rema
Forum Junior
Topics: 33
Posts: 66
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hi everyone, i just got my score for step 2 ck. I got a 91. Although it was no 99, i was happy i got a score above 90. Here is some advice i feel will really help those people preparing for the step 2 CK... most of which i did, some of which i wish i did to get an even higher score.
I got a 94 on my step 1... and i think taking the kaplan course and having Goljan notes really helped me in getting that score for step 1. For step 2 CK, however, i did not take any course. I used the following...
- Kaplan Notes (bought them from a friend)
- USMLE WORLD Q bank, which i think is the BEST! The questions are very much similar to the questions in the real exam.
-Crush The Boards (as an "all in one" revision book)
Kaplan notes contain almost all of the topics that you need to know for step 2 CK exam. If you know these books inside out and you do all the questions in usmleworld q bank and study them in detail, you should do great. I read over all 5 books about 3 or 4 times. Even though i wanted to do all the questions in usmleworld a second time, i did not have time. Rather than using the questions in the qbank as a self assessment tool, i did questions to make myself remember important concepts and to train myself to complete each block within one hour. When practiciing from usmleworld, i advice you guys to complete the questions within 45 minutes rather than one hour...that way your timing will be perfect in the real exam, because although questions in usmleworld q bank may be somewhat similar to the real questions, it's not the same. The real questions are longer and some of them are a bit more difficult. Therefore, timing is crucial. For me, when using the usmle world q bank, i trained myself so that i would finish one block within 45-50 minutes, leaving about 10-15 minutes to go over the marked questions. With all this prep, in the real exam, i ended up marking around 8 or so questions in each block, and i did not have enough time to go back and check on them a second time. At least i was able to put down an answer for all the questions. For step 1, for almost all the blocks, i had enough time to go and recheck all my marked answers. So, i feel timing is very important... for both step 1 and 2, but especially important for step 2 CK.
I would advice whoever is preparing for CK to thoroughly read through the kaplan notes about 4 or 5 times if possible and to start doing questions from day 1 itself. Try to do the questions more than once. That really helps, because usmleworld q bank really stresses on most of the important topics needed for the exam. If you just keep reading notes, then unless you're a true genius, there's no way you are going to remember all the important concepts from all the five books. Doing questions, that too, doing timed blocks of questions, helps you in remembering all the important info needed for the exam and helps in enabling you to finish all the questions within the alloted time in the real exam. Also, if time permits, it would'nt hurt to brush up on some step 1 notes eg. patho, pharm, and behavioral sciences.
My exam comprised mainly of internal medicine questions. There was also a lot of pediatrics questions. Surgery questions were mainly from trauma chapter. One fact that will be common to whoever is going to take step 2 CK is that their exam will surely have mostly IM questions...when it comes to other subjects, the number of questions greatly varies...for example, one of my friends had only a few pediatrics questions, whereas for me, every 4 or 5th question was from pediatrics. So, guys, do not skip any topic or subject just because someone you know did not get many questions on that subject. Study everything well! Easiest points to earn... from OBG and psychiatry.
My overall usmleworld q bank score was 65, which i feel is because i used the q bank as a learning tool rather than an assessment tool. I also took the kaplan step 2 CK mock exam...i scored 76 on that. One week before the exam, i did the questions that prometric center sends us...i did all three blocks... got an overall 90 on those questions.
That's all i can tell you guys. Keep doing questions...even if you keep getting them wrong at first, see why you got it wrong and try another set. We always remember what all things we get wrong rather that right...so in the end, it will help you in doing well for the exam. Remember, the more revisions you do, the better you'll do in the real exam. Good luck!
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| chemamr
Moderator and PGY1
Topics: 703
Posts: 4,441
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thank you for your advices, and CONGRATULATIONS, you did it !!  .
It´s helpful for me. I´ve started UW, I´m gonna follow that of 45-50 minutes per block. I have to study harder  !
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| nisha
lil monkey
Topics: 146
Posts: 919
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good job, and thank you so much for your insightful experiance. prior to this i didn't know if Kaplan was enough and how to use usmle world...good luck in the future and I am sure you'll always do well!
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| coolbabe76
Forum Guru
Topics: 92
Posts: 635
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hey can you tell me from where to read ent and opthal?
and congrats for your great score....
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| sail_24
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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can u tell me where to study ent opthaland paediatrics
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| rema
Forum Junior
Topics: 33
Posts: 66
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i read my ent ophthalmology and pediatrics from Kaplan notes only... that's all you need to know, i feel. Whatever you don't read in kaplan notes, you will learn when you do usmleworld q bank. hope this helps.
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| Hamidi
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 471
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agtree with rema
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