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New to Step 1? Read these first. 13 guides.
By Dr. Marish Asudani · Published · Updated
Where do I start with USMLE Step 1?
Start with 16-Week Step 1 Plan (Screenshot Guides): The 16-week Step 1 plan in 4 phases: Foundation (Sketchy+pharm days 1-9), Systems in fixed order with day counts, Revision 8-10 days, NBMEs from 27. Then The Step 1 Roadmap and How to Pass USMLE Step 1 in 2027 (Day 1 to Exam Day) — Video Guide.
Start here · Full plan · 16 weeks
16-Week Step 1 Plan (Screenshot Guides)
The 16-week Step 1 plan in 4 phases: Foundation (Sketchy+pharm days 1-9), Systems in fixed order with day counts, Revision 8-10 days, NBMEs from 27
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Full plan
The Step 1 Roadmap
Set your Step 1 exam date from daily hours (6 mo/4 mo/12-14 wk) and first NBME 4 weeks before; system order, revision week, NBME 27
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Full plan
How to Pass USMLE Step 1 in 2027 (Day 1 to Exam Day) — Video Guide
Chaptered companion to an 18-min video covering the whole Step 1 plan day 1 to exam day, each chapter linked to the deeper guide
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Resources
4 Resources, Not 40 — The Only Step 1 Stack You Need
The 4-resource Step 1 stack (First Aid, UWorld, Sketchy, Mehlman for systems under 65%) run through USMLE Vault
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Method
How to Study Any Step 1 System in 5 to 7 Days
The fixed 5-step order for any Step 1 system in 5-7 days (micro/pharm, active reading, Mehlman, Anki, UWorld) plus every system's days and prerequisites
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System plan · 6 days
Renal, Start to Finish, in 6 Days
Day-by-day 6-day renal plan: micro/pharm, FA pp. 596-628 active reading, Mehlman, Foundation Anki, UWorld renal with RPSR; renal is free on Vault
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Method
4 Step 1 Hacks
4 Step 1 order hacks: micro+pharm first then renal, UWorld system-wise to 100%, 6-7 day system loop, Mehlman videos not PDFs
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Method
Popular Step 1 Study Methods I Would Never Use
8 popular Step 1 methods to avoid, in 2 parts (all of First Aid before UWorld, random mode, saving questions, the Sketchy PDF alone, starting with cardio or biochem, NBMEs online) and the fix for each
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Mindset
Canon Events — and the Fix for Each
10 common IMG prep mistakes (new plan weekly, B&B, UWorld cold, NBME 28 first, online NBMEs, 2 sets of notes, waiting for internship) and the fix for each
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Method
10 IMG Mistakes in Step 1 Prep
10 common IMG Step 1 mistakes in order (content phase and NBME phase), each with its fix and link
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Inside the Vault
What Is Your One Resource
Explains USMLE Vault's 4 parts: Schedule, University videos/PDFs, First Aid Guide page-by-page, and Foundation/NBME Booster Anki decks; 3 days free
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Method
10 Tricks to Pass Step 1
2 lists of 10 Step 1 tricks: 10 to pass (hard date, UWorld system-wise, NBME rules, 68% bar, exam day) and 10 to prep faster
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Mindset
"I'm So Anxious About How Much I Have to Study"
Reframes study anxiety as lack of structure/method, points to the First Aid method, RPSR UWorld method and a day-by-day task list
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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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