Greetings everyone. I am a recent IMG who will be taking U.S. licensing exams over the next 18 months. After browsing the many threads on here for the last few weeks, I wanted to survey current US MD/DO students and other IMGs who have recently taken or will be taking Step 1 this year. You do not have to answer all the questions, but as much feedback as you have to give will be much appreciated. All told it should take no more than 10-15 minutes. Thank you all.


1) Which medical student category are you in? U.S. MD, U.S. DO, IMG
2) When did you take/will you take Step 1?
3) What was your initial assessment score? What is/was your score goal/final score?
4) Did your school provide a prep class for you? If yes, which one (Kaplan, Becker, DIT, other)? Did you use this course?
If no, did you seek out your own prep course? Which one? Was it live/in-person or online?
5) Did you feel that the course was helpful to your preparation? If yes, why? If no, why?
6) Did you use a Qbank? Which one (UWorld, Kaplan, DIT, USMLE Rx, other)
7) Did you purchase the NMBE assessment materials? If yes, how did your Qbank compare to the official NMBE questions?
8) Did you use your basic science textbooks during your Step 1 studying? If yes, which ones were really helpful?
9) Did you use any Step 1 review books? Which ones (First Aid, Goljan RR, BRS, UCV, other)? If you used First Aid, did you also use their Qbook? If so, was it helpful?
10) For how long did you study? Where in your medical school class do you rank (top 1/3, top 1/5)?
11) Did you use any other lecture or content review materials? If so, which ones?
12) Is there any one Step 1 study resource could not have done without?
13) Is there anything you wish you had used to prep that you did not?
14) Is there any resource you did purchase you wish you had not?
15) Was there any resource/study aid/test guide for USMLE prep that does not exist but you wish it did (e.g. more Qs, test strategies or tips, useful references)?
16) What 1 piece of advice would you give to a student gearing up for Step 1?






The URL can also be found here. https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/usmle-step-1-prep-survey.1254789/#post-18909020