If you attempt Step 1 and you fail, you can retake the exam anytime. If you attempt step 1 and you pass, you cannot retake the exam until after 7 years have passed. But if you do that, chances are you will be unlicensable in many states as most states require you to pass all 3 steps including Step 3 within a 7 year period from the first time you first took the exam or you will not be eligible to be licensed. You can still take your USMLE but you need to research which states do not have this 7 year limitation because only in those states will they accept your USMLE scores for licensing purpose. You can make as many attempts as you like although again your chances of getting a residency or being licensed is nil.

Askdoc

i became graduate on 2010 MAY.i m going to take my step1 at the end of november 2010. may i know how many attempts offered by examination board on step1 exam? eventhough i will go with one attempt i mean to know about this.i attempt step1 know if not satisfied with score whether i have to wait for another seven years? i came to know from someone about this..is this correct information what i got?

looking forward for your reply.!

thanq

I am an IMG. Completed my final year of medical school in march. Plan to give step 1 around mid-november (it may get extended as I am not upto speed as yet). Aiming high 99 (I dont have a option … need to score that).

I have been an above-average student through out (not to boast .. but to give my background to you) and my basic science funda (acc to me) are quite above average.

I have all the review books I know its not required. But collecting books and not reading it – is my hobby haha.

Anyways, now on a serious note, I have completed till now 75% Pathology (once in 3rd year of medical school and once right now with Goljan RR and audios) and Immunology (Kaplan LN and videos – i found both of them amazing).

My need for advices are as follows

1) Can someone gimme a rough study speed and guidance on books from now, so that i am totally prepped by november.

2) I am ready to spend money on kaplan qbank and usmleworld (I know its a must) … but what i mean is that if required, i dont mind signing up for both. My BIG question is (I have read everywhere but cant find a genuine answer to this) – which bank should be subscribed when ? Both are necessary? Should I do kaplan qbank along with my first reading now and solve it subject wise and do usmleworld in last months to judge my prep? PLEASE do advise on this.

3) Obviously aiming at high 99 means, i need to know High-yield info like crazy but also know Low-yield info very well as well. Any advice how to cope up with that? What extra effort needs to be given for that?

4) Where do q books such as Lange Q and A, Kaplan q book, First aid Q and A, Robbins Review of Pathology etc stand in the prep ?

I have answered your pm at the forum.

Askdoc

I hope we can get pass our misunderstanding. Here is the message I sent you via your forum. I understand that you are very busy. I will understand if you do not wish to reply…but I do hope you will reply since I would like to enroll in your online course. As I read in one of your posts that you prefer to answer via your blog since it could be benefit others…I am very pleased with that.

I must say that I was very impressed with your blog and its stunning truth. I think your advice are good not only for the USMLE steps but also for regular exams. I read almost all the posts since I also want to score 99 on the USMLE step1.

Here is my problem, I have just finished the premed portion of my programme
and I am now going to start on my MD degree in MAY 2010. My school has a
very bad structure when it come to prepare students for the USMLE but it
follows the US curriculum. 2 students scored in the 90 and 1 scored 99 but
most took a year before taking the exam. I was wondering when should I
start preparing for the USMLE. My professors told me it is too early to
start now, I should start after my second semester of MD. Why would you
advise me?

Also Which Q bank shall I use. I read your posts about the USMLE world,
Kaplan Q banks and NMBE but nothing about Exammaster.com or other available Qbanks using a mixture of MCQs and EMQs. I understand those you’ve stated are the most popular.

It is a requirement of the medical schools in my country to pass Step 1 and
2 before graduation, otherwise no degree. Therefore, I must take the exam
even though I have no intentions to practice in the US but the UK. So after step 1 and 2 I have to take the MRCP UK examinations or

Please advise me of what shall I do and when shall I enroll in your course to get the best benefit out of it?
Oh I must say that I will register for the steps as an IMG…

I deeply apologise if i have offended you in anyway. It was far from my intentions to do so. I perhaps wrongly explain myself. It is just that I am new to the blogging and forum system. I was not sure if I was doing the right thing or using the right procedure. It was not my intention to offend in that way once again I apologise.

Hussayn.

Excuse me please. I do not spend my time just sitting here doing nothing and giving free advise. I have patients to see. I have a family. And I work for a living. So I suggest you pay somebody so He is at your beck and call. Thank You.

Askdoc.

You can contact me by logging into my forum at http://forums.askdoc-usmle.com and pm me. My callsign is askdoc.

Askdoc