Hey I am a 4th yr foreign medical school student and I just found out about 4 hours ago that I failed Step 2 CK (182) which was a huge shock. Didnt do so hot on Step 1(189). I am freaking out b/c I have about 80 ERAS apps. out there and have had very few responses to this point due to, what I think maybe the fact, that most were holding off to jump one way or the other based on my Step 2 score. So now what? I want to retake it DEC 11. but, i am starting a rotation in Peds and so I have roughly 7 weeks to study but 4 of them will be consumed by my rotation. Am I trying to do the impossible? Please anyone have any words of advice or is the dream over?
Just got my score
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if you have already invested time into step 2 studying by studying for it once, you won't be starting fresh...so i think 7 weeks even with a rotation is enough, if you are only trying to scrounge by and pass. just do usmleworld like an animal, and pick ONE review book....and based on the performance bars, try and focus on whatever you messed up (probably obgyn or psych).
Your right I am sure i can get by the 2nd time but i actually want to show who ever is left from the fall out that I can learn from my mistakes. Do you think I still have a shot at residency?
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based on what i have seen, there are a lot of hospitals out there that are just looking for doctors with a pulse to take call. So yes, i think you will match, somewhere. im just curious why you aren't passing. Is it because you are bad at standardized tests, or you just dont feel like you know the information? if it is the first, questions will help, if its the second questions will not be enough.
I dont know I feel like I know the info I got a 182 so I was right there. My USMLE world scores were up and down (sometimes 70's sometimes 50's). I think what killed me was that I had my girlfriend in town while towards the end (like the last 6 weeks bf the exam) and I just didnt focus. Like I over estimated my abilities. I just want to know if there is anything I can do dif. to get a high score? Any thing you suggest? I used kaplan notes and USMLE world to study. Towards the end I switched to First Aid for step 2 CK. What do you think I should do different.
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The sad part of the whole situation is that before July 2007, you would have passed Step 2 with the 182. They just went up on the passing score to 184 this July.
Just keep studying and working at it and you'll pass.
Just keep studying and working at it and you'll pass.
Thank you for the kind words I appreciate it. I have to admit this has been a very hard to swallow because you know you get through step 1 and you think life is a breeze I guess I just didnt take step 2 serious enough. I just hope I can still land a residency in what I want to do which is PM&R.
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USMLE World is a powerful resource, but I think it only helps if you already have a strong foundation to build on (a lot of the information on it is nit-picky facts). People that score poorly on boards appear to do so for one of two reasons... either a) they're weak in the basics or b) they simply don't perform well in standardized tests.
7 weeks is plenty of time (even with 4 weeks of Peds). You might want to start with some soul searching and figure out what went wrong the first time. Then work out a solid plan and stick to it.
Btw, from what I understand... PM&R isn't a terribly competitive residency to obtain (especially if you're flexible in the location where you match). And you also can take the route of beginning a different residency and switching programs after your PGY-1 year (I know several people that have done this... worst case scenario is you end up re-entering the match the following year and have a year's residency experience in the states). The key is, to try to get into ANY residency first.
so how do you recommend studying? I have already been through world twice should i go back to it or is it pointless. Also should i just take first aid and just hammer it into my brain or should I use more resources?
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Well, going through UWorld a third time probably won't help much. UWorld's Step II material is largely focused on minutiae/zebras that aren't likely to pop up on your exam. The key is understanding how you approach questions. Have you been doing them in 50Q timed blocks? How are you with time management? Have you tried reading the last sentence in a passage first? You could try purchasing another question source (perhaps Kaplan).
I would focus on the books. Hammer in First Aid Step 2 CK. You should have a good grasp of what subjects you are weak on. I would purchase a solid review book of those particular topics (I like the blueprints myself) and spend some time going over them first.
In terms of core material you should make sure to know... pathology and micro are always important to review (particularly with regard to clinical presentation and appropriate steps towards establishing diagnosis and treatment... think simple first!). Of course, you absolutely have to know your drugs (emphasis on primary indications/DOC and key adverse reactions).
