BRIEF ACCOUNT ABOUT BOOKS TO STUDY - SUBJECT-WISE
Let it be said that despite the fact there are lots of mistakes in those but still these are REALLY MUST and therefore should be thoroughly read and hence memorized. THIS CAN NOT BE OVER EMPHASIZED. These include MS MURAD, AZEEM SHEIKH, CHANDKIAN, QBOOK by Kaplan plus any other source you can avail to read past papers’ questions. This is of utmost significance and is the master key to unlock the examination. See, for the questions actually repeated in the exam, there is no room of mistake and thus these should be definitely attempted correctly.
2. Anatomy:
“Your anatomy has to be very good!”
i. Gross - Snell Review book (if you want to be more sure on the exam, use RJ Last; however I used only Snell)
ii. Embryology - High Yield (Very important subject, should be revised a day before the examination)
iii. Neuroanatomy - Kaplan's anatomy (Snell’s Neuroanatomy is a better choice if you have enough time)
iv. Histology - Kaplan's anatomy (I got only two questions from Histology but always remember that every question counts!)
Note: wherever you study it from anatomy remains the same, it’s all about learning the minutest details of things in anatomy as long as you wish to score good in anatomy portion of the exam. If you have longer time than what I had (~2 months) I would beyond any doubt recommend either RJ LAST or any other good detailed text book for gross anatomy. That’s of extreme importance.
Difficult (sample) Question from Anatomy in Examination held on June 01, 2011
Q: Most characteristic feature of Lateral Cortico-spinal Tract is:
a. Its also called pyramidal tract because of the cells of origin
b. It decussates in upper part of medulla
c. It controls fine movement of hands and extremities
d. It synapses directly on Anterior Motor Neurons of the spinal cord
e. (I cannot recall)
Answer: All options are more or less true, but option ‘c’ might be the most correct option.
3. Physiology:
Kaplan or BRS or both: depending upon the time you have. I studied only Kaplan but solved questions given in both the books, and definitely recommend the same. There is a major chunk of questions from physiology alone and thus there is definite need to master the same.
Difficult (sample) Question from Physiology in Examination held on June 01, 2011
Q: In tabes dorsalis the urinary bladder is:
a. Atonic
b. Automatic
c. Neurogenic
d. (I cannot recall)
e. (I cannot recall)
Answer: Option ‘a’ is correct.
4. Pathology:
Goljan: as I followed this, hence strongly recommend the same. However again, you must solve all questions given in both Goljan & BRS. For microbiology & immunology all what is given in first aid for USMLE step 1 is fairly enough.
Difficult (sample) Question from Microbiology in Examination held on June 01, 2011
Q: Non-hemolytic microaerophilic streptococcal infection causes:
a. Marjolin’s Ulcer
b. Meleney’s Ulcer
c. (I cannot recall)
d. (I cannot recall)
e. (I cannot recall)
Answer: Option ‘b’ is correct.
5. Pharmacology:
Its roughly under 5% of the total i.e. less than ten questions in total out of 200, but as every question actually counts, so never ignore this subject. I relied mainly on all what is given in First Aid for USMLE step 1 and recommend the same.
Difficult (sample) Question from Pharmacology in Examination held on June 01, 2011
Q: Basic drugs bind to:
a. Glycoprotein a1c
b. Albumin
c. Globulin
d. Hemoglobin
e. (I cannot recall)
Answer: Option ‘a’ is correct.
6. Misc. Biochemistry, Biostatistics, Behavioral Sciences etc:
Less than 5% of the total. No need to put extra efforts into these, just follow the stuff given in First Aid.
7. After everything mentioned above, FIRST AID for USMLE STEP 1 is mandatory to read as many times as possible: at least twice.
I am a firm believer of the fact that you must put your maximum to pass this exam. Never pay any heed to people telling u that they passed without studying at all etc. This statement with due apology is nothing but an exaggeration.
April 10, 2012 at 10:33 AM
God bless u dude
April 12, 2012 at 5:51 PM
Thanks a lot.
April 16, 2012 at 1:49 AM
Wish you all the best in future man!
May 7, 2012 at 7:39 PM
thankssssssss
May 18, 2012 at 8:11 PM
it is good to see that someone is really trying to help...thanku.
