Is this enough for a competitive score?

[lemonade02]

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Memorize Crush verbatim
Do Kaplan Q Book
I consider myself a semi-strong standardized test taker however I don't really remember any pediatrics, OBGYN, or psychiatry!

I'm asking because I like to keep it simple. Biggest lesson from step 1 was know a few core sources inside and out and don't spread yourself thin. How much mileage can I get if I really take the time to memorize Crush and retain the concepts in the Q BooK? I have about 50 days till the real thing mixed with very easy classes and interviews. I don't want to work too hard now either!!

 

[happy4thyear]

Memorize Crush verbatim
Do Kaplan Q Book
I consider myself a semi-strong standardized test taker however I don't really remember any pediatrics, OBGYN, or psychiatry!

I'm asking because I like to keep it simple. Biggest lesson from step 1 was know a few core sources inside and out and don't spread yourself thin. How much mileage can I get if I really take the time to memorize Crush and retain the concepts in the Q BooK? I have about 50 days till the real thing mixed with very easy classes and interviews. I don't want to work too hard now either!!

Hi lemonade02,

I've never been a huge fan of memorizing things verbatim, but I do think that either crush or secrets (same author, same content) are great resources. I read secrets throughout third year before shelf exams and thought it was fantastic. I really just skimmed it this year when reviewing for step 2, but it would also be a great initial book to use if you are starting now.

As for Qbook, I have it and also did some of the questions in it during 3rd year. When I looked back through it recently, I really thought that the questions were way easier/too simple for serious board review. I also just don't think that is enough volume of questions to really be prepared.

As a lot of people on this board have mentioned before, Usmleworld is a great resource for Step2. It's a lot harder, and sometimes quite demoralizing 🙁, but by the end of it I felt very prepared for the test. I got through all the questions once, then went back and repeated a little less than 1/2 of the one's I got wrong the first time around. That is essentially all the studying I did for Step 2, and I did it by doing about 2 hours of questions a night for a few weeks while on other rotations and more (maybe 4-5) the week preceeding the test.

With that said, I really think the most important predictor on how you are going to do is how you did on shelf exams. If you scored what you consider "competitively" on most of them, you will likely do the same on Step 2 with a little preparation!

Good luck studying... only 50 days to go 🙂

 

[lemonade02]

i guess that's the problem with me -- questions don't really help much. i did maybe 5% of step 1 qbank and walked out with a decent score. doing so many questions leaves a lot of loose ends and leaves me with a list of stuff i don't know. that's demoralizing in itself!

i guess i was just asking if knowing the concepts of crush is actually enough to crush step 2 (like the book jacket promises!)

 

[lord_jeebus]

I don't think Crush is that great.

What kind of score are you shooting for, and how have you done on shelf exams? These two things, in my opinion, are the main factors to consider.

 

[lemonade02]

shooting for a 240..medicine and surgery standardized score was 90. everything else was ~85. medicine and surgery were done with reading case files alone once through without doing any questions. which makes me think its better to know simple sources well and think through test questions.

i guess i was just looking for someone to tell me crush is actually enough to do well on the exam. but if no one thinks so (no one on amazon either although those users are very suspicious!), then i won't take the risk.

 

[lord_jeebus]

shooting for a 240..medicine and surgery standardized score was 90. everything else was ~85. medicine and surgery were done with reading case files alone once through without doing any questions. which makes me think its better to know simple sources well and think through test questions.

i guess i was just looking for someone to tell me crush is actually enough to do well on the exam. but if no one thinks so (no one on amazon either although those users are very suspicious!), then i won't take the risk.

You will probably hit your goal with those scores without needing to prepare too intensely. I would still recommend using USMLEWorld, but if you're really question-averse perhaps Step 2 Secrets, Boards & Wards, or just rereading your Case Files books.

 

[climbingdocs]

I LOVE questions 😀 I am gonna do Kaplan Qbank, and USMLE world and that's it. I figured they only can ask so much on every topic. For Step I read step up and all qbank and I got in 230s. But I this time I am going to add USMLE world.