humbty
Forum Elite
Topics: 24
Posts: 135
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Hey,
I just got my score report, got 276/99. I m really happy.
Here is how I studied, I m a medical student in europe and took step 2 ck just before my last year:
I used the Kaplan videos mainly for ob/gyn, pediatrics and very few psych. Read all Kaplan lecture notes 2005/06 edition. I did Q Book after reading every subject in Notes. Got average of 81% there. I always used First Aid and read it several times during my whole preparation, I also added hand written notes when doing questions and reading the notes. I then started UW World 2 months before my exam. Started with 77-78% and stayed at that level during my whole preparation, did always timed, unused and random. During the last month before my exam I also used Kaplan Q Bank. BUt didnt finish it because I thought it is less usefull than UW World.
So in Kaplan I probably finished 75% of questions also timed, unused and random and got around 82% correct. UW World I did 100% of questions and got 78% correct cumulative.
6 weeks before exam I took NBME 1and got 800, I took Form 2 and 3 7 to 10 days before exam and got 780 in both.
I think its very important to go over all questions very concentrated to get the point of every question especially in UW. you have to understand the underlying principles. UW is excellent preparation, very similar content and format. BUt there were some topics not covered by UW but I think thats not too bad. Also my exam equestions were more frequently asking for the diagnosis than management in comparison to UW. So UW is slightly more difficult than real exam. But thats good to practice. Kaplan Q Bank is too lengthy and too straight forward. I would only use it if you have very much time. I studied for around 2 1/2 to 3 month at all.
In understanding difficult questions i often used this forum, thanks to everyone who helped me, I really like that forum and the discussions we had! I also used Harrisons to look some difficult stuff up. I think its really some kind of "gold standard" for USMLE and US medicine. But of course too lengthy to seriously study it completely.
During the last few days of preparation I finished UW Bank and went over my weak subjects (Ob/Gyn, peds, psych, surg) in First Aid and tried to repeat as much as I could in FA and my hand written notes.
In the exam its important to have good time management. I did the firstt few blocks pretty fast and maybe didnt take a break between the blocks twice. In the end of the day I took short breaks between every block always drank some coke and ate a little bit to keep the glucose and caffeine up ;-) I had enough time for every block and finished the whole exam around 45 minutes earlier i think.
In comparison to Step 1 I had a better feeling after Step2ck. Maybe because I had more properly thought about time management. In Step 1 I was pretty exhausted in the end. This time I didnt feel too tired in the end.
So thanks for all your help in the question discussions and good luck to everyone.
CU in step 2 cs or step 3 forum ;-)
Edited by humbty on 09/19/06 - 10:49 AM
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
Topics: 471
Posts: 5,125
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Excellent score, congratulations!
Good luck with your next steps.
PS: I do not have the file you want. Post name of the book in this forum, I think others will help you.
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| reet
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 152
Posts: 1,411
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wow,,greattttt score
CONGRATTS dr
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| w4c3
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 28
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Wow. Congradulations. humbty, Could you tell me whether Kaplan qbank you used is newly-updated one or the old one? The new Kaplan qbank has 2000+ questions. I want to know this new version of Kaplan qbank is good or not. Thank you.
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| humbty
Forum Elite
Topics: 24
Posts: 135
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w4c3 wrote:
Wow. Congradulations. humbty, Could you tell me whether Kaplan qbank you used is newly-updated one or the old one? The new Kaplan qbank has 2000+ questions. I want to know this new version of Kaplan qbank is good or not. Thank you.
I used the online original Kaplan Q Bank that was actual in July + August. So I think thats the new 2000+ Q Bank.
I wouldnt say its wasted time, but only if you really have a lot of time, then I would recommend:
1.NOte reading
2.subject wise after notes Q Book
3.Kaplan Q Bank
4.NOte reading again or directly to 5:
5. UW World
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| anne06
Forum Elite
Topics: 11
Posts: 103
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congrats..any tips for those giving step 2 without giving step 1?
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| humbty
Forum Elite
Topics: 24
Posts: 135
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anne06 wrote:
congrats..any tips for those giving step 2 without giving step 1?
Dont know. I think it was very useful to have done step 1 before step 2ck so i would recommend doing step 1 first. but you should also ask people who took step 2 first.
good luck
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| w4c3
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 28
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Thank you. Have you tried to use pretest questions? If you used, do you think they are good?
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| drk1980
Forum Guru
Topics: 147
Posts: 1,038
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excellent!! big congrats! it was expected anyway, as u were one of the best during discussions in step2 forum:o) i bet u'll do just as awesome in ur remaining usmle exams! good luck.
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| mazinger
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 917
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Superb humbty.. way to go!
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| brucella2007
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
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that is simply brilliant..tahnx for sharing ur experience. good luck 
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| tolito
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congratulations
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| Merie
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
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hello congratulations and good luck
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| p53
Forum Guru
Topics: 51
Posts: 804
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wow, that's a great score! and with 3 months prep only!
congratulations and good luck!
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| lancer
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 50
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congrats, great score
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| humbty
Forum Elite
Topics: 24
Posts: 135
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Thanks for all your congrats!
I didnt use any pretest questions. So I can not say anything about them. The only other questions I ever did for Step 2ck was Mock Exam by Brochert, but I did it long before Step 2ck probably one year before, just to practice some MC questions for Step 2.
I also read some stuff in Secrets for USMLE Step 2. But didnt have enough time to read everything in there thoroughly. I think it is not bad, but some things are out of date. So be careful, when reading it. But it is still very useful.
I only studied 2 1/2 to 3 months full time. But before that I studied all the clinical subjects during my clinical courses at med school ( we have a six year program). So I probably didnt have to study as long as someone who is out of medical school for a while.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Good luck for your Steps!
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| w4c3
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 28
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Thank you very much.
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| nadiabarati
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big congratulations for the great success. I just want to know how much neurology and emergency medicine were tested in the exam? I'm not a kaplan reader, so I'm thinking about reading blueprints neurology and emergency medicine. Because they are independent books and a little bulky, I doubt if it worth to study these books.
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| humbty
Forum Elite
Topics: 24
Posts: 135
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There was a few Neurology and some EM. NEurology infarct localisation. Dont remember much about that. Kaplan doesnt have much NEurology in the notes. I had a pretty good knowledge in Neuro because I attended an elective there and read Aminoff: Clinical Neurology. Thats a great book, but probably too much for Step 2ck.
EM i dont remember so much, but I think Kaplan was enough for that. Some intoxication, some trauma and I dont remember much more.
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| mymeghji
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 68
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Well done Humbty, you did a very good job to help keep the FMG flag flying high
Good luck with your future endeavors
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| vanshita
Forum Guru
Topics: 21
Posts: 816
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Congratulation
Great score
thanks for valuable advice
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| drrr
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 17
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congrats humbty.I jus got 261/99 iin step 1 . Did u watch kaplan dvd's at home / did u take the course? I'm going to start preparing in a few weeks for step 2.so would greatly appreciate any input from u.
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| humbty
Forum Elite
Topics: 24
Posts: 135
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drrr wrote:
congrats humbty.I jus got 261/99 iin step 1 . Did u watch kaplan dvd's at home / did u take the course? I'm going to start preparing in a few weeks for step 2.so would greatly appreciate any input from u.
I think the most important thing is to read the lecture notes very careful. I would only use any DVDs or courses if you have very much time. I m reading much faster than listening to lectures. So for me it is more time efficient to just read.
Edited by humbty on 10/04/06 - 12:43 PM
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