i feel 4to 5 months is enough for usmle step 1 prep.

I studied for about 4 months. During the first 2 months, I reviewed then material. The last two months, I did many many many questions. I think doing questions is key. Try to get yourself in the zone! Do tons of questions and get yourself in that mindset. Build up your stamina! You can do it!

Please take this with a grain of salt as I haven't taken the beast yet

Here in the US, the general concensus is about 4-6 weeks of hardcore full time studying (usually done over the summer break after finishing 2nd year). English is my second language so I rather start reviewing and doing practice questions much earlier. I'm taking it in June so I'll be studying for about 6 months.

And yes, do a LOT of questions. There's tons of resources out there (UW, Qbank, Robbins path review, webpath, the NMBE practice exams, etc)

i voted 3 months..but those 3 months better be rigorous hardcore studying.

also i think practising on test questions evryday is esential to get urself tuned into the usmle style of questions. Have ur daily schedule of chapters to cover and always save some time for just questions and this could be on a different subject so that u don't get bored learning one subject. I had success practicing on pathology while studying any other subject.

I atleast takes 6 months study.

I am planning around 18 months. I will start early and learn gradually for good grounding in my basic sciences, not just for a good Step score. But I know students who have studied 4 months and scored 99 (devoting 4-6 hours a day). I guess it really depends on how good a foundation you have and what score you're aiming for.

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3 months :-D

im hoping its much less than 4 months! but it will have to be after graduation. im already in clinical rotations