mymeghji
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I have been reading this forum while preparing for my step 2 CK exam and found some helpful advice. A lot of the stuff said is repetitive but there are some pearls to be gleaned here and there. So I just wanted to thank you all and to say keep this forum and others like it alive for those who still have these major hurdles to clear.
I worked very hard for my step 1 and got a 239/97 and it was then that I set my target on a 99 in step 2 CK and I bust my back working at this exam for 7 whole months until I even burnt out 10 days before the exam but thank God my efforts paid off and I got a stellar score of 286/99. Guys these exams are tough, but with hard work, focus, determination and the right direction you can blast them out of the water!!!
Edited by mymeghji on 08/04/06 - 09:55 AM
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| seri
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congrats! thats a whopping score.
could you share your prep, exam experience and suggestions?
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| mymeghji
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I studied 7 months for this exam. I would suggest between 5-6 months is also a good prep period. I think it is important to do your Step 1 first as a lot of questions are about basic pathophysiology/mechanism of disease and you would only be able to answer these questions well if you have a sound knowledge of basic sciences. Although I know that some people have done well in Step 2 CK even without doing Step 1 but I personally advise against it.
I used the KAPLAN center prep for 4 months, I did the videos two times over and the books 4-5 times over (Although I think that was an overkill, 3 times is enough). I used the USMLE World Q bank which I think is amazing value for money and what I would typically do is do a system like cardiology and then do all the USMLE World questions that same night and really go thru all the explanations well. Always do the questions under time pressure and never self paced. I also used the Kaplan Q bank which is not as good as the USMLE WORLD Q bank so if you have financial constraints go for the USMLE World one as it is much better. I did all the 3 NBME forms for Step 2 CK and the Kaplan simulated test. Finally in my last 10 days I used the First Aid Step 2 CK for a rapid review of everything. I think that the First Aid book is a great book for a quick last moment brush up.
My sincere advise is keep in touch with your step one knowledge especially Pathophysiology, Immune deficiencies, Hypersensitivity reactions, Organ transplantation rejection, Clinical Pharmacology, Metabolism etc, use the Step 2 CK Kaplan books and videos as your main base, do lots of good quality questions under time pressure and focus on understanding the mechanisms rather than memorizing things.
Good luck to everyone
I would be glad to give any other specific advice anyone else might want
Edited by mymeghji on 08/04/06 - 09:56 AM
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| p53
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!
That's the highest score for step 2 CK I have ever heard!!! 
it's 2.87 Standard Deviations above of mean for recent US/Canadian registrants - first time step 2 CK takers (SD - 23, mean - 220; for IMGs mean is much lower) - this means that only 0.2% of US/Can registrants have received scores higher than yours - you have got 99.8 percentile!
so, from step 2 CK books you have used only 'Kaplan Lecture Notes' and FA?
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| mymeghji
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Thank you for your compliments. I passed my MBBS in 1987 and I practiced for 17 years before I decided to give the USMLE, so it was very very hard for me to hit the books again.
I owe it all to my hard work, solid determination and absolute focus despite a lot of negative comments from people. I used all negative energy and frustration and put it all into my books and boy it was sweet when it finally paid off
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| infliximab
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MYMEGHJI,
THIS IS EXCELLENT! A BIG CONGRATS TO U FOR THIS WONDERFUL SCORE. HOW AWESOME!
WHAT SCORES DID U GET IN THE NBME,KAPLAN SIMULATED & Q BANK, UW QBANK?
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| p53
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just curious - what does your exam score report look like? I mean, have you got right-hand asteriskes for all organ-system and subject performances or are there still some which aren't asterisked?
and yes, could you provide the information about your scores in above mentioned diagnostic tests? it would be very helpful. I also suggest to add your post with this information to 'Exam Score Thread » USMLE Step 2 CK' - http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/thread/12074/3 - because your score is the highest on this forum.
Edited by p53 on 05/29/06 - 12:11 PM
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| an
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wow...simply awesome...congratulations on a brilliant performance...
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| drk1980
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yikes!!!!:-o .........i mean congrats!:-D Good things come to those who work sincerely for it...that you certainly must have done:o)
I had a question.....you mentioned tht FA for CK is a good source for last minute brushing up. Do u suppose FA can be skipped entirely if one manages to make personal notes during study and Q-solving?
iam still astounded with ur brilliant score. Just 4 points away from 290!!
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| srf
Forum Guru
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very very great score.
congratutions.
I can understand your feeling because I myself faced same situtation as I passed my m.b,b,s. in 1984 .
very few thought that I can pass this exam .not to speak of high score.
under the circumstances in which you have got this score I would say it is no less than 300.
please write a retrospective diary of your preparation so that peo[le like us can know that high score is not impossible for any one.
