kingsofke
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Hi, I gave my exam on 15h Feb, and here is an overview on how it went.
General Overview: The way i used the Break time was that i did 2 blocks consecutives and then took 5 min, break; then on i took break after every block, it was like 5 min, after 3rd and 5 min after 4th and then 10min after 5th and 10 min after 6th and 15 min after 7th. (these are approx no.s) .
As for eating and other stuff, i ate one sandwitch , drank a lot of fluids ( manily energile , a glavoured glucose/sucrose, orange juice, ) i did used a power or energy drink after 6th block and i used like 4-5 Panadol extras (paracetamol + Caffiene). I did 6 blocks alright not feeling tired or anything but last blocks i could feel my head heavy and i knew that the questions i am reading are not sinking in (if you know what i mean) and i was awnsering them with reflex. A major factor in my stamina was i felt my last 13 days when i had to study long consecutive hours cause i had to go through the whole course. I think you should try building your stamina in last couple weeks.
This brings me to an important issue Time of A Block. I just finished the first four blocks within time (although i was saving time in NBME when i did that) questions are long and proper timing is very important. When my third block closed up on its own it made me think what i am doing wrong, why i am so hard pressed for time and during 4th block i realised certain things which helped in my next blocks so that afterwards i finished every block 5-7 min earlier (even after revising the quesions i want to). Let me talk about what i did. One minor factor was deliberation, ie to say i was spending time on the questions i was sure i did right but then i was too phobic to just move ahead. But the major factor was this, the questions are so long that if you dont know what you should be looking for in them you just might have to read them again. SO READ THE LAST LINE OF QUESTION , just look at the options to have an idea what kind of things are they (mechanism, tests or drugs ... ) and then start reading the question with full focus. The longer a question the more time you would waste by going through it again and sometime again. Another minor factor was too much questions marked for revision (i was marking like 8-10 initially ) be very selective of what you want to revise , the ones in which you know you cannot awnser anybetter are no use revising . Revise those that you think you are missing something and it just might come to your mind (and believe me sometimes it does) But otherwise as kaplan says change only the awnsers you have a definite reason to.
On the whole the test had long questions, most of the questions were about the normal diseases (nothing fancy) but the context was sometime very difficult and many a times i felt that options are very difficult , like i know the question but i think about the awnsers are not there and what is there is hard for me to relate to the question to choose a best option. I dont know how one can work on that ,sorry no help here.
As for xrays , there were like 3-4 but typical , like 2-3 ct/mris and 3 ECGS (typical ones) and 2 derma pics, and 1 obs sono and 2-3 patient photo for signs , on the whole they were not a problem (except for the derma ones, cause you cannot awnser if you dont know the pic and i think i might have awnsered them wrong cause i didnt looked at a derma atlas before exam).
There were like 3 sets of matching questions in each block (each set of 2 questions only) and most of the time they were diagnosis questions. I think they are the easy ones of the lot.
There were questions about mechanisms , quite a few like 2-3 in each block and then there were questions which gave set of electrolytes or similar things to pick for a given disease (many from endo). There were questions of diagnosis ,mostly easy but sometime confusing cause they just might be an atypical presentation of a disease ( i think i had 2 such for cystic fibrosis or i got them wrong ). management questions were the toughest , like the next best step you know, and you get confuse b/w 2 of the options everytime.
I will talk about each subject now briefly.
Surgery: typical trauma from kaplan, and most of the questions were typical ones you have done UW.
Psychiatry: The longest of all questions, real long histories with lot of going on and then they asked diagnosis (very few management questions , those which actually have a very definitive typical management)
OBGYN: again very typical , fully covered by kaplan , less gynae (more of which was benign gynae rather than cancers)
Biostat and ethics: very few questions , maily relating to studies and ethics and patient relationship was very very few (thanks god) have a good idea of Bias (asked 4-5 q ) and interpertation of a study results.
Paeds: quite a significant portion and covered thoroughly ,from general and systems including immuno and oncology. But common things were common.
Medicnie: offcourse the main bulk of exam but i think some chapters were less covered in mine than the others , what i had to face a lot were Cardio, Endo, Neuro and then Nephro and resp and least common were Rheuma, GI ,ID and emergency medicine. But the balance can easily change for your exam so like it was patho in step1 here in step2 your main bulk of exam and thus score will be medicine ( kaplan covers it excellently, just like patho book in step1 the medicine book made me wonder will it awnser every questions and it seems like working enough for me, but offcourse you just might be more ambitious than i am.)
All the best to me for a good score ......  yes offcourse and for all of you too who are taking their exams soon.
I dedicate this to Aitzaz , who had always encouraged me and supported me and was there for me. All the best for your exam too aitzaz, i know you will do better.
kings and Queens All at K.E.
kings_of_ke
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| oct
Forum Newbie
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Thank u for sharing ,Kingsofke, goodluck for ur score.
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| karusmle
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY...........................
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| Doc2378
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Hey B'day boy...wishes from my side too ...thanks for sharing your exam experience too...go out and have some fun today!!!!
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Courage does not always ROAR. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow" - Mary Anne Radmacher
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| kingsofke
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Thank you so much , hey Kar that was something between us buddy.
Doc2378 thank you so much, i really appreciate it.
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| sobia naeem
Forum Elite
Topics: 30
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happy birthday king! this must be one relaxed birthday.i have posted a q on cardio in int med forum.could u look into it.thanks.
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| wheat beer
Forum Elite
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kingsofke,
thanx for sharing ur experience w/ us, congratulations for u to finish another step, good luck for you.
i have a question, it seems like u just read the kaplan lecture notes, do you think this is enough? i know sb did both kaplan and blueprints, however, it seems i don't have tme to work on both, what's ur suggestions though? thanx and good luck for everybodyhere.
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| kingsofke
Forum Guru
Topics: 24
Posts: 715
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Thank you wheat beer, I dont know how to awnser you , well we will know soon enough when i will get my result. I have seen many of real high scorer just doing kaplan and i think its enough too.
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| jvo_md
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Thanx for the help...I know you're gonna do fine in your exam, goodluck and be possitive
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| lancer
Forum Senior
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hi,
HEY thanks for such detail experience, we appreciate it.
Well I am preparing for step 2 ck so can you just guide me.
Beside kaplan did you do any other books and which review book you reffered?
All the best for your score.
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| kingsofke
Forum Guru
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thank you all. Lancer please read my exam preparation post in step2 ck support forum.
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| malinda
Forum Guru
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Congratulations.You are OUR pride.God bless you.
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I CAN DO IT.
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| cali1997
Forum Senior
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Hi, thank you for your inspiring notes!! HOpe that you will get another amazing score, inshallah!
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| LisaM
Forum Guru
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kingsofke, Thank you for the great post. I took Tylenol tablets after my 3rd and 6th blocks though I did not feel like I needed them right then after reading your post. Sure enough they seem to have made a difference. I did not feel quite as tired or exhausted as I expected to. Also, thanks for the tip with the analog watch- setting it for 12 at the start of the exam. Thanks again for all your contributions to the forum and all the very best to you always.
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| Transcriptio
Forum Senior
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kingsofke,
thanks so much for your wonderful information concerning the step 2 ck exam.. wish u an excellent score!!
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| amygdalaa
Forum Guru
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Kingsofke,
So glad to see that you have finished your ck. You will do great.
I have started my uw afetr listenign to lectures and following the notes. My avg seems low, but I hope as I go ahead, it might get better. Your exam tips are really good. They will help us enormously. I am sticking to my schedule of apr end even tho I started late. Lets see.
Good luck on your score and a belated happy birthday!
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