How long to study for Step 2 CK?

[blackbird03]

I have just finished my third year. Can any of you shed light on how much they spent studying for the CK exam and how much they think is adequate to pass comfortably?

Thanks

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[manning18]

This is a tough question to answer, b/c a lot of it depends on how much you already know, how much time you can devote to studying an how quickly you can absorb new information. Most M-4s typically, take about 4 weeks off to prepare. This is adequte in moth cases. Some prefer to take light rotations and study, primarily, on the weekend, but on evenings as well (as the rotations aren't that busy). A good portion on the class should be able to pass Step 2-CK cold (uf they take it soon enough after the end of M-3 year, around this time), so they may need less time to prepare. My M-3 year was spread out (long story!), so I have needed more than the typical 4 weeks to study and have my exam in about 3.5 weeks. 4 weeks is fine in most cases, but this is pretty case-dependent!

 

[sophiejane]

I'm taking it July 27, taking 5 weeks to study because I had IM almost a year ago. Finished the year with OBGYN/Peds/psych so that stuff is still pretty fresh.

My study schedule is very leisurely, however...around 6 hours/day and at least one day off/week,since this is also my vacation. I do better when I have time to let things sink in (or re-sink in).

 

[anamarylee]

I'm taking 4 weeks to study, around 7hrs/day, with one day off a week. Other people are taking longer with time off in between. But most upper classmen I spoke to said 4 weeks is enough time.

 

[evo103179]

I took 4 1/2 weeks. Atleast 1 day off a week. Variable productivity related to energy level (4-12 h/day) and how often my gf needs attention.

 

[jaydoc07]

My lord, you guys are crazy. I just took CK yesterday. Studied just over 2 weeks. Spent the first day skimming boards and wards, the next skimming step 2 secrets, then the rest doing UW Qs.

UW was a pretty decent representation of the real thing. The real difference is that the long question stems in UW are usually needed to answer the question, whereas on the real thing a suprising amount of questions you only needed the last line. At the very end it would say, "You suspect Myotonic dystrophy, how is this disease inherited?" Stuff like that. Might help to read the very end first, it saved me a lot of time.

 

[manning18]

Jaydonc, did you think the Step 2-CK exam was fairly straightforward? It seems as though you did not find it very difficult. Please share your thoughts on the exam as well as any advice for those of us who have yet to sit for it! Thanka a lot!!!!

My lord, you guys are crazy. I just took CK yesterday. Studied just over 2 weeks. Spent the first day skimming boards and wards, the next skimming step 2 secrets, then the rest doing UW Qs.

UW was a pretty decent representation of the real thing. The real difference is that the long question stems in UW are usually needed to answer the question, whereas on the real thing a suprising amount of questions you only needed the last line. At the very end it would say, "You suspect Myotonic dystrophy, how is this disease inherited?" Stuff like that. Might help to read the very end first, it saved me a lot of time.

 

[globallmedicine]

can others who have taken the exam agree with the 4-week approach?

 

[Dr McSteamy]

it's common sense....
study until you feel confident.
if you study 4 weeks and only answer 40% of UW correctly, you're gonna fail

 

[bohemianchic]

At my school I don't think many people take off to study for Step 2. The general feeling is 4 wks on an easy rotation and longer if the rotation is busy or if you are really looking to increase in comparison to your step 1 score. I am on Family Medicine right now and studying a few hours night for six weeks and then taking step 2 CK. I have to say the questions so far on UW don't seem too bad and this is much better then studying for step 1.

 

[MedGoatTX]

Had used First Aid for Step I, but didn't really "study" at all for CK. Just did some questions towards the end of third year. Took the exam mid-July and ended up doing pretty well. If you retain what you learn during the year, you don't need to study for this one. It's far less crammable than Step I.

 

[lord_jeebus]

I think 4 weeks is excessive, unless that's 4 weeks while on a rotation.

 

[turkdlit]

My lord, you guys are crazy. I just took CK yesterday. Studied just over 2 weeks. Spent the first day skimming boards and wards, the next skimming step 2 secrets, then the rest doing UW Qs.

UW was a pretty decent representation of the real thing. The real difference is that the long question stems in UW are usually needed to answer the question, whereas on the real thing a suprising amount of questions you only needed the last line. At the very end it would say, "You suspect Myotonic dystrophy, how is this disease inherited?" Stuff like that. Might help to read the very end first, it saved me a lot of time.

So whats the distribution of questions as far as passage length goes on the real thing? I mean, UW has a few very long passages, a few very short passages, and a bunch in between. I get the impression that there are a higher proportion of long passages on the real thing...

 

[cubsrule4e]

I think jaydoc had the right idea. Im on my vacation now and have scheduled step 2 for 6/30. Ive allotted myself 2.5 weeks beforehand to study. I studied 5 weeks for Step I and, for me, that was serious overkill. I felt like i had peaked after 3 weeks and i was on the verge of burnout by the time the actual test came. In addition I think studying every month for a shelf exam is more relevant to Step 2 than any of my preclinical tests were for Step I. I think its just about how well you know yourself and what your past experiences have taught you about your needed preparation time.

 

[EternalMD]

I agree about knowing yourself and your study habits in addition to your goal (mine is >240). I am one who takes their time to learn the information and needs to review a few times before it sticks. As such, I will probably take more than the usual 2-3 weeks. Right now I've scheduled for 4-5 weeks giving me enough time to do all the NBME exams (hopefully) and 1 day/week off. After glancing at B&W, i don't know how poeple retain the info in this book from one pass. Secrets is also a good one but once again, one pass doesn't seem enough.

 

[Doowai]

I failed step 2 ck by one point the first time. I am IMG and took step 1, step 2 ck and step 2 cs back to back within 90 days - one each month. I studied something like 2 months the second time I took it - it was brutal, but I was sure not going to fail it twice.

 

[SamusLives]

Studied for about 4 weeks while I was doing my medicine sub-I, and took it the last day of my Sub-I. I read through First Aid and Crush, and did questions out of a book (I did not use UW, though most people do). It was not very intensive studying, but I still scored higher than on step 1.

 

[Tastebuds]

Studied for about 4 weeks while I was doing my medicine sub-I, and took it the last day of my Sub-I. I read through First Aid and Crush, and did questions out of a book (I did not use UW, though most people do). It was not very intensive studying, but I still scored higher than on step 1.

Where the questions on step II pretty straightforward? I have been doing the USMLE world questions and many of them are tricky.

 

[wire]

you guys are paranoid. here are the rules of studying for the usmle:

step 1: 2 months
step 2: 2 weeks
step3: 2 #2 pencils