Though the USMLE is tough,tough but it is not impossible to crack this. You just have to take preparation smartly. Today we will share tips & study guidelines from two students who have completed their USMLE part 1 before MBBS. Today we have 2 guests Rashid S Sazal & Sakin Saleh Ifti. Both of them cracked step 1 just after their 4th year of MBBS. They are from Bangladesh & took the complete preparation from Bangladesh.

Rashid S Sazal’s journey:

Name:Rashid Shahriar Sazal  

Institution: Sher-e-Bangla Medical College

Goal: 240+  

Actual Score: 244  

Preparation Time: 1 year+ 

Study Hours:  

-Regular: 6-8 hours daily, except Friday.

– Dedicated Period: 7-8 hours daily, including Friday. Took immediate breaks whenever I felt exhausted.

Resources

Primary Resources:

   – UFAP (UWorld offline, First Aid, Pathoma)

Videos:

   – Boards and Beyond (BnB)

   – Sketchy (Microbiology, Pharmacology, Pathology, Biochemistry)

   – Pixorize (only for topics not covered in Sketchy)

   – Genetics (Turco, Kaplan)

   – Dirty Medicine Videos (Ethics and Communication)

   – Randy Neil (Ethics and Communication)

   – Pathoma

Question Banks:  

   – Amboss (Completed 50% of the questions with an 83% correct rate)

Anki: 

   – Tried Anki but it didn’t work for me. However, it can be useful if you start using it from the beginning of your preparation to retain hard topics over the long term.

Preparation Details

When I decided to prepare for USMLE Step 1, I started by watching YouTube videos and gathering information on important resources.

Initial Phase:

   – Began with BnB videos and annotated First Aid with extra information.

   – Followed First Aid’s sequence: Biochemistry, Immunology, Microbiology, etc.

   – Found genetics challenging, so I relied on Turco’s genetics videos, which were very helpful. If you have time, consider watching Sam Turco’s full biochemistry videos from Kaplan.

First Read:

   – Started my first read of First Aid and found Microbiology challenging due to the vast amount of information. 

   – Discovered Sketchy and Pixorize, which became my go-to for memorizing microorganisms. Watched Sketchy videos at 2x speed and used Pixorize for topics not covered in Sketchy.

UWorld & First Aid:

   – After completing 80% of First Aid, I beganbegan solving UWorld offline. Annotated First Aid with additional information from UWorld and took screenshots of important UWorld images for last-minute review.

   – After finishing the first pass of UWorld 2020, started the second pass with UWorld 2021 (offline) and Amboss QBank. Also, read the First Aid 2021 PDF for any new information.

Psychiatry & Biostatistics:

   – Completed psychiatry and biostatistics by watching Dirty Medicine and Randy Neil videos to solidify my understanding after using BnB.

Neuroanatomy:

   – Watched Kaplan videos on Neuroanatomy by Dr. White, focusing only on my weak areas.

Self-Assessments:

– Began taking NBME’s and UWSA. Completed them offline, except for UWSA2. NBME’s are useful for predicting your score in the real exam.

Time Management During Final Year

I completed First Aid twice before the lockdown ended. Unfortunately, when the dedicated period began, the lockdown was lifted, which made things tough. In the final year, the only subject we had exams for was Pediatrics, so I studied for the ward exams just the day before.

Unfortunately, the Pediatrics ward exam was held in the last month before my USMLE Step 1 exam, so I could only manage 4-5 hours of study daily. Additionally, I didn’t study for Step 1 during the 3rd Professional exams or during Ramadan.

Thank you. Please pray for my upcoming final professional exam and the next steps in my USMLE journey.(In 2024 he is a doctor. He have cracked the 2nd step also)

I promised myself that when I pass this hurdle, I would post this picture. This picture was taken when I was about to start my preparation. 😊

Sakin Saleh Ifti’s Journey: 

Name:Sakin Saleh Ifti

Batch: 48th Batch, Final Year  

Institution: Sher-e-Bangla Medical College  

USMLE Step 1 Score: 223  

Preparation Time: Approximately 10 months  

Starting Story:

Before the 3rd Professional exams, my initial plan was to take the PLAB exam. A few months before the exams, I learned that my friend, Sajal, had started preparing for the USMLE. He frequently encouraged me to join him, saying, “Let’s do USMLE.” I initially hesitated, responding with a noncommittal “I’ll think about it.” However, after discussing the process in detail with him and watching some YouTube videos, my interest gradually increased, though I remained somewhat confused.

Just a few days before the 3rd Professional exams, I discovered that Step 2 CS had been canceled (replaced by OET). This was a turning point for me, and I immediately called my family to inform them of my decision to pursue the USMLE.

Preparation Timeline

After the 3rd Professional exams ended in late February 2021, I went home, bought the First Aid book, and planned to start my preparation on March 1st.

Study Resources

– Main Resources:  

  – Pathoma:

This resource was gold for me. I began using it during the first lockdown to strengthen my understanding of pathology, even before deciding to pursue Step 1.

  – First Aid:

I started with the 2021 edition.

  UWorld:

I used this question bank extensively throughout my preparation.

– Additional Resources:  

  – BRS Physiology: I used this primarily for cardiology and respiratory systems.

  – Amboss: I completed around 500 questions.

Study Strategy

– In March, I began studying First Aid 2021. After completing a few systems, I started solving questions from the UWorld question bank. Over time, I realized that USMLE preparation was well-organized and deepened my knowledge significantly.

– About 1.5 months before the exam, I completed UWorld and focused on revising First Aid (I revised it 4-5 times). During this period, I also took one NBME exam each week for self-assessment. These exams consist of 200 questions and are great for predicting your performance in the real exam.

– First Aid can be a bit complex, but having studied –Pathoma earlier made it easier to understand. Whenever I struggled with a topic, I watched related videos on YouTube. I often discussed important topics with friends at college, which helped reinforce my understanding.

Managing Final Year and Step 1 Preparation

During the final year, whenever we had ward sessions, I focused on studying the material taught during the ward. I reserved the day before the ward finals for studying the ward material and spent the rest of the time preparing for Step 1.

Despite the challenges, such as sleepless nights and self-doubt, I persevered. Sajal was a great support, as we would discuss our progress daily.

Study Hours

– Initially, I studied 4-5 hours daily.

– Towards the end, I increased my study time to 10-11 hours daily.

Advice for New Aspirants

For those just starting their preparation:

– Start by studying 2-3 systems from First Aid and then begin solving questions related to those systems. Try to solve at least 30-40 questions daily.

– Remember, in medicine, the competition is with yourself—compare your knowledge from six months ago with where you are now. During any exam preparation, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and worried about retaining information. However, consistent effort and time are key.

Just like building muscles in the gym, you won’t see results after just a day or two of exercise. But with consistent effort, you’ll start seeing positive results after a few months. Similarly, with patience and steady progress in your studies, success will follow, Insha’Allah.