May 31, 2012 at 3:23 PM
Dese books r gud enuff
June 1, 2012 at 8:52 PM
salam.. i am dr bilal... i am also appearing in FCPS part 1 in dentistry on 12 june 2012..i want to ask if one fails in this exam with v low percentage then what is the criteria for him to repeat.. can he repeat or not..kia cpsp koi action to nhe laita us kai khilaf?kia Us ke PMDC ke registration pai koi asar to nhe parta? next attempt main appear hnay ke koi shart to nhe rakhi jati us kai liyay cpsp ke taraf sai? can someone guide me?low percentage sai mean hai kai bht kam marks ain agar part 1 main?
June 8, 2012 at 12:29 AM
why no one answers this?
June 8, 2012 at 11:37 PM
If one fails in this exam with v low percentage then he can repeat as many times as he wants. NO cpsp koi action nhe laita us kai khilaf or na Us ke PMDC ke registration pai koi asar parta he next attempt main appear hnay ke koi shart nhe he
June 10, 2012 at 2:54 AM
salam i wish to give the part1 dentistry in nov i have 4 months left.
kindly guide me how to start my prep how much time should i give to each subject as i find pharmacology and oral pathology more horrible subjects .....kindly guide me
June 10, 2012 at 6:35 PM
no u can take the xam as many times as possible unltil u pass... the only one gud tihngs abt dis xam..
June 11, 2012 at 4:50 AM
Alas!!!! No Psychiatry MCQs to download from the Past Papers section :-(
June 14, 2012 at 5:49 AM
:(
June 18, 2012 at 4:07 PM
dr. bilal did u appear in june 2012 attempt.. how was it? need guidance please...
June 24, 2012 at 1:54 PM
yeah need guidance in med and allied
June 24, 2012 at 8:24 PM
Those doctors who have appeared in jun 2012 attempt kindly give advise. My plans are to appear in November,in surgery.
July 16, 2012 at 6:36 PM
Its really very informative God Bless You
September 8, 2012 at 3:57 PM
what should i read for gynae & obs?
November 30, 2012 at 11:15 PM
good
December 2, 2012 at 12:22 PM
thanks brother
December 12, 2012 at 7:44 PM
I need help...kindly tell me where shuld I read neuroanatomy....smell is too big
December 12, 2012 at 7:46 PM
Snell
December 12, 2012 at 8:20 PM
can u help me ...plz tell me what special to read for fcps part 1 radiology other than the basic subjects????
December 14, 2012 at 4:47 PM
ARE THESE BOOKS ENOUGH FOR FCPS 1 IN PEDIATRICS?
December 15, 2012 at 2:36 PM
salams, dear i am a foreigner but a pakistani graduate now i am in my home country, any special rules for foreigners to appear in part1 exams???
December 15, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Any other books needed to appear in Surgery??
December 17, 2012 at 3:03 AM
salam im dr fouzia.can n e one tell me is there n e institute in khi who prepare fr part 1?kindly help me.
December 19, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Can someone give information about psychiatry syllabus and what to read ?? I m appearing in march 2013 exams
January 8, 2013 at 4:19 PM
salam evri 1 im apearing in march n ma last atmpt i realy stdid wel ...i dnt knw wt to do now bz i knw ma atmpt was not bad bt i got realy low persntages m again stdng bt very dsapointed
January 12, 2013 at 9:29 PM
any one appearing in gynae plz let me knw
February 3, 2013 at 7:48 PM
is there any negative marking if u attempt a wrong option?? dr. mamoona
February 3, 2013 at 7:59 PM
are these basic books given above are sufficient 4 every field like med, surgery, gyne n obs etc or we;ve to go through some more books 4 each subject. plz sumbody tell me in detail. i've just passed my mbbs n want 2 know details......
March 19, 2013 at 9:25 PM
plz would u like to tell me which books is best for part one
March 26, 2013 at 7:52 PM This comment has been removed by the author.
March 26, 2013 at 7:54 PM
I have one very important question referring to the negative marking in fcps exam. As written on the question paper booklet that there is no negative marking then how when I flunk the first time my percentage score in paper 1 was written 66.67 % and paper II 59 % this is literally impossible and alot of my friends also got their score in decimal places in percentage. Now lets suppose if every question carries one mark then how can one get score other than in whole numbers. This raises some serious issues on the credibility of CPSP's false statement as " there is no negative marking in the test". Plus is there any way to get your paper scrutinized if one fails?? cuz the system should be transparent and it should offer the margin of scrutiny atleast since we are paying a lot of cash just for this exam.