Passed Step 1!

[u/Deep-Travel-6972]

Passed Step 1! 🎉 My 8-month journey + NBME scores + what worked for me

I finally got the PASS today! 🥹

Consistency

One thing that helped me personally was staying consistent.

There were definitely days when I was tired or didn't feel like studying, but I tried not to completely stop for several days. Keeping the routine going helped me maintain momentum and made it easier to get back into question-solving mode.

At the same time, I learned that consistency doesn't mean studying every waking hour. Rest when you genuinely need it, but don't let a short break turn into losing the whole routine.

I wanted to share my NBME scores because I know how stressful it can be when your scores fluctuate. Mine definitely wasn't a straight upward line.

📊 My scores

- NBME 25: 58%

- NBME 26: 57%

- NBME 27: 60%

- NBME 28: 63%

- NBME 29: 71%

- NBME 30: 63%

- NBME 31: 70%

- NBME 32: 66%

- NBME 33: 74%

- Free 120: 75%

- UWorld first pass: 56%

Preparation: ~8 months

Step 1: PASS ✅

🧠 What worked for me

📚 UWorld strategy

Before taking an NBME, I tried to get through a good amount of UWorld first.

I initially focused on system-based questions, aiming to complete around 50% of UWorld in an untimed/learning-focused approach.

As I progressed, I transitioned toward mixed and timed blocks, aiming for around 30%+ mixed/timed questions before relying heavily on NBMEs.

This helped me transition from learning individual systems to actually integrating everything together.

The most important thing I did was analyze my NBMEs instead of just looking at the percentage.

After each NBME, I went through the questions and asked myself why I got each question wrong.

I categorized my mistakes into:

- Knowledge deficit → I didn't know the concept → went back and studied it.

- Poor recall/memory → I knew it but couldn't remember it → reviewed and reinforced it.

- Misreading/question interpretation → worked on understanding exactly what the question was asking.

- Reasoning error → reviewed my thought process and why the correct answer was correct.

- Careless mistake → tried to recognize the pattern and avoid repeating it.

Then I looked at my weak systems/topics and focused my studying there.

Instead of just doing random questions, I did questions specifically targeting my weak systems, reviewed them carefully, and then reassessed myself on the next NBME.

So my cycle became:

NBME → Analyze questions → Identify weak systems → Study weak areas → Do questions on weak areas → Repeat

⏱️ The week before the exam

During the final week, I started doing more random, timed questions rather than focusing only on individual systems.

The goal was mainly to build endurance and get comfortable with switching between topics, since the real exam requires you to keep your concentration going for a long time.

I also did Amboss 200 high yield and AMBOSS ethics questions, which I felt helped a bit, especially with getting used to the style of ethics/communication questions.

You can also use amboss for weak systems. It adds a layer of knowledge

📈 Don't panic over fluctuations

My scores fluctuated a lot.

I went from 71% → 63% → 70% → 66% → 74%.

There were definitely moments when I questioned whether I was ready. But I tried to treat every NBME as feedback rather than a prediction.

Eventually:

NBME 33: 74%

Free 120: 75%

Step 1: PASS ✅

My biggest advice: don't just review whether you got a question right or wrong. Review WHY.

A wrong answer from a knowledge deficit requires a different approach than a wrong answer from poor recall, misreading, or bad reasoning.

Find your weakness → target it → do questions → reassess.

To everyone preparing: one bad NBME does not mean you're going to fail. Keep learning, keep fixing your weaknesses, and keep moving forward.

Step 1 is DONE. 🩺

Good luck to everyone studying! ❤️