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i am your situation and just started the step 2 ck bank at studentconsult.com. don't do UW again, try another one, either the one i started or usmleeasy.com
and i'm using step up to medicine this time. what about you?
and i'm using step up to medicine this time. what about you?
Well I have just got settled in to start studying tonight and I want to take the exam Dec. 11. so basically I am about 6 weeks and 2 days out. I have to admit that I struggled with time in the exam and cardio was one of my weaker subjects and it has been my entire med. school career as far as test taking goes. I am very familiar with First Aid step 2 so I think I will stick with it b/c all of my notes and everything are in it but how do I tackle this cardio thing what will help? Also I signed up for USMLE world again before I read this b/c I feel like I can still learn from world my scores were never that high so I think there is still a lot of room for improvement. Any suggestions or comments how to make the best of my time? Thanks guys.
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If you are very weak in cardio, I would recommend you listen to the Step 1 cardio physio/path/pharm lectures. They shouldn't take you too long to listen to them all (maybe 2 days?). That way you will cover the basics. Then you could use more Step 2 related material like Step Up to medicine, Secrets/Crush/NMS/Boards and Wards etc. Just a suggestion.
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You could also try working some of the MKSAP's (chances are your hospital library has it available to borrow). Maybe a bit overboard, but they do a great job explaining important clinical information.
As for the timing issue... drill drill drill. Do timed simulated blocks over and over again until your eyes bleed. And try to get used to finishing each block with at least 10 minutes to spare. Everybody seems to go slower on the real thing (I suspect mostly because of unanticipated time used re-reading stems/answers).
Hey for all those reading this thread I just wanted to update you that studying is going ok a little slower then I would like with my rotation but I am still on track. Just trying to know first aid inside and out. Its just strange b/c I feel when I read all of this that I already know it but for some reason my test score obviously did not translate into that. I have to admitt that this has been a very humbeling experince as that I have been one to always do pretty good on exams (not so much standerized test but I never failed one) so for all of you people out there who are like me and just kind of get by on the seat of your pants this is a harsh leasson to learn. So learn from my expensive mistake and put the time in now so you dont have to go through this again like myself.
Well guys here I am about 9 days out (Dec 11) from my retake and just took my first NBME. I didnt do as well as I wanted 400=191 I was hoping to be in the 200 range but if history repeats itself I scored very low on the two NBME's I took before step 1 and scored higher on the actual step. I still have 9 days and one more to take ( I took one during my preparation for my first attempt) so any words of advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and keep your fingers crossed!
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Hi, I think that studying for step 2 CK is like learning a foreign language, i.e. really when you go through usmleworld I at least always saw a new term or something that basically I couldn't identify, i.e. maybe in the past herpetic whitlow?!? So, I would go and read a little in depth about what I don't know, on a rotation I could google herpetic whitlow and then learn some about it, . . . to take the next step is to be the active learner i.e. visualize what you would do if you had an actual case of herpetic whitlow in the office, i.e. how would you investigate it? how would you know it is herpetic whitlow? it may seem like an obscure factoid, but this is what every family practice knows how to deal with . . ., so basically I would recommend:
1. Use First Aid, read about say multiple myeloma, put the book down for a second and visualize what a patient presenting with multiple myeloma would present as, and how you would treat/diagnose, stage them . . . then look at/re-read the section again, . . . I found that I was just reading to identify diseases, step 2 asks maybe 1/2 to 1/3 what is the next best step in management, so we are expected to already know what the disease it, but we need to know what to do with it. . . basically, when I studied hard I would wake up at 7:30 am to 8 : 00 am, read internet news for half an hour, and then just plain read all day . . . and you should be able to read 100 pages comfortably per day, that is just 10 pages an hour! If you hunker down you can read maybe 120 pgs a day, at the end of studying for step 2 ck I could read maybe 250 pages of first aid step 2 a day! Why? Because it IS like learning a language and I wasn't hung up on all the words I don't know. I think the best books for passing are with a Hail Marry studying schedule:
1. First Aid for Step 2 CK (3 days to read)
2. Add on Step Up to Medicine if you want (3-4 days to read)
3. blueprints ob/gyn & blue prints case files (3-4 days to read)
4. pediatrics pre-test & first aid pediatric clerkship (3-4 days)
5. first aid surgery clerkship (3 days)
6. first aid psychiatry clerkship (3 days)
7. USMLEworld reviewed by just skimming the questions in review mode (5 days)
This schedule is basically 25 days,(studying ~12 hours a day) and you could break it up by doing just 2-3 usmleworld blocks a night after reading books all day, I recommend this as I think for some reason that reading and doing UW each day is better for the brain, i.e. you stay quick with analyzing clinical scenarios AND you review topics a little more in-depth than UW. . . which helps with getting familiar with the test setup and a *couple* questions at most, . . . mostly UW helps highlight whole sections that are weak.
