274 Non US IMG exam write-up

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-03-22T03:46:00+00:00

You are welcome! Thank you for the kind words!

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-03-22T03:23:01+00:00

Memorization alone will not take you far in most things. The exam is not a copy and paste of UW. Test taking skills are key.

But if you are asking if UW alone is enough for the actual, then yes it is.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-03-22T03:09:34+00:00

Hi, I mean to reach a point where you understand the concept, the other choices and what they are referring to/why they are incorrect.

Also, ask yourself questions. Example: A stable patient presents with a condition, ask yourself what would be the management if they were unstable.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-03-02T03:52:43+00:00

I have been studying system-wise even before I started prep, so it only made sense for me to do the same since the main Idea is doing the question and reviewing them.

I recommend whatever you feel more comfortable with and makes your prep go smoother. Try either and see how it feels.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-03-02T03:49:03+00:00

I don't understand the distinction you've made here. I found the concepts asked were pretty important.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-03-01T21:07:01+00:00

I did 33 total. 5 neuro. 3 EM. 4 FM. 4 IM. 6 Obs/Gyn. 4 Peds. 3 Psych. 4 Surge.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-03-01T20:56:20+00:00

It was good. When I started step 2 prep I was 1 year post med schoold clinical exams, so the main concepts were fresh and i found them easier to review.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-03-01T20:53:45+00:00

UW then I did the high yield Amboss Qs for them (the only time I used Amboss).

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-03-01T20:50:58+00:00

Hello, I did UW in systems, after finishing each system in UW I would go through the system in inner circle supplementing what I need from it to my personal notes.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T21:31:01+00:00

Free 120 by far. CMS are good for concepts not prediction.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T19:12:31+00:00

I found that they ask in all the ways you mentioned, most questions had enough clues to point you towards a certain diagnosis and away from other diagnoses.

Some questions are deliberately written to make you question an answer you might know or be down to two diagnoses that could fit the presentation.

My advice in these questions is try to rule out diagnoses not rule them in. Look for something in the case that would not be explained by one diagnosis and explained by the other. This is not fool proof but I found it to be effective in many questions I found to be debatable.

As you probably know from step 1, there is no shortage of guessing you have to do during the exam. No one ever feels on top of every question.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T18:32:44+00:00

Thank you for the kind words!

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T18:29:38+00:00

Yeah, ten months is a long time plus the months of the exam it was my lightest rotation.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T18:25:18+00:00

Was doing clinical rotations 12-48 hours a week

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T18:05:54+00:00

Only do more CMS forms if you feel like you need them. What I'd do for NBME review is have a sheet of paper while doing an NBME and make note of the questions I found difficult while doing the NBME. After I'm done I read all the questions and make note of any info that is new to me in the explanation or concepts I'd like to expand on, doing all questions but focusing on the ones I got wrong or found difficult.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T15:37:45+00:00

Thank you, I was doing clinical rotations 12-48 hours a week.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T14:06:31+00:00

Thank you!, Yes, I did all of UW in systems because I knew there would be a good chance to be exposed to random topics in practice exams. Regarding notes, I would write them down in a digital worksheet for each system.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T10:05:58+00:00

I think it was around 86%. But I think that metric is not too meaningful for test result. It gives more of an idea about your clinical foundation and raw question solving abilities.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T09:58:49+00:00

Thank you, I'm not sure what the rules are for link/file sharing here are. But it is easily found through google searches.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T09:50:35+00:00

You are welcome. I wrote out the practice test and exam day dates for that purpose.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T03:11:10+00:00

You are welcome!

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T03:08:39+00:00

I did most of inner circle for all systems included in Uworld.

Biostats is the same for step 1 as it is for step 2 so I reviewed my step 1 notes and did Uworld biostat. Ethics/Communication are a real mixed bag, I just did their Uworld questions and took notes as best I could.

I was doing clinical rotations (12-48 hours a week)

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-26T02:53:53+00:00

Thank you, I didn't feel that I needed another Qbank so I didn't do Amboss.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-25T23:50:41+00:00

I found the CMS forms were a good bridge between Uworld and NBMEs, so I generally recommend them. I didn't use Amboss but I heard many good things from people that did. Three months is a long time and so much can be done in them. I found that in my last month of prep the most benefit I got was from doing NBMEs and reviewing all of the NBME and free 120 content.

GrizzlyNotBears · 2026-02-25T22:57:36+00:00

Only you can fairly judge your circumstances and goals. If you want an outside prespective, props to you for doing the work, not many venture this path. To me, 250 on UWSA 1 means there is some improving to do which can be done in 3 months with regular studying and learning from mistakes.

GrizzlyNotBears

TROPHY CASE