img9739
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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Hi folks,
I have been a silent follower of this forum for quite sometime now and wanted to congratulate all the wonderful people on this forum for doing a great job.
I got my step2 ck score yesterday and it is 248 (99). There is still a long way to go but i am happy that i have passed one more hurdle.
regarding my prep...
I studied from Kaplan step 2 notes for all the subjects. Had subscribed usmle world q-bank and that was pretty much it...
I would be happy to answer questions.
Best of luck !!!
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| dev
Forum Guru
Topics: 70
Posts: 1,794
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congrats
gr8 score.but could u specify more abt ur preparation.time u took.the way u prepared.
bye
dev
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| icecool
Forum Senior
Topics: 22
Posts: 113
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Hey, img9739,
Congratulation !! It is a beautiful period for step2!! I'm sure you will be doing great for the next.
My qs for you are:
1) how did you make best use of Kap books, as many folks used the same set of materials but did not get as good resutls as yours;
2) what else factors do you think are critical except for choosing good books. For example, committed time, years out of medical school and current job (in a clinical setting, etc);
3) have you done any simulation tests and do they predict the real one?
I will greatly appreciate your reply.
icecool
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| img9739
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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Thanks! dev and icecool
To dev:
I studied for about six mnths...but as i am doing masters as well the attention was always divided, till the winter break when i started my full fledged preparation...about 10 hours a day...
After having done my second reading of the kaplan notes i subscribed usmle world. I used to complete one topic from kaplan notes and then solve its questions from the usmle world bank...that helped me know my weaknesses in every topic and gave me the chance to rectify them.
Hope it helps.
To icecool:
I feel kaplan notes have all the information that is required to ace this test...repetititon and thorough reading is the key. I agree that some of the topics are not covered in the Kap notes but i felt that the likelihood of my getting those questions was much less compared to the time I would spend reading from the other sources. Besides i had UW to complement..
the two of them together cover almost everything.
Besides good books I feel your base of the basic sciences is very important. Not that many step1 questions are asked but it is helpul in understanding the pathophysiology of the diseases. Apart from it i feel this exam is not only a test of your knowledge but also a test of your character...if you can keep your cool for those nine hours half the battle is won!!
As I stated earlier I used only UW, did almost all the question once and my aggregate was 71.5%. Took the kaplan simulated exam one week before the real test in which i scored 78%. i didn't solve Q-bank or Q-book. I didn't take the NBME tests.
Best of luck to both of you...and i am sure you'll do great!!
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| icecool
Forum Senior
Topics: 22
Posts: 113
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Hey, img9739,
Thanks for your reply, your advice is Very helpful for me! I am studying mainly from Kap notes, so I feel more confident now.
icecool
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| Veer-Zaara
Forum Elite
Topics: 16
Posts: 268
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Which year were your Kaplan notes from?
Was UW very vital to your performance or you think it just helped a bit?
Were you studying 7days a week?
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| img9739
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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Hi veer zara,
I am sorry i don't know whcih year's kap notes i read cos i bought the xerox copies of the notes which are easily available in my home country.
UW questions when done in the timed mode help you practice for the real test and besides the scores keep telling you where do you stand preparation wise. The explanations are too good so i feel it really did help me in getting my final score
There were some days in a week i didn't study at all but ya i didn't take weekends off and tried to study 7 days a week.
GL.
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| thotkora
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 7
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can u pls tell me when did u write your exam bcoz i had written my exam on 24th of february but still oasis has not yet updated my results
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need a phone study partner in michigan,flint for step2 cs exam
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| img9739
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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hi thotkora
i wrote my exam at mentor-Ohio on 22nd of feb.
Best of luck for your result!!
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| polkos
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 88
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CONGRATS on acheiving a great score.
how many hours did u study on an average in a day?
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| Jsmart
Forum Elite
Topics: 16
Posts: 230
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Congratulations for a wonderful score!
So in your opinion do you think it's wise to do the Kaplan Simulated CD in the end after doing UW like you did?
Once again congrats!
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| img9739
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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Thanks! Polkos and Jsmart.
To polkos:
Initially i used to study about 6-7 hours a day but mid december onwards i think i averaged 10-12 hours a day.
To jsmart:
I found the kaplan simulated exam very close to the real test in terms of the overall length of questions, so i feel it's a very good practice for time management (very imp.) bfore the real test.
