This is my STEP 1 experience. I will be brief and consistent.
Duration of study: 12 months.
STEP 1 score goal: 230. Step 1 score: 229.
First of all I´m not a recent medical graduate. I´m 32 years old and finished medical school at age 24. After 4 years I became a cardiologist at a high volume center in Buenos Aires and then became chief of residents. After that I did 1-year of basic research in cardiovascular field at a very top ranked lab in USA and now Im in the middle of an interventional cardiology fellowship. My experience is specially focused to doctors who have already done clinical practice and want to pursue a career in USA.
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Resources: First Aid (The Bible)/ UWorld (key yo integrate concepts/ BRS physio /Q bank (only some areas)/ Some key notes of pathoma/ You Tube videos for biostatistics and pharmacology
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My hours of study were mostly harder at weekeends when I was not rushing with PCIs and STEMIs.
I think that reading FIRST AID is MUST at least 2 times. My first round of Uworld was 60 % and the second round 80 % !
I recommend only testing the NBME which better predict to STEP 1. I did 13,15,16,17,18,19. All of them offline with scores in general a bit lower than my final STEP 1 score with an average of 210-220.
Final message: As everyone says try to focus on weak areas and write down clear concepts of UWorld explanations that you may forget. In my case both basic research and clinical experience made things easier for me.
Good luck to everyone! It´s a long journey but really worth