So I finally got through Part 1 last month after failing my first attempt back in October. Honestly the first time I went in underprepared and kind of assumed my day-to-day anaesthesia knowledge would carry me through. It does not. The exam has a very specific structure and they test you on some surprisingly granular pharmacology and physiology that you don't always think about clinically.
What changed the second time around was being much more systematic. I used a decent EDAIC practice test bank to identify where my gaps actually were — I was embarrassed by how weak my regional anatomy questions came out. I also found a proper study guide that followed the official syllabus topics rather than just generic anaesthesia textbooks. Spent about 8-10 weeks, roughly 1.5 hours per day, really focusing on the high-yield areas.
Anyone else currently sitting Part 1 or thinking about it? Happy to share more specifics about which topics tripped me up and what exam tips actually made a difference in the final weeks of prep.