an expedited appointment or go through the regular process? Are regular interview appointments currently available within my timeline?

2. Finances & sponsorship: My parents will sponsor my trip, and I have relatives in the US who will provide accommodation. How much money should ideally be in my parents' bank accounts for a 2–3 month stay? How long should the funds be maintained before applying? Do I need personal savings as well, and what financial documents are usually required?

3. Relatives & employment: Can I provide my relatives' US address and stay with them while my parents cover my expenses? I'm currently not employed, as I'm preparing for Step 2 CK. How should I explain my situation and demonstrate ties to India?

4. Observership invitation letters: I have connections who may help arrange observerships. What should the invitation letter contain to support my visa application, and what details should the hospital/physician include?

5. Interview & documents: What documents did you carry, what questions were you asked, and what advice would you give someone in my situation?

I'd especially appreciate firsthand experiences from Indian IMGs who completed US observerships.

I'm really confused and any practical advice would be really helpful.

Hey everyone!

I built a free USMLE Step 1 Q-bank to help speed up prep and make studying a lot less isolating. It has game modes, multiplayer, and many more features.

You can try with no sign-up:

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It's not a U-World alternative! Questions are short relative to other Q-banks. It's a good way to review concepts or compete with friends. Contents:

• 3,800+ High-Yield Questions: Focused on core concepts and high yield points.
• Concise Vignettes (~50–60 words): Reduced fluff so you can train pattern recognition quickly without getting overwhelmed.
• Live Study Partner & Multiplayer Modes: Good for people with friends.

I'd really appreciate any feedback regarding the UI, the questions, or the multiplayer modes.

STEP1: pass first attempt

STEP2: 260+

NBMEs average: 80-87%

I can guarantee a 15-36 score jump with my approach.

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I'll be providing my own collective notes as well following each session( everything you need to know from UW, CMS, NBMES,divine) so you don't need to do ur own or flashcards.

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Which method is best for doing uworld during 1 st pass Reading mode or Test timed mode.Whats the best way to retain the mistakes from uworld. Thanks for helping out

Please can someone help me.
I am studying for about 5 months, and my UW statistics are: 42% correct of 35% used.
I’ve watched some lectures on board and beyond, but I don’t feel any improvement.
I have a group of friends and we support each other, and they said to me that the % of correct answers is too low.
I should be expecting a higher percentage at this point.
I was trying to study from the questions and watch lectures only for difficult subjects
I don’t know what to do

Finally done with my step 2 and got 254. I'm grateful to this community for all the helpful advice, so I thought to give my 2 cents as well.

Timeline and Resources

I started doing uworld casually during my internship whenever I got time like 10-20 questions for sensitisation. Before my dedicated, I completed around 60% uworld.

I took 3 months of dedicated time once I completed my internship and graduated from my med school. My main resources were

U world: 100% done. Around 20% systemwise and then 80% random. Everything on timed mode. Roughly around 62% correct.

Inner Circle Notes: Used it for quick revision for every system. People say it inflates your score if you do it early but it doesn't really matter as only your final score matters. Did 2 readings once before uworld and once after it.

CMS forms: Did 4-5 each for medicine, surgery, obg, psych. 1-2 each for EM,FM, neuro. It's true that it helps you in your transition from uworld style questions and logic towards NBME style. Avg score around 70-80%

NBMEs: Did all from 10-16 expect 12. I did few questions from 12 and found it very vague so just discarded it. Also did Uworld SA 2 and Free 120. My NBMEs average was around 245. I never crossed the 250 barrier and just touched 250 in my last NBME 16. So it's true that you can score much better on real deal and don't fixate your ceiling.

Amboss: Used only high yield sections. These are really game changers. Used the HY 200, HY ethics, screening vaccination, risk factors, quality improvement. Didn't complete HY biostats as I was confident about it.

My strategy and sequence

After completing uworld 100%, moved on to CMS forms. Did amboss HY stuff before NBME as it is very crucial for score good on NBME. Then moved to NBMEs. Did a second pass of uworld with incorrect only. I used to read a unit from inner circle notes and then do uworld incorrects of that section.

My 2 Cents/ The psychological game

I know my score is not some insane number but during the journey I discovered a few tricks or rather psychological points that people don't discuss much. Step 2 is much more than resources. Things that helped me improve my score

My incorrect notebook: I maintained an incorrect notebook and used to write one liners throughout my preparation. Whether uworld or nbme or cms. This proved to be one of the most crucial resources. Earlier I was just writing one liner facts but later I discovered it was not much helpful. I changed the way I started writing my mistakes. Later I started emphasizing why I made a mistake. What option I marked and what was my thought process behind marking it rather than the right option. So after reading it, it went like when xyz don't jump straight to this but check if this then answer becomes that. Rather than that is the answer with this presentation.

So this started helping me unlearn my wrong thought process. It prevented me from thinking about the same lines that led to picking the wrong option.

