Exam date: April 17th 2007
Exam started at 7:48 am (supposed to be at 8:00, but I reached the center earlier)
Exam Ended at 3:50 pm
The exam center is so great, and I liked it very much. I really did like the proctors, they are helpful and friendly.
Preparation: 8 months duration, with on and offs. It was serious from January.
All subjects were from Kaplan notes, which are so great, except the Pathology, for which I used BRS, which is awesome.
I did parts of Kaplan Qbook, Qbank, and Usmle World Qbank (all were as learning tool).
I did NBME form 4, 1 month before exam, and got 390 ( I was really so stressed and postponed my exam for a month); form 1, 5 days before exam and got 480 (was bit relieved)
Did the USMLE CD, 2 days before exam, and got 34, 35, 46, in the 3 blocks.
One thing to say about the preparation; it is unique to every individual and fist his/her own time frame, expectations, and surrounding circumstances. So don’t rely on my preparation or other’s, and do your own style. I do agree that you will benefit from other’s experiences, but keep your style and individualize your own preprations, and try not to replicate other’s, because you will end up with too many replicas, none of which are identical.
I faced a serious problem, which I thought that will be just for the first, or even will be up to the second block, and thereafter everything will be fine. This did not happen, and this problem, persisted with me up to the last block, and I really don’t know why?. It was TIME. I was short of time in all blocks, though that I used to end every block of questions during my prep with at least 3 minutes to spare, and sometimes I had up to 15 minutes. In the exam this did not happen. I am afraid that this would affect my overall performance. I am afraid to death.
Overall, the exam is DOABLE. I am currently having a RETROGRADE AMNESIA, and cant remember that much. All what I can recall is that there are one question exactly from the USMLE CD (exact replica!!), and another concept from the CD (they had the question in a reverse manner, or kind of that). Many questions about Drugs, and their Mechanism of Action (MOA); some weird questions in molecular and genetics, that I had no clue about and I had to guess; & many pictures, illustrations, CTs, MRIs, & X-rays which you can figure from the question stem, and some times you cant.
The strange thing is that I had a nervous start, but as the day progresses, I became calmer albeit the “Time Pressure”. I think it has something to do with the fact that you are about to finish.
I had managed for my breaks the day before the exam. I had just one emergency break, for which I had no plan. With my nervousness, I had to visit the Restroom many times. Before the exam I went, and after the first block (which came out of the blue!!!). I had a break after my 3rd block to eat, and drink some coffee; after the 5th block to eat some chocolate; and between the 6th and 7th blocks, I took a break in my chair just to rest my mind a bit, and actually that was so great.
At the end of the day you will feel like there is a huge load had been put away from your shoulders, and that the whole world is yours
.
I hope that I will not need to read once again for this Step, and it will be part of my memories, no more.
Finally, one of the most strongest reasons that I was able to take the exam is SUPPORT. I had many phone calls from my friends from my school, telling me that I am able to ace this test, and I will do great. They did mentioned the most accurate fact to me, which was kept concealed in my subconscious level for a long time “You will not know every thing”. I agree with them, or otherwise, no need for the different specialties, and we should start practicing since the day we graduated without further training !!
That’s regarding my STEP 1 exam, which I should leave behind my back and try to look forward, for the future.
Take care and good luck to all of you who will be taking this exam.
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P.S: i am having a problem with my connection, so be patient with my delayed replies