USMLE Strategy for an IMG

As an IMG who has been away as a researcher for a while now, it is imperative that I put in more hours in studying for the steps. The subjects are detail-oriented and although one retains the broad concepts and general philosophies, it is almost impossible to recall the nitty gritty that often determines the outcome in the examination.

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I am, therefore, on a bit of a prolonged, IMG track preparation plan. My strategy has several phases to its implementation (the policy researcher in me is at work - you know it!), and I have broken down the next few months into dedicated blocks for preparing from different materials. I intend to write the exam in the last fortnight of the year and as such, my plan is as below:

Phase Number	Phase of…	Duration of Phase	Period	Study Plan
Phase I	Introductory Phase	50 days	May 16 to July 4	Study Lectures + First Aid + Standard Texts + Make notes in FA or notebooks
Phase II	Consolidation Phase	50 days	July 5 to August 23	First Aid + Kaplan Lecture Notes + Standard Texts + Reference Texts + UWORLD + Make notes in FA or notebooks
Phase III	Major Revision Phase	50 days	August 24 to October 12	First Aid + UWORLD + NBME + Make notes in FA or notebooks
Phase IV	Rapid Revision Phase I	25 days	October 13 to November 6	First Aid + UWORLD + NBME + Make notes in FA or notebooks
Phase V	Rapid Revision Phase II	25 days	November 7 to December 1	First Aid + UWORLD + NBME + Make notes in FA or notebooks
Phase VI	Pre-Exam Prep Phase	15 days	December 1 to December 16	First Aid + Notes + UWSA + Diiagnostic NBME