Need a 12-month study guide for Step 1

[Future Dr.]

Hey everyone, I'm posting on behalf of my cousin who's planning to take Step 1 around next July. I mean I'm also in this field but I wanna help her the best way possible. Anyway, she's an IMG and her med school curriculum didn't really cover the U.S.-style prep material. We've been looking into UWorld, First Aid, Sketchy, and Anki decks, but it's a lot to piece together. If anyone here spread their prep over 12 months and used those same tools, could you outline what that looked like month-by-month? TIA!

 

[RawhideRiot]

@Future Dr. Tell your cousin that's a solid strategy! The key to a long prep like 12 months is consistency and avoiding burnout. Here's what I usually do:

Early months: Focus on building a strong foundation with First Aid and Sketchy. Don't rush. Anki should be a daily ritual. This is where she'll fill those curriculum gaps.

Mid prep: Integrate UWorld slowly. Use it to understand why answers are right or wrong, not just for scores. The explanations are gold.

Later months: Transition to high-volume UWorld questions and practice tests (NBMEs). This builds stamina and test-taking skills.

Most importantly: Build in regular off days or lighter days. A year is a marathon, not a sprint. Burnout is a real threat, especially with a demanding exam like Step 1. Good luck to her!