How long to study for step 2 CS?

[JP2740]

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Some people say 0 days, some say 1 week. I wanted to make a new thread mainly because I keep hearing that they're increasing the fail rate.

 

[Dral]

If your school gives you good sim prep, you prob just need to read through FA once or twice.

 

[JJMrK]

I did zero prep. You'll see people flipping madly through a prep book in the minutes leading up to the test. Don't let it throw you off.

 

[JP2740]

If your school gives you good sim prep, you prob just need to read through FA once or twice.

the whole ****ing thing?

 

[Dral]

It's a fast read. Think about the test. You go into the room and do a patient encounter with a sim pt who prob doesn't know as much about medicine as you. They have their mental (and literal) checklist of what you have to do...wash hands, cover with sheet, counsel, etc. talk English, don't curse, speak in moderately simple terms, pass go, collect $200.

You then go out and write a note. It's not like you're going to get some crazy weirdo lymphoma or collagen vascular dz case. It's stuff you know or can at least work through. Write the note, then obsess about how you forgot to ask about allergies on that pt and how it's going to cause you to fail (not really).

Focused study. It's not difficult.

 

[link2swim06]

1 day.

 

[thefritz]

You should understand the format of the test and what you will be required to do. Studying isn't really going to help because the cases are simple enough that you should have learned them along the way after 3 years of med school. Practicing is more important than studying. If you didn't study the right antibiotic to treat an ear infection, you won't fail. If you didn't practice a patient interaction because you've been doing research for a year and fumble your way through a H&P and can't write a note in the time allotted, you will fail.

 

[WaylonS]

If you're a US allo sutdent, just be sure to read through the FA book once or twice. The FA book will explain how the USMLE wants you to write notes, how you should handle difficult questions, etc. The test (not including hotel and transportation costs) is over a grand, so it's worth reading FA so that you don't have to retake/repay for the exam

 

[sakata8242]

Some people say 0 days, some say 1 week. I wanted to make a new thread mainly because I keep hearing that they're increasing the fail rate.

I skimmed thru FA a week before. If your school has SP encounters CS is very similar. If you don't already, get a system in place that you know by heart to systematically go through the HPI and physical.

 

[thefritz]

Also, if there is ANY concern you might not pass, DO NOT take it so that scores are back before ERAS submission deadline because they will have to be disclosed. Nobody will care if you don't have CS when applying, but if you have a fail on it, kiss your chances of a good residency that year goodbye.

 

[JJMrK]

It's really hard to fail this thing. By all means, do what you need to do, but don't put it off because you're scared of failing. If you passed third year you'll pass this test with minimal effort.

 

[mvenus929]

Also, if there is ANY concern you might not pass, DO NOT take it so that scores are back before ERAS submission deadline because they will have to be disclosed. Nobody will care if you don't have CS when applying, but if you have a fail on it, kiss your chances of a good residency that year goodbye.

OTOH, a number of my residency prospects require that you pass before rank list submissions. So keep that in mind if you do take late and end up failing.