Step 1 Advice by M2028 Class
Introduction
We know there’s a lot of talk regarding Georgetown’s pass rates for Step 1, and for many this can make the exam feel daunting. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that passing Step 1 is 100% doable and you are capable of doing it. Trust the process.
That being said, it can be hard to know where/when to start the Step 1 studying process so our class has created this guide compiled with student advice for you. This document will include definitions we wish we knew, mistakes, successes, scheduling advice and more. We hope this document helps demystify the process a bit. Good luck!
– Sincerely, M2028 Class
Resources
Note: This is not a comprehensive list of resources, but here were some of the most commonly used ones.
Board Review Series
A free resource provided by Dahlgreen online. There are several practice questions available here.
Bootcamp
This is admittedly an additional expense. Many students loved this resource that breaks down concepts in a simple manner. It’s great for active learning because there are practice questions provided after each video to make sure you understand the material before moving on.
Comprehensive Basic Science Exam (CBSEs)
This exam is school-administered (proctored) to test readiness. As of our 2025-2026 academic year, it was optional to take this in-person (versus CBSSAs, see next section). Please please please take the first CBSE seriously. There exists the most data on this so far at Georgetown (i.e. 100% of students who score above 61% passed step 1.)
Pros
Free and provided by the school. There is data from previous classes to help gauge if you are high or low risk.
Cons
Cannot review questions post-exam
Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSAs)
Can be purchased by individuals and taken at any time for on-demand progress assessment. At the end, you will receive direct predictive data, detailing your percentage overall correct and an associated “estimated probability of passing” (i.e. 68% overall correct = 94% probability of passing).
Pros
Can take this remotely from the comfort of your home. Try to simulate test-taking conditions.
Cons
Each exam costs ~$60. As of 2026, there were Forms 26-33, with Forms 30+ as the newer and “more representative” of the current Step 1. These forms were released after March 2021, and Form 30 was known to be difficult. It is generally recommended that you begin with the older forms (e.g. 26, 27) and take the later forms (31-33) closer to your test date.
Dirty Medicine
Free Youtube videos that will help you ace your biochem portion of Step 1. Biochemistry is overall low yield, so don’t go crazy thinking you need to watch every video. At the same time, don’t sleep on high yield genetics/biochem concepts.
First Aid
A ‘high yield’ review book. FA can be useful for a quick and dirty review of a topic, often with helpful mnemonics. Minor updates are made to the book annually, but you should be fine with a copy from any of the past couple years. Can be purchased new for ~$65. Used copies are often available on Facebook Marketplace, or websites like Thriftbooks or Ebay.
Osmosis
GUSOM provides this resource for free (accessible via Dahlgren). Essentially, you can watch curated videos on most topics i.e. different types of shock, GERD, CV physiology.
Pathoma
The first 3 (possible 4?) chapters of Pathoma are generally considered the holy grail of Pathology 101. Knowing these concepts inside and out is a good idea!
Sketchy
You know her and love her by now hopefully! Use sketchy for the bugs and drugs. Some people use sketchy for pathology too, but this is up for debate. Others utilized this for pharmacology, although some videos can be overwhelming.
The Free 120
Save this for 2-3 days before your exam. This can be taken for $75 at the prometric testing center by registering at the same place where you bought your testing permit and schedule your exam. Alternatively you can take this for free online. Be careful, if you refresh the page or lose wifi during the exam, you will need to start over. You might want to note which questions you got wrong in case progress is lost. You can review the Free 120 questions. Dr. Jason Ryan (of Boards and Beyond) also has a YouTube playlist of explanations for these questions.
UWorld
A very popular question bank. In 25-26 school year, the school paid for the 6-month access, so please take advantage. There are varying opinions on how much of the Q bank you should complete, but many students didn’t complete 100% of their bank before taking Step 1. Some self assessments are also included in your purchase. Please remember UWorld is supposed to be a learning tool, not a self assessment tool.
Select one of the options below to read curated stories from student who took Step 1 based on how prepared they were before taking the exams.
Well-Prepared
Moderately-Prepared
Under-Prepared