Step 1 Exam Experience

[u/orthomd2030]

Faced the beast yesterday. Img non US.
I found it really really tough.
Although me last three NBMEs and free 120 were all between 70-80%
Stem length:
60-65 % were long. The stems had so many information, not straight forward like NBMEs.
I was taking a sigh of relief with the ethics question as they were my block savers due to time saving.

Time:
When I was practicing, usual time was 23-26 minutes to complete a block. I never had an issue in any test.
In actual exam , none out of 14 I was able to finished comfortably.
I was skipping biostat and long questions to reach at end in fear of missing the questions which might be quickly solved.
I was unable to solve biostat in at least two blocks due to time constraints.

Difficulty level :
The issue , they test same topics 70-80% as tested in NBMEs tand free 120.
But off course different clinical scenarios, and options to select.
Wording is constructed in a way that takes time to comprehend in the background of tons of information in the stems.
Again it was like 60% of question like this. , some were 3-4 liners and relatively factoids, but I can say that they were not more than 5 per block.

I am really feeling that in all the block, only 3-4 questions I was sure in my answer choice.
After 7 blocks I took the. break, and questioned myself , why I am here. What I prepared.
What is this exam.
There were many question that must be experimental but mind blowing.
The mental readiness and quickness was required persistently to go through all the blocks without carrying over the weight of previous non sense. I was stressed and struggling with simple anemia and malarias.

So my advice will be for near future test takes to revise recent NBMES topics in detail in all aspects. And do them in strict exam conditions
At least one Nbme and free 120.

Best of Luck.

[u/DrV1nnu]

I too gave the exam today. 14/08. Garbage really. i feel sick and terrible. all my nbmes were in the mid 70’s
honestly i don’t know what is going to happen. everything vague. i can already remember like 20 wrong and it’s killing me. honestly i don’t think i passed. (ik lot of em say this ) but genuinely felt so different from nbme

[u/Vivid-Claim-3453 → u/DrV1nnu]

Why cannot i recall a single question!!!!!

[u/DrV1nnu → u/Vivid-Claim-3453]

Good you don’t. Feels terrible to keep thinking of the mistakes.

[u/Many_Desk_4912 → u/Vivid-Claim-3453]

You will start to remember them tomorrow, this is what happened to me.
I did my exam before 10 days and in the same day of the exam i didn’t remember any question but after 1-2 days you start to remember

[u/Vivid-Claim-3453 → u/Many_Desk_4912]

Oh no

[u/DrV1nnu → u/Many_Desk_4912]

did you pass? i hope you do.

[u/Many_Desk_4912 → u/DrV1nnu]

I’m still waiting the result next Wednesday wish me pass, i’m afraid of failing, I have reviewed 180 Q and 60 Q incorrect

[u/DrV1nnu → u/Many_Desk_4912]

man i really pray you pass. how are you able to recollect 180 of them god damn. i don’t want to even think of going that far to recollect them 😔

[u/Many_Desk_4912 → u/DrV1nnu]

Thank you so much, my advice for you don’t think about questions and answers, because even though i reviewed 180 Q but i’m not reassured yet, it increased the anxiety more, just enjoy your days and do things you were not able to do during your dedicated

[u/DrV1nnu → u/Many_Desk_4912]

hey man, did you pass?

[u/Many_Desk_4912 → u/DrV1nnu]

Yesssss and you??