USMLE Step 1 is a one-day exam that thoroughly tests your application of your skills, values and attitudes to real life, patient centered scenarios.

It includes no more than 280 Multiple choice questions and spans 8 hours of testing divided into 15 minutes of tutorial, 7 blocks of 1 hour each and 45 minutes of breaktime. This breaktime can be divided based on personal preference but only after completion of each individual block. You can also skip the tutorial if you already have the experience, this time will also be added to your breaktime.

Basic science principles are tested including:

  • Anatomy
  • Behavioral Science
  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
  • Genetics
  • Immunology
  • Nutrition

The average duration for preparation is 6-9 months however it can vary greatly based on your initial knowledge and understanding.

The essential resources that are recommended by most of the students include:
1) UWorld

2) First Aid for Step 1

3) Pathoma

Other resources recommended by students include

BNB(Boards and Beyond) – If you want to improve your basic knowledge of these topics in a time bound manner, BNB videos are the go to resource.

Once you are finished with the first pass (finished these resources once), you can test your knowledge on the NBME Self-Assessments. If your desired score is close to the score on these, you are ready to appear for the real exam.