Step 1 during internship
Pass Step 1 during internship
Your path, in order. Start with the 14-week plan, then work down the list.
By Dr. Marish Asudani · Published · Updated
How do I study for USMLE Step 1 during internship?
Follow a 14-week plan built around your duty hours: Step 1 During Internship — 14 Weeks. Use the First Aid Guide page by page so short study blocks still finish a system, and keep an accountability system so a hard week on the wards doesn't become a lost month.
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Start here · Full plan · 14 weeks
Step 1 During Internship — 14 Weeks
Marish's 14-week Step 1 plan during a full internship: phone-first setup, 10 habits, 3 phases (Sketchy/pharm, systems + UWorld, rapid review + NBMEs)
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Inside the Vault
What Is the First Aid Guide
Explains the Vault First Aid Guide: every one of 646 pages decoded with Focus On, ELI5, Test Yourself MCQs, walkthroughs, and the page-to-Anki-to-UWorld loop
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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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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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Mindset
The Accountability System — How to Actually Stay on Track for Step 1
The accountability system for Step 1: hard target score, hard exam date, ticked daily tasks, community (Vault check-ins, leaderboard, study partner)
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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, two notes sets, waiting for internship) and the fix for each
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Full plan · 12 months
All Three Steps in Under 12 Months
Timeline to pass Step 1 (16 wks compressed), Step 2 CK (6 months) and Step 3 (45 days) in about 11 months with no breaks
Open this guide →Every guide here runs on one app
First Aid guide, Anki, NBME booster and assessments, in USMLE Vault.
Try USMLE Vault free for 3 days →Want a plan made for you? Book a free call with Dr. Marish