alosh_2
Forum Junior
Topics: 22
Posts: 53
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I took my step 2 CK yesterday.
It is my second time taking it. Hopefully I will pass for sure this time and with a good score..
The first time I was unprepared, and I used mainly Boards and wards, and UW, which i didn't complete thoroughly.
The second time, I studied the kaplan notes, and did the UW completely.
I cannot say I mastered all the concepts on UW, but I was getting in the 60s mostly.
The first time I took CK, I ran out of time during 4-5 blocks with atleast 4-5 questions left in each, so I guess that helped in my failure.
This time I feel more confident, mainly because it went better then last time.
I finished all the blocks on time, except 1-2, with only 1-2 questions fluke guessing, and I think there were more number of questions i was more sure of.
I guess, I am writing all this, to sort of reassure myself that I am going to be okay this time around.
I got mostly IM (60%), and the rest of the subjects were peds: 20%, obs/gyn: 10%, psych and surg: 10%.
The questions were not too long, and the lengthy ones were due to the lab values.
I felt that this time around, I definitely had some questions I knew for sure, and didn't require much thought. and then there were those that were twisited, made me feel like i wanted to spend lots of time to make sure i was choosing the right one. But I forced myself to move on these.
I hope the guesses and the flukes land on the right choices.
MY advise after the exam to everyone....
Kaplan notes and UW are more then sufficient, read them thoroughly, repeat them over and over until, you know everything in them both, take notes from the UW for all the respective subjects accordingly, and read them over and over as well.
Don't jump from around too many study materials.
Do the kaplan notes and UW atleast 2-3 times. the more the better, and ofcourse repeat the topics you are weak in more.
The exam is similar to UW.
Good luck to all...
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 71
Posts: 231
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thanks for the advice. my exam after postponing and postponing is at the end of this month. I'm doing UW the second time around and this time im taking thourough notes of everything right or wrong. I at least jot down the educational objective. I feel like I should read Kaplan again but i have notes for that as well. this will be my first time taking CK. my problem was with step 1 so I am no stranger to failure.
Just a stupid question. If I master UW concepts/personal notes, Kaplan notes ( maybe if I have time will re-read IM) and do FA. Will this make my life a little easier come test day? My problem is that I freak out once the test begins-totally test anxiety and it screws up my momentum for the rest of the exam. Im not going to let that happen to me this time but i just need to know if im headed in the right direction with my study materials.
Thanks for any advice
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| vanshita
Forum Guru
Topics: 21
Posts: 812
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GOOD LUCK
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 30
Posts: 2,208
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Bring us the good news in a few weeks!
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When men make the rules, God decides the exceptions.
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| alosh_2
Forum Junior
Topics: 22
Posts: 53
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hey manolok,
Test anxiety, is one of my problems too. I think i get a little obsessive with the twisted questions that are vague, i stay stuck on them trying to figure them out.... and end up losing time on other questions..
I think you should stick with those three, UW, Kaplan notes, and FA (optional)....... but make sure to repeat all of kaplan, and UW notes.....
Do the UW Qs over and over, till you have a the concepts understood and easily accessable in memory as well. Like the positional changes of murmurs and the mneumonics for depression and mania etc....
Once you start the test... make sure to stay focused, one question after another, go thro the question, and highlight if you need to, because it can be done in the real exam, and force yourself to make a choice and move on when it comes to vague choices or twisted questions....
good luck... dont worry you can do this..
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 71
Posts: 231
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thanks again, so what you are saying is Kaplan is a must read before the exam? Ive read it twice and some of my weaker topics 3x. I keep looking at my first aid and wondering if should stick to that and UW notes, Kaplan notes and not have to re-read all of Kaplan. I do think though some of the topics in FA are HY if you base them on UW tested topics, esp Derm, I.D.
I agree with you wholheartedly that I need to limit my sources for prep but choosing which sources is the hard part.
Excellent advice btw. My heart started racing a bit when you described ur experience coz I know im going to have to face the music in a couple of weeks and will be in the same place. trying not to stress myself out and I keep telling myself thank god you dont have to deal with chimeric mice questions, obtuse physio graphs with arrows going all over the place. I think this exam is more doable... but i dont want to jinx myself by saying that.
did you take any pre-tests??? NBME etc? I think i should take one or 2 just to see where i stand then again, it just my freak me out.
thanks and good luck on an awesome score.
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| jaisiyaram
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 56
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Thanks for sharing ur experience with us. I have just started my prep. I will follow ur advice about redoing Kapnotes and UW as many times. GL to u.
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| docsofia
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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Thank u so much alosh for sharing ur views and experience .How bout NBME ..did u take that at all ...i took it and scored pretty low..so i plan on using a different startegy now to study.
i wish u a wonderful score GL!!
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