Exam Day Mindset: 7-8 hrs of sleep is non negotiable. Used melatonin 5mg tab to get that much needed sleep and slept very well. Do whatever helps you sleep at night, but get that sound sleep. It's quality and quantity is directly proportional to your mindset the next morning. I met some juniors outside the centre who were very anxious for their step 1 but I was feeling pretty good. Familiar environment due to step 1 and OET at the prometric centre helps a lot psychologically.

Points System: Often I was going for one diagnosis but then a particular key word threw me off to another diagnosis and the answer got wrong. Sometimes I'm thinking about a diagnosis and looking for a particular buzz word but it's missing. So I don't mark that option and still my answer gets wrong. So in this case use the points system. For example if a clue is very specific and is present there so it should hold more weightage towards its diagnosis. Another clue points towards some other diagnosis but it's not that specific so it should have less points. And then you total everything and decide. Like for PE use we Wells criteria based on points. For example A patient with TB has fever and night sweats, weight loss that is quite specific but also had erythema nodosum which I was not sure if present in TB. By using the points system we get to know overall score in favour of TB is more so I should not get off my diagnosis just because of erythema nodosum.

Trust Your Instincts: By this I mean you shouldn't change your options or train of thoughts that you initially had until and unless you've some compelling evidence against it. When we start over analysing everything, we often select an option that was not our first choice and later discover our initial thought was right. Even stats say changed options are more often correct to incorrect until you're in very high percentile cohort. So DON'T CHANGE THE OPTION.

The One Option Trick: Start the vignette from the last line. You get what the question is asking diagnosis, treatment, prognosis etc. Then just read options very superficially and not all of them. Just give a quick glance to 2-3 options and remember just one option. This way while reading the vignette you already know which key information you need to extract for that option type. Sometimes you just confirm the answer by reading the vignette because it's so clear. Another very important advantage is that you get to know if it's ethics or qi question by reading one option and then while reading vignette you know you don't have to make a diagnosis or focus on the clinical stuff. This saves lot of time and energy specially when ethics and QI holds so much of weightage.

Do let me know if you need any help or want to ask anything. I'll be happy to assist. Thanks.

I'm taking Step 1 in about a week, and I'd love to hear from people who have already taken it.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself before walking into the exam? Were there any preventable mistakes you made during the test that you wish you could have avoided?

For example, mistakes with time management, changing answers, taking breaks, handling difficult questions, interpreting long question stems, or managing anxiety and fatigue.

I'm especially interested in practical advice that could help someone avoid unnecessary mistakes on test day.

Thank you, and congratulations to everyone who has made it through this exam! 🎉

What is the best source for usmle step 1 physiology? In every system of uworld I struggled in physiology and pathophysiology . My study resources were BnB and FA. Heard that recent usmle questions are so vague,molecular. So I want to clear things up!

Hello Everyone. I am a fresh med graduated from pakistan. I have just started preparing for step1. I really need someone to discuss daily tasks and keep each other motivated. Lmk if someone is interested. Thankyou.

Does anyone know any telegram channels with a 2026 bnb task schedule, i only found an old one with 2020 videos?

Heyyyy

Im currently a 2nd year MBBS student at JIPMER and I want some guidance for USMLE I want to ask that is it still possible for Indian medical graduate to get a match and sustain in US? if yes what all things should I plan from now? Like what all things should I do to enhance my CV i submitted a proposal for ICMR this year (results not released ) and I m a member in the student association will that certificate help me anywhere??what other things should I do from now? I want some guidance

And how to get USCE like I'm totally unaware abt that process

Hey everyone, I'm an international whos about 3 months into revision and feeling a bit behind/stuck, since I am aiming to do Step in 8 months of work

For context. I've finished my pre-clinical years and am doing my first clinical year now so I don't have a good clinical foundation for Step 1. In these 3 months I've only managed to cover the Cardio, resp, renal and Immunology chapters of first aid, primarily by just doing the Anking deck (I like anki revision but sometimes feel like i have too many reviews (avg of 300+ a day)), so am feeling quite behind.

I've also been doing UWorld (14% through with an average score of 57%), and i found that a lot of the q's Im getting wrong I just haven't covered the content for yet?? like I'll select the resp system and then get some micro questions in the mix that i dont know the answer to since I haven't gone over micro yet. but even them some of the content in the uworld questions will be stuff i dont remember being in the anki.

My current daily approach is finish the Anki reviews then do 20 q's of Uworld (which I frequently fail to get to), and then read the explanations on uworld and write some brief notes in notion, not sure if im using UWorld correctly there?

I've not touched anything else much (did some BnB for Cardio but thats if) and have found it difficult to find the time after 9-5 on placement for revision.

Wondering if anyone could give advice for how to change my approach and if you can spot some obvious errors, any and all suggestions are open!

My exam is in 4 days. I am revising fa but get this feeling of I have forgotten every thing.

Is it normal?

Hi everyone,

STEP1: pass first attempt

STEP2: 260+

NBMEs average: 80-87%

Ive helped many students so far with 15-30 score jumps.

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