asmi
Forum Hero
Topics: 1043
Posts: 4,609
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 Dear friends,
Thanks a lot for your wishes and prayers
:arrow: My special thanks to prep4usmle forum
especially my dear friends usmleasr , anne ,mdwannabe for their continuous support ..which gave me strength and motivation .
My exam was according to my expectation . Time management was not a problem at all .The standard of testing was very good , I enjoyed it .
:idea: TESTED TOPICS : :wink: i WILL NOT TELL ..SINCE I WANT YOU ALL TO BE PREPARED WELL TO TACKLE IT , READ EVERYTHING PAGE TO PAGE FROM KAPLAN NOTES AND CRUSH THE BOARDS .SORRY ..same topics mentioned by MDplumber in his previous posts .
:arrow: I think they always stress on basic stuff and common diseases except rare syndromes which r their favourite ,so be good in it .
Iam very thankful to USMLE world which helped me in focusing on hot topics.
:idea: Yesterday I did kaplan Q book ( Internal Medicine)....the whole day...kept my watch in front of me and tried to finish one block in 25 min ,and i really did it in hurry but with full concentration .it helped me in practising well a day before exam. I advice you all to touch q book only a day before exam and that helps a lot .Sitting in front of computer would rather be eye strain ..so don't touch computer a day before exam .
:idea: Took kaplan simulated test a week before exam..scored around 62% ( :wink: NOT a GOOD SCORE THOUGH)..this helped me to set my speed again .
:idea: for last whole week i did Crush the boards and first aid for selected topics... :shock: not whole FA ..iam not crazy to read whole book ( Cardio etc ,specially those last pages in FA r very good )
:idea: also made notes while using Q banks ...one big file...read them along with crush .
:idea: my study period : 3 months
:idea: time devoted ..as much as possible..Enjoyed reading clinical subjects ...read as if having my last meal in life ..i meant try to learn new concepts .
:idea: Material used :
1. kaplan lecture notes and Cd's( read once )
2. CMDT ( for reference..used it mostly while preparing for step 1, few months back)
3.Blue print for cardiology only
4.pretest for surgery Q's
5.crush the boards ( very good book for quick review)
6 FA ( :evil: just for few topics, EKG's , pictures)
7. goljan pathology review book( for hot topics)
:idea: Q sources:
1 .kaplan Q bank ( scored 76%)and Q book( scored 80%)
2. USMLE WORLD ..scored intially 55-66%..later improved to 66-77%
3. NBME( one paper)...i think i scored 300..i don't remember it anyways.
4. NMS .....60-75%
:idea: If anyone have any Q..it will be my pleasure to reply back.
REST I LEAVE TO ALMIGHTY TO DECIDE MY SCORE..........
:idea: most imp : anybody living in seattle or chicago,taking Cs in last week september or early oct who want to practice cases..plz contact me ..Im taking it on 2nd october @ chicago .
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| PsychDr2B
Forum Elite
Topics: 35
Posts: 197
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Prayers to you for your continued success ASMI! Congratulations on completing the exam! I look forward to seeing your high pass mark. I will be taking Step2 CK mid-November. I do have several questions for you, though. Did you think USMLE World Step2 Q-bank was better/closer to the real exam (and therefore more beneficial) than Kaplan Q-bank for Step2 prep? I also am reading heavily the Crush Step2 and blueprints series; but I also frown upon FA for Step2. How would you compare Kaplan Step2 notes to Blueprints? Sorry for all the questions. It's just that I have been doing Step2 prep almost immediately after taking Step1 end of August and my mind is buzzing to gain as much knowledge and know-how before I actually DO the test, if you know what I mean?
God bless ASMI and prayers for Step2CS!!!
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| usmleasr
Forum Guru
Topics: 105
Posts: 970
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congrats..asmi u finished it...u will score well...All The Best for CS ..
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| asmi
Forum Hero
Topics: 1043
Posts: 4,609
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"PsychDr2B" wrote:
Prayers to you for your continued success ASMI! Congratulations on completing the exam! I look forward to seeing your high pass mark. I will be taking Step2 CK mid-November. I do have several questions for you, though. Did you think USMLE World Step2 Q-bank was better/closer to the real exam (and therefore more beneficial) than Kaplan Q-bank for Step2 prep? I also am reading heavily the Crush Step2 and blueprints series; but I also frown upon FA for Step2. How would you compare Kaplan Step2 notes to Blueprints? Sorry for all the questions. It's just that I have been doing Step2 prep almost immediately after taking Step1 end of August and my mind is buzzing to gain as much knowledge and know-how before I actually DO the test, if you know what I mean?
God bless ASMI and prayers for Step2CS!!!
Hi ,
thanks
I would say ,yes Uworld is more close to exam than kaplan q bank...say real exam is taking 10 ladder step..doing Uworld is 6 steps towards it ..rest 3 steps made of kaplan + NBME/crush...hope i sound sensible here..Im sure im not in euphoria now.. :roll: you never know until you get score report in hands.
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| tasneembanu
Forum Guru
Topics: 96
Posts: 545
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Congragulations Asmi,u finished the exam,ur post really gives all of us confidence to go on with our studies for step 2,from all the posts i have read,i was really thinking step 2 is goin to be too tough,but i think we can do it,thanks a lot for ur post,do keep vsisting the forum to answer our questions,
thanks
Tasneem.
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| jil
Forum Elite
Topics: 46
Posts: 185
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hey good asmi hope u do well
am sure you will
was it better than step1 though?
pls stick around the forum to answer our doubts
thanks and enjoy
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| anne
Forum Elite
Topics: 41
Posts: 348
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My best prayers are for you, Asma. All the best for the result, and for CS.