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| sot
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well done.u are amazing.big congrats to u.
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| mymeghji
Forum Senior
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I have to answer quite a few queries, I hope I don't forget to answer anyone and if I do forget please forgive me and do remind me nd I WILL reply
First of all about the flipside of my step 2 CK report, I got higher performance in everything with the asterisks except for immunologic disorders where I didn't do too badly but I did not get the asterisk.
But guys take note of this that Immunogic disorders are important enough in Step 2CK to be graded separately so focus on that topic because I found it little confusing at times.
Secondly about my scores on the various Q banks I was averaging 79% in USMLE World, 82% on the Kaplan Qbank, I got 800, 800 and 690 respectively on the NBME FORMS 1,2 & 3. I got an even 80% on the Kaplan simulated test
Thirdly You could use your own brief high yield notes for a quick brush up instead of First Aid Step 2 CK. The reason why I always use First Aid is that I am very disorganised and am not good at consistenlty making good short notes and so First Aid fills that gap for me.
And to my collegue who passed in 1984 I say with our experience and maturity we are at an advantage to do well in this exam like how wine matures and tastes better with age. So don't ever let anyone drag you down. If you beleive you can do it then you WILL DO IT!!!
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| sunshine77
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What an awesome performance! and to think I was sad coz I graduated in 1996 and thought I am at a diasadvantage ! You are my Hero ! I have been taing care of my toddler for three years - so out of touch for 3 yrs , but hoping I can do this.
We definitely need more guidance here.
Thanks a bunch for sharing your study schedule.
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| cyra
Moderator
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Oh wow!!
Congratulations!!
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| mymeghji
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I would advise anyone who wants to make a serious attempt at the USMLE Step 2 CK Exam to start by making a study plan. I think 5-6 months is enough for really good preparation. Try to do it as soon as possible after your Step 1 while the knowledge of basic sciences is very fresh in your mind. Get your 3 month block at the very outset but book your exam date after about the first 2 months of preparation when you will hopefully have a better idea about when you might be comfortable giving the exam
Do the first reading in 2-3 months, take it nice and slow, try to understand what you are studying and if you don't get the concepts stop and clarify with others, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE and say that I will work on that later. Nail down all the concepts, pathophysiology of disease and mechanisms of symptoms. It helps to discuss with a study buddy because only when you try to explain something to someone else do you realise how much you really understand or know. I would suggest you use the Kaplan Videos + Books for this phase. Each time you finish a topic like say respirology log on to the USMLE WORLD website and do all the respirology questions under time pressure. Read the explainations carefully and take down notes from them. Do the questions well the first time, do not worry about how many you get right. the important thing is to learn the pattern of the questions, the explanations and to be able to process the question and make a choice in 1 minute. Do your first reading really thoroughly.
Do the second reading in about one and half months, if you have done your first reading well you can easily do this in this time. Start using the Kaplan Q bank this time assuming that you have finished the USMLE WORLD Q bank by now.
Do the third and final reading in about 1 month and early in this reading start doing the NBME forms 1 by 1 and then the Kaplan simulated test for a real feel of doing the full 8 blocks in one sitting
Finally 10 days before the exam stop doing all questions and read the First Aid for Step 2 CK for a quick final brush up and then you're all set to go.
I got a 286/99 but I still maintain that Step 2 CK is a very difficult exam for which you have to prepare really well and the key thing is that the questions are detailed and you have to process every word in the question to get the right answer. So learn to read and process the question as quickly as possible because if I break it down I used to take 45 seconds to read, process and understand the question, and only 15 seconds to think of the answer, look for the answer in the myriad of choices, mark it glance up and down to see that if any of the other options was a better option than the one I marked and if you don't see a better answer than the one you marked then trust your first instinct and MOVE ON and you need to learn to let go of the question once you are done with it. I know you feel like that your very dear life depends on each and every answer but if you get bogged down you will not finish the whole block and I think that that's a real tragedy, so learn to make a choice and to live with your choices.
Edited by mymeghji on 05/01/07 - 12:47 PM
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| catmd04
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It's just the BEST SCORE I've ever heard. Wonderful!
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| amygdalaa
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Congrats on an awesome score. I have not seen a higher score anywhere before. Enjoy your well-deserved success.
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| mymeghji
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Thanks Amygdala, and congratulations to you too on your 99
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| 3535
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CONGRATS!!
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| amygdalaa
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Thank you mymeghji. I too am an 'old graduate'. And my hardships were in the form of being out of touch and having a family. But I had help in the second aspect. There were times when I a;most gave up, but had to rechanalize my negative thoughts in a positive way. So I understand some of what you had to go through. But we did it and we still have a way to go........Good luck.
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