katzung
Forum Guru
Topics: 72
Posts: 528
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WELL WELL FINALLY IT IS OVER.
Before i proceed with my exam experience i MUST EMPHASISE ONE IMPORTANT THING.
USMLE WORLD IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL,DONOT SKIP IT,ATLEAST DO 50-60% OF THE QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU ATTEND THE EXAMS,I WAS AWESTUCK BY THE SIMILARITY OF THE QUESTIONS WITH USMLEWORLD ON THE EXAM.
PLEASE DO NOT THINK I AM PROMOTING ANY MATERIALS,THIS IS WHAT I FELT DURING THE EXAM AND I AM POSTING THIS FOR ALL YOUR BENEFIT.
The first five block went very well i should say next two were ok and the last one was oops i shud say not very good,at the end of it all i felt satisfied of having given my best shot at the exam.
I WILL TELL YOU ONE MORE IMPORTANT THING BE THOROUGH WITH KAPLAN NOTES AND YOU ARE DONE,MOST QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED IF YOU ARE THOROUGH WITH KAPLAN NOTES,the problem being doing kaplan notes again and again will help but to remember the concepts you need to do questions on the topics,this is where kaplan q bank and UW comes in,i genuinely felt that about 30-40% questions were like in kaplan q bank,and another 30-40% like UW or even tougher that that,but in contrast to step-1 where i felt many questions were alien to me here in step-2 you could arrive at diagnosis with most questions,THIS IS SPECIALLY TRUE IF YOU HAVE WORKED IN CLINICAL MEDICINE FOR FEW MONTHS.
GUYS WORKING IN CLINICAL MEDICINE WILL CERTAINLY HELP YOU WITH STEP- 2 CK.
The exam drains your energy and i took my breaks to maximise my breaks during the end of the day.
I took first break of 10 minutes after 2 blocks second after 4 th block 20 minutes third after 6 th block 10 minutes fourth after 7 th block for 10 minutes.despite taking the break before last block my mind was so tired i could not see the questions and could not think during the last block.
Guys this exam tests not only your clinical knowledge( belive me you donot need any hi-fi knowledge basic knowledge of medicine is enough) but also endurance,go to exam with some chocolate candies bananas and thick smooth fruit juices(thin juices will fill your bladder up pretty quickly so beware!!!!!!!!!!!!) .so that you replenish your glucose load intermittently,i felt bloddy hungry after i finished my exam and the headache was unbearable.
But belive me the exam is exam should be a cakewalk if you are thorough with
1> KAPLAN NOTES
2> KAPLAN Q BANK
3> USMLE WORLD Q BANK
and added to this few months of working experience ( NOT ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL)
HUM!!! WHAT MORE!!!!
I am forbidden from discussing the content of the exam by ecfmg, so currenlty  only currently this is no no.
Medicine was hugely tested(60-70%), next was OBG and pediatrics,and psychiatry and next one was surgery.
NOT MANY ECGS THAT MUST BE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU GUYS ONLY 4 OF THEM ALL EASY ONES.
Beware of subtle clues in the question stem,please read the question very well,i answered wrong for few questions and had marked them because i could not read the questions properly during first instance but when i came back and read it thoroughly i got them.
No problem with time i could finish the each block with 10 minutes to spare, the key thing is to know how to skim thru question and to read for comprehension for the first time.
Lenght of questions VERY VERY SIMILAR TO USMLEWORLD.
CONTENT OF QUESTIONS VERY VERY SIMILAR TO USMLE WORLD.
One more thing while practicing the questions try and develope or practice reading thru the questions fast.
Well i cannot think of anything else still tired step-2 cs in 20 days gottcha prepare,
ONE LAST PLEA I NEED STEP-3 KAPLAN NOTES KINDLY DO WRITE TO ME IF YOU HAVE ANY!!
ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR EXAMS DONOT PANIC FOLLOW THREE RESOURCES AS ABOVE AND YOU WILL ACE THE EXAM, NERVOUSLY WAITING FOR MY RESULTS,HOPE IT WILL BE GOOD.
your blessing and prayers will always help,ANY QUESTIONS WELLCOME BUT PROBABLY WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM BETTER AFTER MY RESULTS
hey before i go no fred software yet,prometric is using the old software still,but dont worry i did the questions on usmle cd sent by ecfmg and fred software is very user friendly so either way cheer up.
JAI SHRI RAM.
Edited by katzung on 08/13/05 - 02:21 PM
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| drkpp
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 882
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job well done i should say and bol for cs.
could u tell us how many monaths did u prepare for as i have just 2 months and was wondering if it is possible to do well in this amount of time.
now i know u have not yet got your results but i am sure u rocked the boards
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"Where there is a will there is a way!"
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| sweetsmiles9
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 94
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Thanks for the test update.This really helps. Do u think Kaplan Qbank is a must, coz my exam is quite near and I've only done Kaplan notes with UW and was hoping that it would suffice.
Was just wondering... if u r from India too... especially with " Jai shri Ram ".
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| chemamr
Moderator and PGY2
Topics: 703
Posts: 4,442
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Very good tips katzung !!   thank you so much !!
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Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself.
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| katzung
Forum Guru
Topics: 72
Posts: 528
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thanks chemamr, sweetsmiles9 yes i am from India currently working in UK,planning to hop to US from here,if you could do UW and kaplan notes thoroughly it shud suffice,but do repeat the questions in UW if possible,and to make up u read notes once again,and that shud suffice.Infact questions on kaplan q bank i thought were much easier when compared to tougher exam questions,
it is like this kaplan q bank will prepare you to answer easier questions and not to miss them,but UW will prepare you for the real marathon,and belive me if you do UW well you will ace the exam.
HEY ONE MORE THING I FORGOT TO MENTION IN MY EX EXP
LAST FEW DAYS YOUR BALANCE BETWEEN DOING QUESTIONS AND READING THEORY SHUD IDEALLY BE 75% :: 25% THAT IS IF U SPEND 75% OF YOUR STUDY TIME IN DOING QUESTIONS SPEND 25% IN DOING THEORY,AND PROBABLY REVISING MEDICINE AND PEADS WILLL GIVE YOU HIGH YIELS IN EXAM.
drkpp i studied for about three months first two months in patches and last month i applied annual leave for 12 days before exam.
But if ur not working two months should be more than enough,chugg on you will do well.
thanks for all the encouraging words and all the best god bless you
JAI SHRI RAM.
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Hari Om,Lokaha Samasthaha Sukhino Bhavanthu
(Let All Beings Everywhere Be Happy And Content)
Proud to be an Indian.
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| sweetsmiles9
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 94
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Thanks katzung. Good to know u r from India .I'm from India too and am currently in US.
Good luck for your scores.
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| mailstapedius
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 46
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Hey Hi,
That was a great advice, and makes me feel comfortable a bit.I gt my exam in another week and i didnt want to do kap test after usmle world as it might bring in un wanted hyper confidence and would make me crash in exam(so i was a bit confused until now whether i was missing it) .so i am stuck with doin usmle world the second time(incorrects).Hope it wrks out.I didnt have much time to study doing my masters and this together ..hmm gt to wait and see what happens.
All the best with your score.
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| catmd
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 129
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Katzung all the best for your results - am sure you'l do great - you sound so confidant.
I'm taking Step 2 in Oct and am panicking alittle - please tell me - did u just do the notes or did u listen to the videos as well?
I have access to the videos but don't know if i have time to listen to them all so have started with just reading notes first. What do u think? pl reply - i am quite anxious
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| katzung
Forum Guru
Topics: 72
Posts: 528
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Dear catmd,
you have enough time on your hands specially if you are not working,it would be nice to go thru videos once if you have them specially i think medicine,though i shud say i am not qualified to give this advice since i myself have not seen the videos.