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| coolbabe76
Forum Guru
Topics: 92
Posts: 635
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hi i am not getting beyond 50 % in my kaplan q bank tests.....what does it mean in terms of a score for me 
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| Hamidi
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 471
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Hey coolbabe76.......It means u need to work a little harder.Review ur material and read explanations v carefully.Q bank is supposed to be easier than real test.U can do it, keep studying.This is my honest opinion .no hard feeling plz. 
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| img9739
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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hi coolbabe76,
If i were you i would concentrate more on reading and polishing my concepts and then solve the questions again.
Hope it helps. Good Luck!!
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| patricia2005
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 74
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hi
would u please tell us how u studied and did u do exam simulated practice before exam for ex sitting and doing 400 qs each day
with best wishes for u
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patricia
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| img9739
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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Hi Patricia,
I took the kaplan simulated test but did only one to two blocks per day. Since each block is timed you get to know how do you need to pace yourself.
Besides if you have subscribed UW always solve in the timed mode cos that gives you a very good practice of doing 46 questions in one hour.
How i used to pace myself in each question block i solved?
15 minutes - i shud be past 11 questions
30 minutes - i shud be past 22 questions
and so on.
Don't look at the clock for the first time after having done 20-25 questions cos then if you are late you are in no position to cover up.
Hope it helps. Good luck to you!!
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| patricia2005
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 74
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Thanks for your reply
it was very helpful i will try to practice the same . have u sat down and doing qs for 8 blocks continiously each day mostly what scores did u get from kaplan qs could we estimate by the scores that we ourselves get our real score in the exam?
I have my step2ck in this may one month later , hope I pass it :roll:
may i email u in case i had qs?
with best wishes for your other exams
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patricia
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| img9739
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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Hi Patricia,
No i never solved eight blocks at a stretch on a single day....for that matter i never solved more than two blocks a day!!
Again I would say that your score on any of the practice tests more than anything tells you about how prepared you are.....if you are scoring less that means you are less prepared and wud not do that good in the real test and vice versa.
I didn't do the kaplan Qbank however took the Kaplan simulated exam and scored 78%.
Ya you can definitely mail me your queries, wud be more than happy to answer them.
good luck.
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| Hamidi
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 471
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Hey img9739, Thanks for ur time.Cud u tell me how long didit ake u to do UW with reading topics fom kaplan.I am planning to start uw from 1st and need to plan my strtegy.I have only done one reading of kaplan though.Cud u elaborate more on how UW can be dome more effectivly and how much time wud be needed.Appreciate ur opinion.Thanks and good luck 
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| patricia2005
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 74
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Hi
I guess u are applying for step2 cs , If I found any subject related to step 2 cs I 'll email it to u.are u a Us graduate ?
Thank u for your guidance on the scores It helped me to estimate my own sometimes I get 90% in kaplan Q book and sometimes it is about 60 but your way for time management during each block is really amazing that waY ONE NEVER LOOSES ANY Q .
with best wishes
[-o<
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patricia
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| img9739
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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Hi Hamidi,
I took 2 months to complete UW along with the kaplan readings. If you read the explanantions thoroughly and try and make some notes it takes about 3-4 hrs for each block. Since i was studying for my masters as well i cudn't do more than one block a day on most occassions. However if you have time you can do two blocks a day and complete all the questions in a months time.
UW world explanations complement the kaplan material very well so use it both as a preparation tool as well as a question bank.
Goodluck to you!
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| img9739
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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Hi patricia,
ya i have applied for cs and wud be appearing for it sometime in may.
As my forum name suggest i am an img,i wish i were an american graduate!!
GL.
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| Hamidi
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 471
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Thanks a lot img9739,So did u just read the topics(from kaplan)covering the questions or did u allocate seperate time for rading kaplan and read from beginning to the end.Sorry kind of silly question but I hope u don't mind sharing.Thnaks :wink:
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| patricia2005
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 74
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Hi
It is very near this may u mean
just do not forgetr wash your hand infront of each patient before starting but wash it fast one of the causes of failing is that the patient waits for u too much or your hand being cold or u move patient a lot ( do evry exam needed while they are lying then while they are sitting )they are actually very alert and they give u your score time management again is important i guess 10 minutes u have time to write your report
wish u best luck .
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patricia
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