Step 1 - 244
Comlex 1 - 629
UWorld 1st pass - 73% correct (254)
UWSA1 (3 weeks out) - 253 (255)
NBME 7 (2 weeks out) - 230 (252)
NBME 8 (1 weeks out) - 241 (255)
UWSA2 (3 days out) - 251 (252)
Free 120 (2 days out) - 84% (253)
UWorld 2nd pass - 50% done at 82% correct
Step 2 - 257
COMLEX 2 - TBD
I will include my shelf scores in case that helps anyone. My school did COMATs.
Family Med - 121
Internal Med - 117
OBGYN - 110
OPP - 120
Peds - 120
Psychiatry - 117
Surgery - 106
Prior to Third year
I did Zanki for Step 1 and got a 244. The only reason I bring that up is that I find that having a solid foundation in the basic sciences helps tremendously throughout third year and when it comes time for Step 2/Level 2. Sketchy Micro, Pharm, and Path were so ingrained in my head that I found myself nailing pimp questions throughout the year just by remembering the pictures.
During Third year
Throughout third year I did Tzanki, UWorld, and COMQUEST. Throughout the workday and after work I would study a random assortment of cards for the clerkship that I was currently on. I did a mix of UWorld and COMQUEST throughout each clerkship. The only rotation I didn't finish all of the UWorld questions during the rotation was IM. I did not keep up with past material when I started a new clerkship. I finished my first pass of UWorld 4 weeks before my test.
Dedicated
Around 4 weeks. I reset UWorld and did 40-180 questions and between 500-1500 Anki cards a day. It all depended on my mood. I only did 50% of UWorld on that second pass. I studied between 6 and 10 hours a day. The longer study days were more within the last 2 weeks when anxiety kicked in. Overall, I took this test a lot less seriously than Step 1. That was a combo of a change in priorities and burnout. I also did the Step up to Law and Ethics Anki deck during this time.
My approach to UWorld
I am only putting this in its own section because I think I do it differently than a lot of people. I rarely ever read the explanations for UWorld questions. I just made any question I got wrong into an Anki card. I also memorize first and then it all congeals into a bigger picture later, through practice questions. For me, when doing questions, it's quantity over quality I guess.
Test Day
I thought the test was really difficult. I marked over half of each block but when I finished the block I would go back and check them to realize that, for the most part, I would be sticking with the answer I chose first. The majority of questions on the test were able to be narrowed down to 2 answer choices and I just had to chose between them. Ethics and biostats weren't bad at all. I walked out of the test feeling horrible. I thought I failed it so hard. I wasn't tired when I got out of the test, I just felt defeated. I hardly remember anything from that day cuz I tend to block that stuff out. I ruminated over a couple of questions I knew I got wrong for the entire time between test day and getting my score.
Between Step and COMLEX
I had 2 days between these tests. I did COMBANK OMM questions, some of the Step up to OMM Anki deck, and I memorized the viscerosomatic and chapman points drawings. My OPP COMAT was just a few months prior in which I prepared for 2 weeks for and I felt that a lot of the information was still in my head. I studied maybe 4-6 hours a day during this time.
COMLEX
I felt that the test was very straightforward. I feel pretty good about it. We'll see how that goes when I get my score in a few weeks. The timing was fine.
I'm sure I missed something but I hope that helps someone out there! Ask any questions you'd like.
