For example, while First Aid is a beautiful resource and a must-do, it is not a comprehensive review to understand the concepts you need to know for the exam. Most of these, however, do not explain the best way to utilize these resources. There are numerous posts online explaining what resources were used by high scorers. Failing to do one’s due diligence before using resources.These tips & tricks could be the difference between an average score and an amazing one. Finally, I’ll discuss a few oversights by students in their preparation, which are not strictly related to preparatory material. I will begin by explaining general, thematic mistakes, and then move on to resource-specific mistakes. This is the last year Step 1 will be a scored exam, so for those taking it this year, solid preparation is essential. During my experience preparing for the USMLE Step 1, and guiding juniors/ contemporaries in their preparation, I observed a few common themes. Additionally, posts on mistakes to avoid during Step 1 preparation are rare. While the gold-standard resources for preparation for this beast of an exam are well known, guidance on the best way to utilize these resources is sparse. This post will go over the common mistakes that students make when they are preparing for their STEP 1 exam.
