ash123
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 38
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Hello all,
Im done with exam today. I am so excited. I have used the forum a lot. Mainly to see questions and sometimes for help. I am writing this uninvited review of my exam so that I can be of some help to anyone who needs help during prep. The prep was very hard for me. About my prep, I prepared for 5 months. I am doing my phd so I studied for 2-3 hours on weekdays and 5-6 on weekends. I read Kaplan once and then did Q book and started with UW questions. I revised UW wrong questions once and then gave a quick revision of Kaplan medicine and first Aid.
My exam:
- I ate and slept very well the previous night.
- Went 30 min prior to the center. Started at 7.40 am with the exam.
- Took first break after 2 blocks and then 10 min break. 3rd and 4th block then 10 min break. Fifth block 15 min and then 10 minutes after every block.
- Finished every block at 50-55 minutes (I typically finished UW block in 46-48 minutes) so I could not check every marked question in the exam.
- Exam was 50% medicine and 15% psychiatry and then rest all equally divided.
My advice:
- please study common topics in detail, like tear them apart. Know everything about them from all the qbanks, forums and books.
- Do lot of questions and all the questions in timed mode.
- Prepare yourself for a very lengthy exam, take lot of sugar and a analgesic with you.
My mistakes:
- This is number one. Studied uncommon, rare things, fancy treatments from UW, forum, I think that energy could have been spent on more common things which I missed. AIDS, Diabetes, dementia (about 10 questions), CHF, screening tests, common gynec disorders, immunizations etc.
- Don’t waste time on statistics, total waste, baby questions and 3 in all exam.
- Pratice a lot of questions and Practice with timed mode. I was fatigued by 5-6th block. Sometimes I had to read question again.
- Should have used FA along with my revisions and q banks, I used it in last 7 days. Add things there. I did that in step one but not this time. People said its not helpful; but I think if u have ur notes and FA at the end should be very helpful.
- I spent sometoo much time sometimes on some questions, this is very tempting but try to avoid that. I could not review marked questions becoz of that.
- lastly if you plan to do NBME stay away from forum questions, sometimes people post NBME questions, some unknowingly and some are just plain selfish.
Good luck to everyone. I know everyone is anxious but on that day give your best don’t get tired. Thanks to everyone, especially klebsiella and CD45. I will post my score whatever it is when it comes. Happy Studying (I know its an oxymoron!)
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| kingkong
Forum Senior
Topics: 29
Posts: 65
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congrats on getting rid of this tough exam.i wish u goodluck for the result and residency.
how many questions did you got from fluids or electrolytes(acid-base)?how much was surgery&obs-gyn tested?your answer will helpme in organising my preparation.my exam is on 19april, do you think i have enough time to revise kaplan lecture notes and uw explanations(wrote all the explanation on paper)?
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| dr.shailu
Forum Senior
Topics: 26
Posts: 192
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Goodluck ash123
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| acephil
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 9
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Hey Ash,
I took my exam today as well. Glad it's over. I thought it was tough, but I have some hope about some type of curve. My prep time was about 3 weeks, did USMLE world and studied crush. I totally agree with you in regards to knowing the common stuff. My test was a lot of common stuff and very little bizzare stuff. The only thing is, the questions were very vague and also quite specific. In retrospect, I wish I built a better foundation and really nailed the basics.
Did you find the exam questions vague and tedious? Good luck on your Phd!
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| vanshita
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 821
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Thanks for sharing with us
GOOD LUCK
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| doctor75
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 58
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ash123,
thanks for posting ur experience.its a relief to read ur experience with the right advice unlike some which we see here.goodluck
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| paviraj
Forum Senior
Topics: 1
Posts: 59
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I wish u good luck.ur sensible answers always made me to clear my doubts.I am thankful for ur posts in the forum which makes us to learn new stuff.R u from india? I can confidently say u score very high marks.
can u say where from u posted those internal medicine Q's?
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| ash123
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 38
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Thanks everybody,
hey acephil im sure you did great, ya step 2 is a different ballgame altogether. You may diagnose the disease and still get it wrong on management questions. they tested breast, thyroid and acute abd in so many different managment scenes. and also they killed me with geriatric psych..
kingkong not many acid base balance may be 3-4, surg trauma and acute abd but ob/gy was also tested a lot.
thanks vansitha, shailu and doctor75
Hi Paviraj,thanks for your wishes but I think time will tell how i did?Yes Im from India. I posted a few questions not many. Take care and wish you good luck too.
god bless.
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| orangeade
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 25
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Hello! I have still to try these methods, suggested by schoolmates who already passed the 2 ck exam --
One way is to keep doing questions in timed blocks, as many as you can. Q bank, Lange, whatever, it doesn't matter where you get the questions from.
Another way is to keep learning cases, as many as you can.
Find a case in Pre-test for step 2 ck, or in FA step 2 cs practice tests section
(then, you can use the rest of this book for step 2 cs)
Learn the buzzwords for diagnosis/differentials, initial & definitive management, as many must-knows about a case as you are willing & capable to learn.
My exam is in March. We'll see if their methods are effective for me or not. 
Joyce
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