1. Use First Aid, read about say multiple myeloma, put the book down for a second and visualize what a patient presenting with multiple myeloma would present as, and how you would treat/diagnose, stage them . . . then look at/re-read the section again, . . . I found that I was just reading to identify diseases, step 2 asks maybe 1/2 to 1/3 what is the next best step in management, so we are expected to already know what the disease it, but we need to know what to do with it. . . basically, when I studied hard I would wake up at 7:30 am to 8 : 00 am, read internet news for half an hour, and then just plain read all day . . . and you should be able to read 100 pages comfortably per day, that is just 10 pages an hour! If you hunker down you can read maybe 120 pgs a day, at the end of studying for step 2 ck I could read maybe 250 pages of first aid step 2 a day! Why? Because it IS like learning a language and I wasn't hung up on all the words I don't know. I think the best books for passing are with a Hail Marry studying schedule:
1. First Aid for Step 2 CK (3 days to read)
2. Add on Step Up to Medicine if you want (3-4 days to read)
3. blueprints ob/gyn & blue prints case files (3-4 days to read)
4. pediatrics pre-test & first aid pediatric clerkship (3-4 days)
5. first aid surgery clerkship (3 days)
6. first aid psychiatry clerkship (3 days)
7. USMLEworld reviewed by just skimming the questions in review mode (5 days)
This schedule is basically 25 days,(studying ~12 hours a day) and you could break it up by doing just 2-3 usmleworld blocks a night after reading books all day, I recommend this as I think for some reason that reading and doing UW each day is better for the brain, i.e. you stay quick with analyzing clinical scenarios AND you review topics a little more in-depth than UW. . . which helps with getting familiar with the test setup and a *couple* questions at most, . . . mostly UW helps highlight whole sections that are weak.
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Just focus on your First Aid Step 2 CK since you're already familiar with it. Memorize it cold. Also check out Step 2 Secrets. My score went up quite a bit (on UW) after reading that.
FYI, I haven't taken CK yet, so I'm not an "expert". I am taking it in 2 weeks myself, but my game plan is Boards + Wards (I'm on my 3rd read) and Secrets (only 1 read so far, plan on 2 more reads) plus UW.
I think Terps has some good advice about the timing issue. I know that it's always been a problem with me. On the NBME's and Step 1, I always felt short on time. So if that's your case, just try to do like 6 blocks of UW per day on top of your review.
FYI, I haven't taken CK yet, so I'm not an "expert". I am taking it in 2 weeks myself, but my game plan is Boards + Wards (I'm on my 3rd read) and Secrets (only 1 read so far, plan on 2 more reads) plus UW.
I think Terps has some good advice about the timing issue. I know that it's always been a problem with me. On the NBME's and Step 1, I always felt short on time. So if that's your case, just try to do like 6 blocks of UW per day on top of your review.
Well guys I am on the eve of my Step 2 CK retake. I am nervous as heck and just completed my review of FA for the 2nd time in approx. 6-7 weeks. I can only hope that my NBME score will be an indication that I will pass this time around. I feel like I have worked pretty hard and I am going to take the rest of the day off and just be thankful that I have the opportunity to take this exam in the first place. For all of you out there who read this please wish me luck or say a prayer or however you choose to think good thoughts for me I would really appreciate it. I will write an update tomorrow after the exam. Thanks everyone!!!!
