The Final Countdown: Approaching the Days Leading Up to the APMLE Part 1
Anushka Ramnani, DPM 2023
Aleksa Martin, DPM 2023
One week prior to the exam:
With just a week left for the APMLE Part 1, I tried to focus in on the topics that I consistently
struggled on based on the Board Vitals questions. For the past 7 weeks, I had been consistent
with practice questions, diagrams, and Anki due cards and it was finally time to memorize the
missing details. I looked up YouTube videos on the respective topics that I missed the most, took
notes, and made a flashcard deck on a website called Cram. Each day, I would review those
topics and add to that deck if needed. By this time, I was working through my second pass on
Board Vitals as well as my second pass on the NYCPM LEA questions. I was also keeping up
with the Anki decks that I had used throughout the dedicated period such as the Scholl Anki and
Pepper Anki decks for Sketchy Micro and Pharm.
Since my anxiety and stress levels were at an all-time high at this point, I tried to relax by taking
at least 30 minutes of each day doing what I liked: whether it was going on a walk, watching an
episode of something on Netflix, or just calling my parents and talking to them for a little, it was
just a way to step away from the studying and take a break.
I had also visited the Prometric site I was supposed to take the test at. This helped me see the
parking situation and how long it would take me to get from my apartment to the testing center.
One day before the exam
One of my classmates and I had created a routine through the last 7 weeks of dedicated of mostly
studying in the HEC study rooms. One day prior to the exam, in order to not change my routine
too much, I decided to continue studying in the HEC study room that morning. That morning
mainly consisted of reviewing my Anki due cards, the flashcard deck on Cram, and reviewing a
few OIANAs for LEA. My study day ended at 12 pm and I decided to take the rest of the day off
by watching movies, talking to my friends and family, and just relaxing. Once in a while, a topic
would pop into my head and I would look it up but I tried to limit doing that until around 8 pm.
Having one of our classmates call the Prometric site ahead of time and confirm the check-in
process really helped calm some nerves. We found out that wearing clothes with no or few
pockets speeds up the check-in process. I decided to layer up with a sweatshirt with no pockets
just in case it got cold.
As we would not need a lunch, I decided to just take a couple of energy bars and some water in a
small paper bag which I prepared the day before the exam.
Morning of the Exam
The morning of the exam consisted of getting up at 6 am, having a quick breakfast (little to no
coffee since taking bathroom breaks takes away from your time), and grabbing my snack bag and
water, and heading to the testing center to take the exam.
On the drive to the testing center, I turned on the radio and tried to take my mind off the material.
I knew that I had prepared as well as I could and I tried my best to calm the nerves. I arrived at
the testing center at around 7:30, checked in at the front desk, and talked to a few of my
classmates who were also taking the test there. During check-in, the pockets of my jeans had to
be flipped inside out as well as my mask. As I wear glasses, the proctors had to check my glasses
from the front and back.
During the exam, there were definitely many questions that I had to flag. There were a few
where I was stuck in between two choices which seemed to be the right answer. Walking out of
the testing center, I was not sure if I passed or not. On July 22nd, my hands were shaking as I
logged back onto the Prometric site, waited for it to load, and saw that I passed.
The important thing to know is that you have prepared your best for this exam. You have what it
takes to succeed. You should be proud of the effort you have put into studying and preparing for
this exam. You’re now one step closer to becoming a great future podiatric physician.
-Anushka Ramnani
One week prior to the exam:
The APMLE Part 1 was finally arriving with just seven days until test day. For several weeks,
my calendar space had been regimented tightly, with each hour marked with a specific flashcard
deck to complete, set of questions to get through, or material to revisit. My week before the exam
was no different.
I had my go-tos: flashcards for lower extremity anatomy and a lengthy slide deck for reference as
needed, a set of five hundred lower extremity anatomy practice questions, both Sketchy’s and
First Aid for the USMLE’s microbiology and pharmacology sections, First Aid for the USMLE’s
biochemistry section, and a slide deck for general anatomy. By this point, there was no way I
would be changing materials; I stuck with what I knew had been working and what was leading
to my improvement. Keeping in mind that lower extremity anatomy would be the highest yield
subject for the exam, I spent about half of my study time in the last week reviewing lower
extremity anatomy and the other half reviewing a mix of subjects.
The last week was difficult. There were moments when I felt confident enough to take the test
immediately, and there moments when I wished I had more time to prepare. Being able to know
when to step away from the books and laptop was what helped me get through it. The Sunday
before the exam, I took the evening off to have dinner out with my spouse.
One day before the exam
The morning before the exam, I reviewed flashcards until about lunch time. I also had my spouse
read practice questions aloud for me to answer verbally, which helped boost my confidence. I
gave First Aid’s biochemistry section one more run-through, then by early afternoon, I put
everything away.
Months prior, I knew that finishing studying the day before my exam would be hard for me to
do. I also knew how challenging it would be for me to be well-rested the next day if I studied too
late in the day. So, I had scheduled a haircut for that afternoon. This forced me to leave my
apartment, take a walk outdoors to a hair salon, and talk about things other than Part 1 to the
stylist for a few hours. I am not sure if I would recommend this strategy for everyone, but as
someone who needs a clear mind for sleep and test success, this worked well for me.
When I returned to the apartment, I made sure I had all the supplies needed for the next morning.
This included my valid driver’s license and secondary form of identification, a pack of fruit
snacks, a protein bar, a little bit of cash in case I spotted a vending machine, and bottled water. I
put everything in a gallon-sized bag for convenience. I also reviewed the directions to my test
site, including what time I needed to leave in order to arrive at an appropriate time.
Then I walked around a local mall, exercised, ate a light dinner of shrimp and veggies at home
with my spouse, and watched a funny movie before going to bed at my usual time.
Morning of the Exam
On the morning of the exam, I dressed comfortably. I had a breakfast of coffee, an egg, a sausage
patty, and an English muffin. I grabbed the bag which I had assembled the day before. My
spouse had agreed to drive me to the testing center, which helped with nerves and saved me from
figuring out a plan for parking. On the way to the testing site, I was nervous, but I also felt
prepared.
I arrived at the testing center early. After locating the restroom, I checked in and began the exam
before 7:30 a.m. I got through all the questions with forty-five minutes remaining, then checked
out of the exam room for a brief stretch and restroom break. The timer for the exam still runs
while on break, so I ended up not being away for long enough to utilize the snacks. I was
thankful I had a larger breakfast.
The leggings I was wearing had a lot of pockets, so checking back into the exam room took a
little longer than if I had worn something different. Back at the computer, I had enough time to
run through each question again, spending a bit more time on the questions I had flagged.
There were questions I did not feel confident about, and some that I later knew I missed. I had
been told that it was normal to feel uncertain about performance after leaving Part 1, so when I
did feel uncertainty, I did not let myself feel overwhelmed by it. More than anything, I felt
relieved to have the exam behind me. My spouse and I ate a lunch of tacos and cupcakes
afterward to celebrate. I was pleased to have a passing score report a few weeks later.
The best advice I can give for a student in their last few days of exam preparation is to stick with
what works for you. This applies to not only your trusted study materials, but also to your diet,
sleep, exercise, and relationships. Be confident that the last two years of strenuous studying will
be more beneficial than whatever you learn in the last week, and be reminded that it is
statistically more likely for you to pass than to not. That said, whether you pass or you do not
pass on your first attempt, becoming an excellent podiatrist is a goal you can still achieve.
– Aleksa Martin
ramnani4@gmail.com
aleksajmartin@gmail.com