cherryho
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| | 09/08/08 - 11:37 AM
1 of 1 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
My score was 241/99, which was much better than I would expect. Due to many personal issues (thesis defense, my parents visiting, moving...), I couldn't concentrate on my study and had to rush through the prep materials in a very short time. Yet thanks to God, I still made it. Hope my experience can help people who are in my situation.
Background: There are certain facts I'd like to let you know before you decide to follow my way: I took my step 1 about two months before CK, so I still remembered at least half of the step 1 materials before I started studying for CK. I scored 251/99 for step 1, which means I have a good foundation of knowledge for basic sciences and maybe some clinical medicine. If your step 1 score is below 220 or you haven't taken step 1, I'd like to suggest you to spend more time studying (at least 2 mon) and not to take a chance of screwing up an important exam. Also I had a full month to study. Even though I was distracted and bothered by so many things, I didn't have to go to work that month.
Study materials: Kaplan LNs (2006), UW, UW and UW!! My original plan was to go through Kaplan in two weeks but unfortunately I ran out of time. I studied Surgery first because that was the first book I got, which I don't think it was a wise action. If I could do it again, I would study in the following order:
IM -> OB -> Surgery (the first half, coz the second half is just a duplicate) -> Psychiatry & Ped if have time.
- IM (5-6 days) is a relatively easy subject because step 1 materials cover a big part of the CK content.
- OB (3 days) is my weakness. Away from medicine for 5 years, my OB knowledge pretty much all died out. But the book is very thin. I think 3 days should be enough to go through it. It's a good resource.
- Surgery (3 days). The book was built on case discussion and offers lots of unnecessary info. Try to single out the important facts and ignore the lengthy discription.
- Psychiatry: don't like the layout. The knowledge is very fragmented. I'd pick a book that shows the criteria for diagnosis of each disease, and gives info about how to make differentials based on a particular symptom.
- Ped: I think IM and Ped have lots of overlapped topics. You can skip ped if you don't have time and only study those diseases which only affect children (e.g. Kawasaki disease)
UW: A productive way to do the Q bank is to finish it in 2 weeks. I'd suggest to use half in the random timed mode, and the other half in the random tutor mode. Tutor mode is more time-saving but it doesn't help with time management. I did at least 5 sessions (230 Qs) a day. After each session, I went back to Kaplan to look for the sources of the answers and read the related topics. This way I at least went through Kaplan once, even for psych and ped which I didn't study before doing UW. I wrote down notes for those topics not covered by Kaplan. Two days before my exam I completed UW. The day before, I went over 45% of the Qs I did wrong. I wish I could review all of them but I was really tired and decided to give up at the end of the day.
My first-time UW score was 65%, and second-time was 80-96%. Because I finished UW in such a short time, I remembered most of the incorrect Qs.
NBME: I did neither NBME nor the sample Qs. I had to decide whether to do the sample Qs or to review the incorrect UW Qs the day before the exam. I chose the latter and it turned out to be the right decision. According to my step 1 experience, the sample Qs are usu easier than the actual test. They are a tool to evaluate rather than boost your ability. So no big deal if you have no time for them.
* I did read some Qs posted on this forum. The comments are very helpful.
* I visited several heart sound Websites (you can google them) to listen to the murmurs.
* Be sure to have enough sleep before the test day. CK Qs are long and require great concentration. I don't think you'll benefit much by sacrificing the sleep to study a couple more hrs the day prior.
Test day:
Unlike Step 1, I don't remember much about this exam afterwards  . Most materials (> 90%) were from UW or Kaplan. IM/Ped were easy but there were lots of tricky Qs. There was one heart sound which I couldn't find anything abnormal (?). One EKG: a short strip which only showed two beats. not easy to make a diagnosis. One dev milestone: have to know gross motor/fine motor/language for a particular age. Surgery emphasized on management. Orthopedics were difficult and went into details for management. OB was simple and straightforward (Kaplan!). Psych was hard and I didn't do well. The problem was that I couldn't make differential based on a symptom. Now you know what to do: let's say grandiosity. Make a list of all the diseases which have this presentation and learn to make differential.
The way I read the Qs was: the last sentence -> the Q (try to isolate the key facts) -> ALL the answers. It's good to read through all the answers because there might be a better one among them. You just don't see it if your mind is preoccupied.
I took a break after every session and I got to tell you: you are allowed to read books @ the break as long as you are not in the restreicted area. There was an American student who took CK with me. She did that too. If you are tested on a topic you are not familiar with, read it when you come out. You might be tested again on the very topic in the next session.
