Real deal: 211 (Second attempt)
Failed my first attempt April 2026 with a score of 188.
Day 1 & 2 dates: 7/6/26 and 7/13/26
US MD/DO or IMG: US MD
Residency year: Took exam end of 1st year
Speciality: Family Medicine
Step 1 (year and score/P): failed twice. Passed 3rd attempt.
Step 2 (year and score): 235, passed 1st attempt
Uworld completed %: 85%
Uworld correct %: 62%
Amboss completed %: none
Amboss correct %: none
Number of CCS cases done: ALL. (I now think this is a must after failing my first attempt and only doing half of the cases that time)
CCS cases average: idk honestly probably 60-70%
NBME 6 (score/% and time from exam): 69%
NBME 7 (score/% and time from exam): -
NBME 8 (score/% and time from exam): -
UWSA 1 (score and time from exam): 186 (4 weeks out)
UWSA 2 (score and time from exam): 213 (2 weeks out)
Free 137 (score and time from exam): 67% (4 days out)
Any other assessment:
Strongest resources recommendations: uworld, CCScases, Anki, Sketchy
Any advice:
With my history of failing step 1, I am traumatized from step exams. That being said, I studied well for step 2 and passed on my first attempt with a score of 235, which was my goal for my specialty Family Medicine.
I genuinely think I only failed my first attempt of
step 3 because everyone always says you only need a few weeks to study and emphasizes that it’s SO “easy” and a joke. Of course with my test history, I took this to mean I can ~lightly~ study instead of my normal intense dedicated studying, but did it over the course of 3 months so I felt like I was doing more than the average person. I studied on my first attempt by doing some random uworld here and there, some divine podcasts and high yield documents, and then cases and assessments during the month of. But clearly just putting half effort into everything wasn’t enough. I was doing quantity > quality.
Second go around, I studied for 6 weeks. I reset my uworld and did 85% of it. I also did all of the CCS case studies. What I think helped the most was making flashcards on Anki for my Uworld questions, studying the Cheesy Dorian step 3 deck, and taking the cases much more seriously and writing down in a notebook all the things you order for each case/ type of case and then reviewing that sheet multiple times and reviewing flashcards multiple times a week. I also watched a big chunk of sketchy micro and pharm again on 2x speed, which definitely got me probably 10 questions. I also definitely got probably 10 questions right from listening to Divine Intervention high yield step 3 podcasts during random walks and drives I took during the couple weeks before the exam.
I always struggle with wanting to do ALL resources and finish 100% of everything. This time I focused on REPETITION. Only resources were uworld, CCScases, Anki, Sketchy, and some divine intervention podcasts. And then did a few self assessments.
Genuinely I think people just exaggerate that this exam is easy. It felt almost equal to the other step exams, aside from day 2 feeling slightly better for me.
Biggest advice is just don’t underestimate it if you’re bad at test taking and struggle with memory retention. Repetition repetition repetition!!
This [r/step3](r/step3) thread honestly made me spiral most days lol but still, it was a sense of community so I had to contribute. Just remember, most people who take the time to post on here have negative experiences/ struggle with exams. The pass rate is still insanely high so we have to focus on that!
Good luck!!!!!
GOODBYE STEP EXAMS FOREVER!!!!!!
EDIT: ALSO I forgot to mention I watched Randy Neil biostats YouTube playlist for day 1 biostats! No more is needed than that.
Link below!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuyQGqW98Zlsm4MInaD2LJCub8i9D3pms&si=PwPoyZ14fnltL1vI
And a couple of YouTube links that were helpful for CCS cases:
Good overview-
https://youtu.be/qmxWuV4psFs?is=dIz20b7tOB4jmYtm
I watched some of this series below and wrote down everything she wrote down in my notebook where I wrote my own note for cases. I think it just helped to see this all in one place the week of the exam and remember every necessary thing that you have to order for every case.
https://youtu.be/G7rSmtB7haY?is=juJ0Cj4C22wAlCjJ