But i can tell you what might have had done in the same situation.
But if you are falling short of time just instead of doing videos which itself might take a month for all the subjects you might want to consider revising the kaplan notes once more which will be as good as seeing any video i presume.
I think if you sort of give good three readings to your kaplan notes you would have done enough to get good score.
Please donot panic you have enough time on your hands just go ahead and work hard you will get it, it is important to start doing questions even from the beggining because you need to get used to the type of questions which appear in exams.UW will give you a fair idea.
Keep your cool even during the exam,you will do well,all the best.
Jai Shri Ram
___________________
Hari Om,Lokaha Samasthaha Sukhino Bhavanthu
(Let All Beings Everywhere Be Happy And Content)
Proud to be an Indian.
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| katzung
Forum Guru
Topics: 72
Posts: 528
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All the best for your exams mailstapedius.
cheers
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Hari Om,Lokaha Samasthaha Sukhino Bhavanthu
(Let All Beings Everywhere Be Happy And Content)
Proud to be an Indian.
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| drhagrid
Forum Newbie
Topics: 9
Posts: 24
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 cool . nice to know dat someone is doing the same as me .
me working in UK as well....struggling hard to prep for step 2ck. giving it this month end.
all the best
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| 99doc
Forum Elite
Topics: 52
Posts: 370
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thanks for ur experience.
i would like to know about the usmle world-is this a cd or a book,where can i get it.
thanks for ur time.
all the best with ur cs
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| catmd
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 129
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usmle world is a q bank - type it into google and it will take u to the site, good luck.
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| 99doc
Forum Elite
Topics: 52
Posts: 370
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thanks for the info.
good luck
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| mac007
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 38
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hi katzung.....
i m confused that is kaplan really sufficient or shd i follow blueprints as well ......please give ur advise because when i was solving qs then wea not able to do them properly with only kaplan knowlegde please tell ur advise......
mac007
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| katzung
Forum Guru
Topics: 72
Posts: 528
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Hi mac007,
Depends on your basic and background knowledge, if you have time certainly go through blueprints,you might be able to pickup certain extra points,but at the end of the day it all depends how much of it you can revise,say 1-2 week b4 the exam.
But genuinly if you revise kaplan materials 2-3 times and do USMLEWORLD ( which actually supplements parts of theory missing in kaplan materials),it should be enough.
All the best for your exams,hope i have been helpfull.
cheers
Jai Shri Ram.
___________________
Hari Om,Lokaha Samasthaha Sukhino Bhavanthu
(Let All Beings Everywhere Be Happy And Content)
Proud to be an Indian.
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| LisaM
Forum Guru
Topics: 16
Posts: 321
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Hi Katzung, Thanks for your post. Sure helps people like me who are just starting preparation for CK. You must be getting your results soon and hope you will share your success too.
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lisa
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| mailstapedius
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 46
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hey congrats katzung
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| drkpp
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 882
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hey katzung did u get your results yet????
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"Where there is a will there is a way!"
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| katzung
Forum Guru
Topics: 72
Posts: 528
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Well still waiting for score report will let you guys know once i get it.Since am in Uk it might take a week before it reaches me.
nywayz will post it asap
cheers
Jai Shri Ram.
___________________
Hari Om,Lokaha Samasthaha Sukhino Bhavanthu
(Let All Beings Everywhere Be Happy And Content)
Proud to be an Indian.
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| drkpp
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 882
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enjoy yr stay in UK.
jai shri ram..
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"Where there is a will there is a way!"
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| Wheatland
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 23
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Hi friends ...I need some candid advise
Ok here's my story.....I am an old, old graduate 1995.I am planning to start studying again.I took step 1 in 2000 but failed...I went to do a masters(MPH) and By God's grace had 2 kids along the line( I am really thankful).Now I am back.I feel I can handle step 2 better as a start up person.What do you advice.Would I fare better starting with step 1?If I need to review some step 1 first what area should i concentrate on.?
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