I might've forgotten some stuff when I recalled my experience so if you have any question, feel free to reply or PM me.
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99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
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| angel23
Forum Guru
Topics: 42
Posts: 980
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nice sum up cherry ho...
i hav my exam in a month and sometimes feel low....
but ur post made me feel i can do it in a month
thanks for such an encouraging post
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| kris09_us
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
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I am taking step 2 without taking step 1 first. Do you think I have to spend some weeks reading step 1 material ... or If I prepar UW and Kaplan notes well (3 months preparation), is that good enough?
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| cherryho
Forum Guru
Topics: 30
Posts: 573
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angel23,
Best luck for the exam. You can do it!!
kris09_us,
You don't need to study step 1 materials if you have 3 mon for CK. Kaplan & UW are PLENTY for a score of 99. Read the Qs on the forum if you don't want to do NBMEs.
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99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
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| falcon
Forum Elite
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Posts: 432
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Great congratulation cherryho, u r GENIUS
GL for ur match
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| kris09_us
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 51
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Thanks for the clarification and good luck in the match.
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| hcm11
Forum Senior
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Posts: 172
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"I took a break after every session and I got to tell you: you are allowed to read books @ the break as long as you are not in the restreicted area. There was an American student who took CK with me. She did that too. If you are tested on a topic you are not familiar with, read it when you come out. You might be tested again on the very topic in the next session. "
Oh God!! You are SO NOT ALLOWED TO READ TESTING MATERIALS DURING THE EXAM!!!! Go to your info booklet and read on the conduct section!! I am sorry Cherryho, but you are not, so don't advice people to do it. You might geta sanction for doing it... plus, did you know the proctor doesn't have to inform you if he/she reports a security breech or a miscunduct during your exam??
And anyways, if you were already tested on the stuff you didn't know what sense does it make to read it afterwards?? You can't go back and change it... and even if an american does it, it doesn't mean it's right!!!
Don't do it! You can't do it, it's not allowed, why would someone want to jeopardize such hard work by NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES?!?!? I can't get it...
What you can do is talk on your cell phone, as long as it's not exam related and listen to music, I wrote NBME about this and they said it was ok!
Good luck!!
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| cherryho
Forum Guru
Topics: 30
Posts: 573
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I did read the booklet. I know most people don't.
That's what said there:
You will not have in your possession any formulas, study materials, notes, papers, or electronic devices of any kind unless you are out of the "secure areas of the center".
Does it mean the whole test center, or just the exam area?
The definition of the secure area:
Also, for Step 2 CS, you should understand that the entire testing session from orientation until the evaluation is completed, including all breaks, is considered a closed and secure testing session, and that the entire test center, including the orientation room and the restrooms, is a secure testing area. Therefore the rules regarding unauthorized possession during Step 2 CS "extend" to the orientation room and to all breaks.
Does it mean for Step 1, CK and Step 3, the orientation room and the breaks are not considered secure areas?
Well, if NBME told you not to read on the email, obviously you are right. But the rule is not very clear.
Besides this rule, there's no other regarding whether it's legal or not.
Edited by cherryho on 09/09/08 - 09:48 AM
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99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
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| nany
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congratulations....you did great
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| match2010
Forum Senior
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hey cherryho
you did gr8 and awesome score once again !! goood luck with the match dear ....
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| angel23
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u can read books once u are out of secure area....i mean when u take breaks....
i did read first aid in my step 1....during the break i took....
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| kris09_us
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
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Interesting .... I will send an email to NBME and ask if reading books is allowed outside the exam area ...
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| angel23
Forum Guru
Topics: 42
Posts: 980
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yes u should kris so that our doubts are cleared and we do not make the same mistake if these are not allowed...
do let us know
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| ultradocmansu
Forum Senior
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Here comes my mentor!! cherryho!!
this was what i was lookin for from u! , an inside out view of prep strategy and exam!
thx for being so much help once again 
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| cherryho
Forum Guru
Topics: 30
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ultradocmansu,
I am flattered to be your mentor.  Hope you get a great CK score like Step 1!!
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99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
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| ultradocmansu
Forum Senior
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thank u cherryho!
that subject break up into days requred and one line description of their books r helping me now to build up my schedule
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| ultradocmansu
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and of course i wish u an amazing match season , may u get flooded with iv calls
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| mjl1717
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cheeryho
Thank you for a very informative and well communicated post!
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| dr_puma
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congrats ! excellent again with ultrashort prep.......u r blessed with a good mind.........n heart.
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| cherryho
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Thank you mjl1717 and dr_puma.
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99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
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