Got my results 259! HAPPY!!!

Study time 6 mo (started 1 mo after taking step 1)

NBME 4 - 1 mo before 258
UWSA - 2 w before - 257
Materials:
- MTB 2&3 (they are easy to read but I personally did not like them as the
study material for the exam too much missing information)
- Toronto notes (extremely detailed book, but I used their tables and some
topics)
- UW BIBLE! I made my own notes from UW (very time consuming). Very
helpful
- Anki flash cards.
Originally I purchased the decks from other person, but end up adding my
own cards almost all UW tables or Diff Ds. More than 10k cards but it was
worth it!!!
Advices:
1. Step 1 before CK.
Roughly 15-20% of Q were step1-like (biopsy results, bugs for infections etc)
2. Find your own way to memorize info.
Anki cards that I made were perfect for me. I was able to memorize small
details, and by the last month before exam I end up doing 4+hrs flash
cards/day. Yes, its Extreme! But based on my score, it was worth it!
3. UW. I did it only once, but all important info I put into flash cards
4. Do self-assessments early, so you will have time to work on your weak
topics
5. Last weeks review your own notes!
6. Try to practice 4-5 blocks in a row to build the stamina
Exam:
- Mixed NBME-like and UW-like.
- Read Q first, so you will purposefully read the rest of the text
- I had many newspaper-like Q with full page of the texts In these Q I
read question and the last lines with physical and Ds workup. Sometimes it
worked sometimes it did not work (like psycho cases where you really have
to read carefully all text)
- Many tricky Q with small detail that changes your management
- Had several Q where I had no idea what they are talking about

If you want easy answer about materials:

UW and memorize it!
I used Anki as a tool with my own cards from UW