skdoc
Forum Guru
Topics: 27
Posts: 334
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Hi Guys,
I had been following this forum since a while as a passive member.Its good to see all the support u provide to each other.It definitely made me feel better to know I am not the only one.About me,I finshed my step2 CK yesterday.I got lots of trauma,endocrines especially many Qs abt Hypercalcemia.I dont know what their obsession is abt this topic.Anyway i had a very few questions from biostatistics.No calculations at all,few Qs abt Gynaec malignancies.
I studied for 2 months all together.I studied kaplan almost 3 times.USMLE world 60%,Kaplan Qbank 60% after first reading,Kaplan Q book i think around 70%,NBME I 430.Ya i know not a good score.
I finished Step 1 with a low score 83,and passed CS recently,planning for 2006 match. So this is my story.I dont know how much i could expect in this Step just keeping my fingers crossed. And hope for the best.
All the best to u guys who r going for the exam.
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| saxena
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 46
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congrats on completion of another task. could u tell me more about the exam..............where all questions long? was time sufficient........n the exam doable?
how were the mangement qs?where the qs too deep into the subject or common mx?
thank you
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| skdoc
Forum Guru
Topics: 27
Posts: 334
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Hi Saxena,
Yes some quetions are definitely long some of them upto a full page.Its ridiculous but thats the way it is.It really tests ur patience.By the end of 7th block I was so tired I just wantes to complete the exam and rush out.
But only spme of the Qs are long so time is never a problem.In fact I completed each block well before time and went thro marked questions.Exam is definitely doable only thing that counts is patience.
As u might have already heard the really exam is close to USMLE WORLD.I felt that too.
I cant say whether there r similarities with NBME.I dont think the questions are too deep but they r a bit twisted.I hope this helps u
good luck
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| saxena
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 46
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thank u for input.
what was the distribution % med must be most? ethics ?
do we need to remember normal values of hormones or are they given in the questions?how where the fluidelectrolyte qs? did u feel kapan was sufficient for med?about s/e of drugs?how did u break ure time in b/w blocks.emergency med ?
thanks
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| nisha
lil monkey
Topics: 146
Posts: 919
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Hi buddy, congrats for being done. Did u find the endo give in Kaplan to answer all the questions? Over all u found kaplan notes good enough?
___________________
IM resident
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| skdoc
Forum Guru
Topics: 27
Posts: 334
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Hi Saxena,
I think my exam consisted almost 65% of medicine then surgery,gynaec and pediatrics very few questions from psychiatry and epidemiology.U neednt remember any hormonal values as most of them are given to u in the normal labs.But I think it is best to remember some of them for ease during exam so that u neednt go back and forth into the normal lab values .If they ask any other hormonal values they usually mention the normal range in the question stem.
Qs from the fuild electrolyte section r a bit confusing atleast to me as i am dreaded abt that topic.If u dont have any issues ,i mean if u r comfortable with that section,I think u can answer them easily. A little bit of pharma is tested here and there but I think we can pull thro that.In my opinion u neednt go thro pharma again.A lot of trauma related questions so its better to be thorough with trauma in surgery and EM in IM.
I took a 5 min break after 2 blocks,10 min after 3rd and again 15min after 5th block.After that I took 5 to 10 min break after every block as it becomes exhausting towards the evening.I dont think I did well in last blocks as I was very very tired.My advice is try to sit and do 1 or 2 exams for 9 hours each before the actual one so that u will get used to it,that too if u have time.And again its only what I think might be good.Everybody have their own style to cope with the situation.
good luck
Hi Nisha,
I think Kaplan +USMLE world should be enough for the exam.In my opinion it is the technique that u adopt to answer the questions that is important not how much matter u studied.
I feel so because for step 1 I studied so hard trying to remember everything from Kaplan notes and was so confident but in the end I landed up with 83.I agree that some part is definitely played by kaplan notes but the rest depends on how we grasp the point being asked and answer accordingly
Bottom line u can study n number of books but u should know how to apply them or else I dont think its wise to read every available book.It only my opinion.
Hey u guys from India.. Me too
Good luck and feel free to ask any more questions.
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| saxena
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 46
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thank u .................me to from india
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| saxena
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 46
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hi sk.how did u utilise last 2 days
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| sweetsmiles9
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 94
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Hi skdoc,
Thanks for the exam description, it definitely helps the rest of us who are still preparing for ck.I wanted to know if kaplan notes + Usmleworld are enough for Opthalmology,ENT and Dermatology ?
Thanks in advance and good luck for your scores.
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| skdoc
Forum Guru
Topics: 27
Posts: 334
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Hi Saxena,
The last 2 days was a chaos.I had to study biostatistics (those p values,relative risk and all that stuff) which I never did before.The day before my exam I went thro some Qs from USMLE world and rest of the day I tried to relax.I think it is very important to give a window period to the mind so that the next day u feel fresh.Also a good night sleep is very very important.
Hey sweetsmiles,
I got only a very few questions from ophthal,ENT and Derma.I sincerely feel that Kaplan notes are enough and there is not much of a need to study any other book.But hey if u got the time u can learn much more,it never hurts.I personally used my past memory to answer much of them.
good luck
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| saxena
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 46
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thank you sk
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| sweetsmiles9
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 94
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Thanks skdoc.
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| premonition
Forum Elite
Topics: 48
Posts: 192
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Hye SKDoc,
good luck for your scores n da match buddy.
a small question, do you think it is okay to go in for the csa without having cleared both da steps..I am done with my step 2 and am vacillating whether to go in for step 1 or csa first?
Also, how much of prep do you think is needed for csa ?
anticipating a reply.
___________________
Of all the things I have lost,I miss my mind the most.
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| skdoc
Forum Guru
Topics: 27
Posts: 334
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Hi premonition,
It all depends on which year u r going for a match.If u r planning for 2006 then its always better to go for CS first because there is a 6 to 8 weeks time gap for results.Then u can go for step 1.I think it is necessary to pass CS for applying,I am not sure.
As u might have already heard the key to pass CS is practice and practice.I prepared for 15 days altogether.And I passed.I am not from the US but I think my english is not that bad.
So it depends on ur fluency in english and practice.
good luck.
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| skdoc
Forum Guru
Topics: 27
Posts: 334
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Guys,
Just logged into OASIS and found that my score is reported.Did the oasis trick and passed.Please pray for me.I badly need a good score.
And by the way to Premonition,
Do u mean CSA( step3) or CS ( step2)
If u r talking about CSA then u cant take it before u get the ECFMG certification I heard that 2 to 3 months of sound preparation is enough for CSA
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| friscan2b
Forum Guru
Topics: 86
Posts: 447
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 Hey, skdoc, congrats on passing and may you get the score that you want, and the residency that you want!
Best of luck to you!
A.
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| nisha
lil monkey
Topics: 146
Posts: 919
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dont worry I am sure u did fine...and u passed that should b a happy face! (oh ya me from India too)
___________________
IM resident
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| skdoc
Forum Guru
Topics: 27
Posts: 334
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Hi everybody,
Got my verdict today.89/220.I am not happy or sad.Its an average score.I just wanted to go into the 90s for once.
Anyway good luck for all those who want take the exam and applying for residency.
thanks nisha and friscan2b for ur wishes.
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| sumie
Forum Elite
Topics: 33
Posts: 178
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congrats buddy
u are almost there..near 90
so dont worry
it is not i repeat not an average score
i know how hard step 2 is ..and how much one studies for it
thanks for giving ur exam exp in such good detail
it helps a lot
good luck for a bright future
___________________
sumie
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