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I wish you well and will pray that you pass. But I'd say not to take the exam again until you're sure you will pass. Its more important to pass than anything else... even if that means matching for next year. At least thats my opinion... In any case, I wish you well. I believe in miracles and the power of prayer, whatever religion you may be.
Oh, and as for timing. Try to start by reading the last sentence of the question IF the question is really long. That allows you to focus on whats important when you read through the question. Also, after 15mins you should have 12 questions done, after 30mins 23 questions, after 45mins 35 questions. So look at your watch after 15, 30,and 45mins and speed it up if your behind. its better to have looked at a question and guessed, than to leave 10 blank at the end. This is how I did it anyway.
Oh, and as for timing. Try to start by reading the last sentence of the question IF the question is really long. That allows you to focus on whats important when you read through the question. Also, after 15mins you should have 12 questions done, after 30mins 23 questions, after 45mins 35 questions. So look at your watch after 15, 30,and 45mins and speed it up if your behind. its better to have looked at a question and guessed, than to leave 10 blank at the end. This is how I did it anyway.
Well fellas and gals I went and rewrote step 2 yesterday and I have to say I dont feel nearly as bad as I did the first time around. My time was pretty good and I just felt more confident. I know I made some mistakes but you cant win them all, right? I just hope I won enough to get this dang thing over with. Thanks again for the words of encouragement. Keep me in your prayers and hope for the best. I wish luck to anyone and everyone who is taking this test or who will take this test. I have to say this was a real humbling experience for a guy who usually gets buy with very little effort so dont ever get to comfortable because you never know what will come along and shake things up. Happy Holidays!!!
Well I am just writing to update you that with in the next day or two I should receive my step 2 CK score. I found out recently that I passed the CS so lets hope my good fortune continues. If any of you reading this could keep me in your thoughts and prayers I would greatly appreciate it. I hope 08 will bring me better luck then 07. Well wish me luck and I will let you know the results as soon as I know. Happy New Year to all.
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The very best of luck -- I've come to this thread late but I can see the hard work you've put into this exam. I'm hoping for a good result for you.
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Good Luck and Happy New Year, I would wagger you passed, I will roll the Lucky 8 ('08) Ball for you and hope for a pass!
Well guys I got my score back and its finally over. I PASSED!!!!!! I ended up with a score of 202 not the greatest score in the world but I will take it. I am so glad its over with and I am so thankful to all of you for your support. Thank you very much. Now...I NEED A JOB. HA HA HA hope all of you are doing well and take care.
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congrats. I hope to join you soon
Man you guys are so awesome I cant tell you what it meant and what it still means to hear that all of you read this and cared. I want to say thank you and what ever you thought or did it really worked!!!!! Thank You so much.
Actually I didn't. I only took one. I have a major problem of loosing info after a test like situation. Kind of like a real test, as they say when its test day you just go and have like mental diarrhea and some of it is gone forever. So I didn't want that to happen so close to test day so I just kept pounding FA after the first NBME (actually 2nd one taken I took the first during my prep for the first time around). Hope this helps.
Hey asiq11 i appreciate the addition to the thread but I dont think you read it enough because I passed my second time around. But again thanks for the advice hopefully someone reading this can put your information to good use.
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heheh, apparently not.
Congratulations, docphrcyd! Not sure if any of my advice helped... but its good to hear that you got through.
Well as promised I said I would update you guys as soon as I was done with the process. I ended up matching at my #2 selection in Pediatrics and couldnt be happier. Here I thought with having a pretty decent medical career blemished with the failing of Step 2 CK no one for sure would take me as a physician. But, in the end a little extra hard work and a lot of faith landed me on my feet in a pretty good program. I couldnt be happier. Thanks to everyone for their kind words and encouragement I couldn't have done it with out you.
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