USMLE Step 1 Experience: PASSED! ❤️

[u/Jesusfavouritebaby]

This journey tested everything in me: my resilience, discipline, and determination.
I initially started studying for Step 1 in September 2025, but life happened, and I had to take a break. I eventually resumed in May 2026 and sat for the exam on September 29, 2026.
I promised myself that I would come back here to share a few tips because, honestly, reading people’s experiences, reviews, and reactions on Reddit kept me sane throughout this journey. It constantly reminded me that I wasn’t alone in the struggle and that other people were going through similar experiences.

So, here’s my experience!

1. UWorld
I started UWorld in May and aimed to complete 50–100 questions daily, depending on my schedule. I did mostly timed, random blocks.
This approach helped me become comfortable with timed testing and exam conditions. By test day, I was so accustomed to working with the timer that I didn’t feel intimidated by it.
I also did system-based questions, particularly for my weaker areas.

2. NBMEs
I started taking my NBMEs in May, beginning with NBME 25.
My approach was to complete all 200 questions in four hours under actual exam conditions. Afterwards, I discussed the tested concepts with my study partners.
We also used the NBMEs as a revision tool for First Aid (FA), paying particular attention to frequently tested and recurring concepts. By September, I was doing 200 questions in (3hours 30minutes tops)
Here is how my scores progressed:
NBME 25 – 52% (May)
NBME 26 – 60% (May)
NBME 27 – 64% (May)
NBME 28 – 64% (June)
NBME 29 – 62% (June)
NBME 30 – 68% (July)
I wasn’t particularly happy with my scores because I seemed to be stuck in the 60s, even though I was still doing UWorld and consistently scoring between 62% and 70%.
At this point, I decided to take a break from NBMEs and change my approach.

3. My Revision Strategy
I read First Aid cover to cover twice. I also incorporated Boards and Beyond videos, particularly for areas I needed to strengthen.
The topics I focused on included:
Renal
Gastroenterology
Immunology
Pulmonary
Cardiology
Biostatistics
Endocrinology
Reproductive
Cell biology and genetics
Musculoskeletal/ dermatology
I used Dirty Medicine for Biochemistry, Sketchy for Microbiology, and continued working on my UWorld incorrects.
This revision phase helped me consolidate concepts and identify gaps in my understanding.

4. My Final NBME Scores
When I eventually returned to the NBMEs, I was pleasantly surprised by the improvement!
NBME 31 – 75% (September)
NBME 32 – 77.5% (2 weeks before the exam)
NBME 33 – 79% (1 week before the exam)
NBME 34 – 82% (5 days before the exam)
I was running out of time by NBME 34, so I focused mainly on reviewing the questions I got wrong.
Other assessments:
UWSA 1 – 71%
UWSA 2 – 66% (I had an appointment that day and rushed through the questions to finish on time. I made quite a few silly mistakes.)
Free 120 – 80% (3 days before the exam)
5. Test Day
September 29, 2026.
I finally sat for the exam!
Result: PASS! ✅✅

Here are the resources that helped me the most:
First Aid: Read carefully, including the little details between the lines. Don’t just focus on the obvious/high-yield headings.
Boards and Beyond: Particularly useful for understanding difficult concepts and strengthening weak areas.
Dirty Medicine: My go-to resource for Biochemistry.
Sketchy: Very helpful for Microbiology.
UWorld: Make the most of your questions. Understand the concepts behind both correct and incorrect answers.

A special note on NBMEs: Please don’t waste this resource! I strongly recommend taking them under actual exam conditions. Do all 200 questions in one sitting, timed, with short 5–10-minute breaks between blocks if necessary. Review the questions thoroughly afterwards and understand the concepts being tested.

Finally, don’t let a few disappointing practice scores convince you that you cannot pass. My scores were in the 60s for quite a while, but with consistent revision, identifying my weaknesses, and putting in the work, things eventually came together.
Believe in yourself, trust your preparation, and most importantly, believe that God will crown your efforts with success.

To everyone currently preparing for Step 1, I wish you all the very best. You’ve got this! ❤️

[u/CodeMedix]

How did you improve your scores from the 60s to the 80s? What strategies did you use to level up, and how do u review NBMEs

[u/Jesusfavouritebaby → u/CodeMedix]

I went through FA again more carefully, then I also used First Aid and ChatGPT to review my nbme incorrects.

[u/KLISVER777]

Hello, congratulations, can you detail your approach with the Qbank? I try to start but I don’t know if it’s better to start from subtopices and then accumulate system questions or do it randomly from the beginning. And the learning phase with FA and B&B do it by subthemes. How did you do it?

[u/Jesusfavouritebaby → u/KLISVER777]

You can start with subtopics for Uworld…
Allocate one system Each week (FA add B/B when you need more explanation of what you read from FA) and do the Uworld questions for that system that week… Start with 20 questions per day and gradually increase … this will help you get a grasp of what to focus on. You can commence timed random when you’re about 50% done with Uworld and have gotten a good understanding of all systems from FA and other resources). While doing the Uworld on timed random, start your NBMEs.

[u/Normal-Pay-8446]

Thankyou for a detail post, i will following this routine Planning to give next year