How to Make a Step 1 Study Schedule
Written by Grace Gilbert, MD
First of all, please know there’s no magic formula to doing well on the USMLE Step 1 exam. Some people can use few resources and quickly do well, while others take months and need more assistance. This is an important exam, but it does not define what kind of doctor you will be. This exam is just a hurdle to overcome.
Dedicated recommended study length:
6-8 weeks: With over 3500Qs you need seven weeks with at least 80 questions per day for one single pass of UWorld. I recommend trying to do a few more per day so you can get through your incorrect questions a second time.
UFAAPPS: This acronym provides the recommended USMLE Step 1 resources.
UWorld: This question bank is not to test your knowledge, it’s to teach you. It’s your textbook. Don’t stress about getting a 40% - the more you get wrong, the more you learn.
First Aid: Review First Aid while doing Uworld questions.
Anki: Long gone are the days of spending all afternoon on Anki. Efficiency is key now.
Pathoma: I wish I had stuck to some of the more simple, high yield details in Pathoma. UWorld/First Aid love to bog you down with lots of details. NBME, STEP 1, and Pathoma tend to focus more on high yield details and common diseases.
Pixorize: If you’re bad at biochemistry, this will help you. FTM is incredibly high yield, don’t want to miss easy points.
Sketchy Medical: I know it’s not for everyone, but I pray to the “Sketchy Gods". It’s been nearly 3 years since my USMLE Step 1 exam, and I still know every microbe and antibiotic simply because of these videos.
Before I get into discussing a schedule, I’d like to mention the biggest thing I’ve learned from tutoring and studying for Step 2 and 3 that I wish I had understood earlier. Your goal is not to review two years of classwork in 7 weeks before taking the exam. Your goal is to eliminate weak points.
After completing USMLE Step 1, I made a video with a lot of advice that goes through a full example schedule. If you would like a more in-depth review, watch away here.
Other Step 1 advice:
Best YouTube advice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDN-g4ikv_w
Jason Ryan (B&B) Advice: https://www.boardsbeyond.com/step-1-tips
Anki Filter deck video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx3H7IVypy8&t=5s
USMLE STEP 1 breakdown: https://www.usmle.org/step-1/#content-outlines
