Got the pass yesterday!

So I've been a long time lurker on this sub, and now that I've finally passed, wanted to share my experience in case it might be useful down the line for any future test takers.

I'm a Non US IMG, currently in my 4th and final year of Med school. I'd initially planned to give my step1 by the end of my 3rd year, but wasn't able to complete the syllabus cuz I didn't manage my time as well as I should have. Finally scheduled my date 2.5 months after my 3rd year exams were done.

Resources I used 1. Uworld- Pretty obvious. Hands down the single most important resource. All the other resources must be used in tandem w this. 2. Pathoma+ Duke's pathoma anki deck- the only resource i used for pathology. Didn't really need to read FA patho after this. Def review pathoma 1-3 before the exams, had quite a few questions on the real deal 3. Physeo videos- amazing resource for understanding physiology, watched it before going into uworld physio questions 4. Sketchy micro videos+ pepper anki deck for micro 5. FA + uworld+ dirty medicine for pharm ( my weakest subject, found sketchy pharm too time consuming, but if you have time, do give it a try) 6. Dirty medicine+ FA for Biochem and immunology. Did a few topics from the Anking deck as well that I had a tough time memorizing (dirty medicine is awesome for reviewing a lot of other HY topics as well, esp ECGs) 7. Randy Neil videos for biostats. Nothing else required.

Scores: Free120: 67% (gave it 12weeks out, but I'd recommend giving it at the end instead since its probably the most predictive) Nbmes(1st one at 11 weeks out, gave 1 nbme each week from then on)- 25: 72%, 26: 75%, 27: 74%, 28: 70%, 29: 76%, 30: 80%, 31: 79%(2 weeks out) Uwsa1- 78%(1 week out)

I had tried out BnB but didn't really like it as much, but since its never a one size fits all, I'd recommend giving it a try and deciding for yourself.

The test itself felt Very fair, probably easier than nbmes and uworld. Most questions had average length stems similar to uworld and were direct questions which you either know or don't. In that sense, I felt uwsa 1 and free 120 were most similar.

My only advice: Don't freak out after reading a lot of the posts on this sub about the exam being nothing like the practice tests, those are most probably rare exceptions. Your test scores are your greatest predictors, A 70%+ score on 3-4 nbmes is a good indicator that you're more than ready to face the exam! Good luck:))