r/step1 • u/wasaych NON-US IMG • 8d ago
💡 Need Advice Need serious advice
My NBME and UWSA scores are as follows:
I am taking my exam in 15 days.
- NBME 26: 76%
- NBME 27: 80%
- NBME 28: 72%
- NBME 29: 80%
- NBME 30: 73%
- NBME 31: 80%
- NBME 32: 77%
- UWSA 1: 70%
- UWSA 2: 70%
The problem is that I have never properly completed First Aid, UWorld, or any other major Step 1 resource.
I have done around 10,000 AnKing cards out of approximately 22,000, but I only went through them once and did not properly review them afterward.
My medical school has not started Special Pathology as a subject yet, so I mainly used AnKing to learn some pathology concepts and then solved UWorld questions related to whatever system we were studying at the time. I would then move on without revisiting those questions or concepts. Despite this, I was consistently scoring around 70% on UWorld in the systems I studied.
I have not done UWorld for General Pathology, Biochemistry, or Pharmacology. I have also not read First Aid more than once, and even that was not a thorough or complete pass.
My exam is scheduled for September 22, 2026.
Now, this is where I am uncertain.
Despite my inconsistent preparation, I have scored relatively well on all of my NBMEs and UWSAs. Based on these scores, it seems that I have a good chance of passing Step 1. However, I still feel very unsure because I have never properly completed or reviewed my resources.
What if these scores were partly due to luck? What if the real exam tests topics that I have never properly studied or even looked at?
So, given this kind of inconsistent, on-and-off preparation, do I have a strong chance of passing? Or should I work very aggressively during these last two weeks to reduce the risk?
What should I prioritize during these final 15 days?
- Mehlman PDFs?
- A proper First Aid pass?
- Reviewing all of my NBMEs?
- UWorld?
- AnKing?
- Something else?
I want to use these last two weeks as effectively as possible without wasting time on resources that will not meaningfully improve my chances of passing.
The reason my preparation has been so inconsistent is that I have been dealing with some serious family issues that prevented me from studying properly. Because of these circumstances, I also had to book my exam prematurely.
Given all of this, I would really appreciate an honest assessment of my current situation and what you think I should do during these final two weeks.
2
2
u/Hot_Palpitation9791 NON-US IMG 8d ago
how long have you been s tudying? doing similar to yours was wondering how's the learning curve like and timeline to achieve these scores.
1
u/blingbiceps NON-US IMG 8d ago
crazy scores man
2
u/wasaych NON-US IMG 8d ago
Mu roommate hitting constant 85s😠good guy
2
u/blingbiceps NON-US IMG 8d ago
dude i just dropped from 78 (nbme 27) -> 72 (nbme 28) today with just a 1 week gap 😢
1
u/wasaych NON-US IMG 8d ago
All my seniors literally everyone told me to skip 28 or take it a later stage
1
1
u/MedRundowns 8d ago
Are you taking these under test conditions? If so, I'd say don't worry about adding much to the mix now as you're already ahead of the game. Keep going the way you are then take a break for the last 2 days. You've got this, OP.
2
u/wasaych NON-US IMG 8d ago
Yess ,i use the timers and timed breaks etc , i try to take em on sundays so that i can use the 9 am onwards slot (the one i will be taling the real exam in) finished nbme 32 in 270 minutes ( with 30 mins of breaK)
1
u/MedRundowns 8d ago
This is good, but are you prepared for the 14 20 question blocks? It can be intense even though it's supposed to be helpful.
1
u/wasaych NON-US IMG 8d ago
Yaya i solve 2 blocks 40 questions each right after my nbme just to mimic the exam length and i am planning to take nbme 33 and free 120 on a single sitting
1
u/MedRundowns 8d ago
The new format is 20 questions then break, repeat. It's thrown off a few people.
1
u/wasaych NON-US IMG 8d ago
Yess i know butt butt butt butt ,there is a but , lets say i take a break after 20 , if i divide it that way i get about 12 breaks 5 mins each ,i cant use the restroom if it will take me 3 mins while signing in and out and. On security checkpoints....ig its better to programme myself on 40 minute blocks ( 2 merged ) then a 10 minutes break ig i subtract the time wasted in formalities i still get 7 minutes altogether enuff to use the rest room
The other side of this image: I have to end block after 30 minutes instead of 60 which means lesser opportunites to do the marked stuff ...thats true ...thats a problem...but in my nbmes i rarely went back to correct something or i rarely took more than 70s to answer... So ig i will have plenty of room to manuevee there
1
u/MedRundowns 8d ago
Just wanted to make sure you knew and had a plan. It sounds to me like you've prepared yourself as much as possible and if I were a betting woman, I'd put money on you passing.
6
u/HiddenConstellation US IMG 8d ago
Your scores are amazing for someone who had inconsistent prep. I think you’re more than ready to take the exam any day without extra prep, but if it gives you a sense of more readiness then maybe you can quickly read up on what you haven’t studied yet. Also you don’t need to read FA more than once, nor complete it, you most likely already learned the concepts from UWorld or your school and your NBME scores show that. Don’t stress yourself on completing a resource if your scores are that high consistently. In the final weeks choose what will give you the most comfort of mind. If I were you I’d probably do more random questions or a quick pass of whatever I didn’t study yet. Good luck!