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| sar
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 639
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Congratulations to you!
I hope you will get good score.
I have one question, when did ou take kaplan q bank and when usmle world q bank (I mean how many days before exam) and you took them for how many months. I am also planning to take step 2 in dec and can you suggest me how should I schedule my 3 months prep time.
When did you register for CS?
Best wishes for your excellent socre!
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| asmi
Forum Hero
Topics: 1043
Posts: 4,609
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"sar" wrote:
Congratulations to you!
I hope you will get good score.
I have one question, when did ou take kaplan q bank and when usmle world q bank (I mean how many days before exam) and you took them for how many months. I am also planning to take step 2 in dec and can you suggest me how should I schedule my 3 months prep time.
When did you register for CS?
Best wishes for your excellent socre!
Hi sar,
Thanks
I took kaplan q bank right from July first week i.e after reading kaplan notes once (started in June first week) .It was for 1 month but i finished it in 15 days .Then in august second week took Uworld ,again for 1 month but finished in 15 days . :idea: Keep the rest 15 days to review your loop holes ( weak topics) . so, if you start serious prep now in sept..then u should go for exam in dec second week .
I scheduled Cs right after getting my step 1 score back ,in June first week .
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| sar
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 639
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Thanks a lot asmi!
You have really cleared my confusion. Some more questions if you have time!
After finishing q bank in 15-days, did you repeat them again or just revised material from books. In first 15 days you did just the question or anything from books too. When did you do crush the steps, just in last week or in the first month of prep too.
Another question about the tutorial in real exam, how can we skip that? They didnt ask in the beginning about whether I want a tutorial or not, I just kept on clicking the next, next and done it in a min to skip it. Is there any other way of skipping it.
Thank you so much again for your prompt reply, you did it the same when you took your step 1, and I was starting my prep, you answered my questions and it helped me a lot.
Good luck!
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| asmi
Forum Hero
Topics: 1043
Posts: 4,609
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"sar" wrote:
Thanks a lot asmi!
You have really cleared my confusion. Some more questions if you have time!
After finishing q bank in 15-days, did you repeat them again or just revised material from books. In first 15 days you did just the question or anything from books too. When did you do crush the steps, just in last week or in the first month of prep too.
Another question about the tutorial in real exam, how can we skip that? They didnt ask in the beginning about whether I want a tutorial or not, I just kept on clicking the next, next and done it in a min to skip it. Is there any other way of skipping it.
Thank you so much again for your prompt reply, you did it the same when you took your step 1, and I was starting my prep, you answered my questions and it helped me a lot.
Good luck!
thanks sar ,
I didn't repeat Q bank once im done with it .I made notes of imp points while doing it ,which i read in last week along with crush .No i didn't read crush in beginning .I kept it for last week before exam. I WOULD SERIOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT ONE SHOULDNOT READ CRUSH THE BOARDS IN BEGINNING .YOU WILL FEEL AS IF EXAM IS VERY EASY AND TENDENCY TO DECREASE YOUR PACE AND MAY LEAD TO OVER CONFIDENCE...bad consequences .Read kaplan notes first with full spirit ( one readin is enough then).
In real exam no way to skip tutorial ,exactly you have to keep clicking next next next .click it fast and add more time to your break .Always tick on the scribble paper when done with blocks..say done 2 blocks.mark it on paper...so as to manage time well .
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| sar
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 639
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Thank you very much asmi!
I have no more questions  I am satisfied now. You gave me very important tips!
May you get 99 or 100 (if anyone can get it)
Best wishes!.
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| jil
Forum Elite
Topics: 46
Posts: 185
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dear asmi,
i know you must be at a high point now.I was wondering if u found the exam tougher than step1??
i am doing my second reading of kaplan notes with kaplan q bank
will do usmle world with the third reading of kaplan notes
(actually i didint benefit majorly from my 1st reading)
i then will do nbme and cdmt
then ctb for 1 week before the exam and kaplan cd thats it
i dont have time for any blueprints
will try to do lil of nms/q book which do u think is better?
i have my exam next month,i dont want to leave too much gap between the q banks and the exam ,though i am making notes.
i will reading the notes only alonh with the q bank not after that,is that advisable?
pls let me know of any changes u think i must make
u sound so confident and happy am sure u will do well.God bless .
bye
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| asmi
Forum Hero
Topics: 1043
Posts: 4,609
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Hi Jill ,
I found step 2 more easier than step 1 .
About your strategy ,if it is working out for you ,if you feel confident , then go ahead with it .
About my opinion ,its same as given above.
All the best !!!
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| jil
Forum Elite
Topics: 46
Posts: 185
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thank you very much asmi
enjoy ur time off /
all the best for ur step2 cs :icon_thumb:
let us know of your score
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| dr.shar
Forum Elite
Topics: 38
Posts: 236
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congratulations, you did it, thankyou very much for sharing your experience, you seem hit bulleye of step 2. keep it up.
good luck for your result.
thankyou
drshar
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| mocherla
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 30
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hi, Asmi
congradulations on completion of your tests, this may sound stupid i have no books except CMDT is there any chance that you might sell your step 1 and step 2 books let me know specially kaplan notes or any thing for that matter. and if u can gudie me am planning on step 2 in march 2005 and in june step 1 .
thanks
mocherla
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| asmi
Forum Hero
Topics: 1043
Posts: 4,609
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Hi mocherla ,
Im sorry i have to give my notes to my friend , I already promised .
Yep ,CMDT alone won't serve the purpose ...u have to have kaplan notes .
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| tuesday
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 207
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Hi asmi, Kaplan notes are those the books that came from Kaplan w/ the q book?Pls reply. Thanks for posting ur exam experiences & Congrats. I may be too late to say that but i really mean it
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