Free USMLE guides
NBMEs
Order, timing, review, and fixing your scores. 21 guides.
By Dr. Marish Asudani · Published · Updated
How do I take and review NBMEs for Step 1?
Start with The Exact NBME Order: Exact Step 1 NBME sequence 26-33 in 4 groups, what to finish before each, block format, what scores mean, pairing with Free 120. Then Taking Your First NBME and NBMEs Offline: The Complete System.
Start here · NBME strategy
The Exact NBME Order
Exact Step 1 NBME sequence 26-33 in 4 groups, what to finish before each, block format, what scores mean, pairing with Free 120
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Day-by-day plan · 7-10 days
Taking Your First NBME
7-10 day consolidation protocol before first NBME (Sketchy daily, Foundation Anki, 2 NBME 26 blocks/day), 2-pass block method, then NBME 27 simulation
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NBME strategy
NBMEs Offline: The Complete System
The complete offline NBME system for Step 1 and Step 2 CK: why offline, how to take it, your first form, the 26-33 order, solving, same-day review and what to do after
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NBME strategy · 1 week
The Week Before Your NBME
Week-before plan for every NBME form (26-29, 30/31, 32, 33, 34) with score-based branches, plus Step 2 CK NBME ladder and notes-cycle rule
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Day-by-day plan · 1 week
The Week Before Your NBME, for Procrastinators
3 steps for the week before an NBME if procrastinating: review last NBME to find weak systems, get score-based schedule, follow daily checklist
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NBME strategy · 1 night
The Night Before Your NBME
What to study the night before an NBME (only your 1-page list of weak points built all week) plus a final-day setup checklist
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NBME strategy · 24 hours
24 Hours of an NBME Day
Hour-by-hour plan for a full NBME practice day: 7:30 start, 10 offline blocks, break and glucose plan, same-day review, next steps by score
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Method
NBME Review Protocol
Same-day NBME review system: score check before answers, stem-only re-attempt, practice gap vs knowledge deficit, system-wise 1-liner notebook, checklist
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Method
Stop Making Silly Mistakes on Your NBMEs
6 steps to stop 'silly mistakes' on NBMEs: same-day review, sort misses into 5 types, never read options before stem, switching rule, practise on blocks
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NBME strategy · 24 hours
24 Hours After a Bad NBME
24-hour protocol after a bad NBME: same-day review of incorrects, sort misses by system and error type, score-based next road, 5-day habit drill
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NBME strategy
How to Score More Than 75% on Your NBMEs
5 moves to go from 68% to 75%+ on NBMEs: pacing, fix systems, same-day review, NBME Anki before next form, Neil Randy PDF + HY Arrows
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NBME strategy
Stuck at 62–65% on NBMEs
3 moves to break a 62-65% NBME plateau: Mehlman + AMBOSS for weak systems, Randy Neil and Mehlman Arrows PDFs, NBME Booster deck system-wise
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Mindset
Delete Reddit Before Step 1
Why Reddit's '60-65% on NBMEs is fine' advice and fear-mongering hurt IMGs; restates the readiness bar (above 68% on NBME 31, 32 and 33, offline) and lists the guides to read instead
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Inside the Vault · 1-2 weeks
The NBME Booster Anki: Step 1 and Step 2 CK
The NBME Booster Anki for Step 1 (NBME 20-34 + Free 120) and Step 2 CK (NBME 9-16 + both Free 120s): what's in each deck, and how to revise every NBME before the next
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Day-by-day plan · 6 days
All the NBMEs in 6 Days
6-day split running the NBME Booster (forms 20-34, ~540 cards/day) system by system before your next form, e.g. before NBME 32
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Inside the Vault
The Step 1 Assessments
Explains the 2 Vault full-length 280-question Step 1 assessments (Assessment 2 free): format, harder stems, report, and when to take each
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NBME strategy
How to Know You're Actually Ready
When you're ready to book Step 1: above 68% trending on NBME 31-33, ~25-min block pacing, 1 full 14-block day
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Day-by-day plan · 33 days
The Last Month Before Step 1: The Exact Day-by-Day Plan
Day-by-day 33-day Step 1 plan from NBME 27 to exam: repair round, NBME Booster, full 14-block days, NBMEs 28-33, final week
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Day-by-day plan · 1 month
The Month Before Step 1
Last-month Step 1 router by NBME score: 65-68% push (Booster, Foundation Anki, Mehlman, Neil Randy, Arrows), NBME roads, readiness checklist
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Real schedule · 34 days
Dr. E's Exact Schedule: 59% Baseline NBME to a Step 1 Pass in 34 Days
US MS3 in rotations goes from 59.5% baseline NBME to a Step 1 pass in 34 days: Foundation Anki, Sketchy deck, NBMEs in 20-question blocks, Booster
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Real schedule · 8 weeks
Ashna's Exact Schedule: NBMEs Stuck at 67% to a Step 1 Pass in 8 Weeks
NBMEs stuck at 67-68% and burnt out to a Step 1 pass in 8 weeks: Sketchy micro, First Aid + FA Guide by system, FA Foundation Anki, NBME Booster Anki, Vault Assessment
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Every guide here runs on one app
First Aid guide, Anki, NBME booster and assessments, in USMLE Vault.
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