Need an opinion! Step 2 CK!

[cyMD]

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I'm asking all my friends who took the exam days ago to years ago but I still feel unsettled about my "readiness" for this exam.

Maybe someone here can give me an unbiased opinion.

Test date: July 31st.
So far, 70% done UWORLD. Averaging 71-72% overall. But I really haven't trended in any way. It's just some blocks I get 61-65% and some I get 81-84%, but most fall between 70-79%.
I started studying at the beginning of June, did DIT with Step Up to Step 2. and used Kaplan Qbank to do focused blocks after each subject. Did only 50% of Kaplan qbank and when I switched over to Uworld at the beginning of July, Uworld seemed so much easier. Been doing Uworld since July 1st, mixed timed and unused. and like I said averaging 72% overall.
I'm freaking out bc sometimes I feel like I know only 22/44 questions in the block but I still do ok. I don't like the lack of confidence I have in my answer choices (usually between 2 answers) and it flutters me throughout the block. plus i read slow. I do about 2-3 blocks a day and so exhausted. Haven't been able to reread through Step up to Step 2 again since I started Uworld, bc I know getting through UWORLD is more important (takes me 3-4 hours to do a block and review it). Sometimes at night I manage one chapter of Secrets.

Took NBME 3 before starting Uworld and got a 490.
Step 1. Studied WAYYY harder for 2 months and was way more organized. Got a 250.

Going to finish Uworld and take Self Assessment on Sunday. Feeling like if I get a 230 on it, I'm not sure if I should push my test date!? My goal score is 240-250.

My peds is weak because I didn't do DIT. Just read FA peds chapter and have been writing down notes for Peds from UWorld.

After I do SA on Sunday, I have 7 days until my test date, which I plan to reread Step up to Step 2 and redo my marked/incorrect questions.

Honestly, I have no specific questions, just want someone's opinion on how I'm doing and how likely I'll score in my goal range.

Thanks.

 

[BrainDoc2985]

I'm asking all my friends who took the exam days ago to years ago but I still feel unsettled about my "readiness" for this exam.

Maybe someone here can give me an unbiased opinion.

Test date: July 31st.
So far, 70% done UWORLD. Averaging 71-72% overall. But I really haven't trended in any way. It's just some blocks I get 61-65% and some I get 81-84%, but most fall between 70-79%.
I started studying at the beginning of June, did DIT with Step Up to Step 2. and used Kaplan Qbank to do focused blocks after each subject. Did only 50% of Kaplan qbank and when I switched over to Uworld at the beginning of July, Uworld seemed so much easier. Been doing Uworld since July 1st, mixed timed and unused. and like I said averaging 72% overall.
I'm freaking out bc sometimes I feel like I know only 22/44 questions in the block but I still do ok. I don't like the lack of confidence I have in my answer choices (usually between 2 answers) and it flutters me throughout the block. plus i read slow. I do about 2-3 blocks a day and so exhausted. Haven't been able to reread through Step up to Step 2 again since I started Uworld, bc I know getting through UWORLD is more important (takes me 3-4 hours to do a block and review it). Sometimes at night I manage one chapter of Secrets.

Took NBME 3 before starting Uworld and got a 490.
Step 1. Studied WAYYY harder for 2 months and was way more organized. Got a 250.

Going to finish Uworld and take Self Assessment on Sunday. Feeling like if I get a 230 on it, I'm not sure if I should push my test date!? My goal score is 240-250.

My peds is weak because I didn't do DIT. Just read FA peds chapter and have been writing down notes for Peds from UWorld.

After I do SA on Sunday, I have 7 days until my test date, which I plan to reread Step up to Step 2 and redo my marked/incorrect questions.

Honestly, I have no specific questions, just want someone's opinion on how I'm doing and how likely I'll score in my goal range.

Thanks.

I think you're doing fine! Remember, UWorld is the best source out there. Go through it time and time again until you know everything and understand all the concepts (especially cardio and respiratory). Let me know how the UWSA goes. This appears to be a good indicator of where you will be. Keep up the work, you'll get your 250+ if you work hard and smart enough

 

[cyMD]

Thanks so much for the encouragement!

I will update on how I do on UWSA. I won't have read anything before it, because I'm still chipping away at the last bit of UWORLD until Saturday and then Sunday UWSA. So I hope whatever's in my head from reading 1500+ questions this past month...STICKS!

Thanks again.

 

[Hokie06]

cyMD your trend and experience studying and going through uworld sounds similar to me. I didn't take UWSA but I did take NBME 4 and did well. I wouldn't stress too much over the lack of confidence doing uworld questions. I was in a similar boat and I had to remind myself eliminating the wrong answer to get to the right answer is half the battle. just remember on test day, go with your gut instinct like you did on your practice sets and you will be okay. 250 is very do-able on this exam especially if you've been averaging in the 70s (first time/random/timed pass). in terms of difficulty it was similar to uworld but the passages seemed a bit longer. good luck and remember to review biostats day before, this served me well.

 

[cyMD]

Thanks for sharing!
The last couple days I continued to do 3 blocks a day. I got 61,63,65,68,70 and 79. I was glazing over most of the blocks because of pure exhaustion from long study days for weeks now. One of the blocks, I said, screw this bc I was so tired and just answered whatever seemed right. Anyways, I opted to take today off from blocks to read some chapters from my Step up to Step 2 bc I think I need a brain break from questions especially the day before I take the UWSA. I am so scared tomorrow about taking this self assessment. There so much stuff I haven't looked over in the book. I really hope I hit a 240 to boost my confidence, otherwise I'll be debating moving my date.

Hokie, you're right though! Having that gut feeling is important and I think doing so many questions and exhaustion has shot down my confidence and screwed up that gut feeling, because I read over the answers of some questions I get wrong and think "How did I not get this? What was I thinking?"...usually its bc I overthink too much. Anyways, hope today's light reading will regenerate my brain so I can perform better on the self assessment tomorrow.

Thanks again for sharing your experience. It helped a lot!

 

[sylvanthus]

I would actually recommend not taking a self assessment. Not sure what good it could do at this point so close to your test date. Either you will likely do well on it and it may make you a bit overconfident and decrease your studying that last week, or you could do more poorly than you want and it could freak you out. Again, making you less efficient that last week. I see no good that can come from taking an assessment that close to test date.

 

[cyMD]

Ok so I took the test (UWSA) today like planned. It killed me confidence wise even though my score came out good. I felt like the first 2 blocks were impossible and then it got a bit better. not even that much better. I guess that feeling of not being confident with my answers is just going to stick with me. And just 4 blocks and I felt like I was glazing over questions a lot. I guess thats inevitable in an 8 hour exam.

Overall I got a 247 on the test.
Scores over the 4 blocks were: 63, 61, 90, 90.
Timing was a bit of an issue. I was finishing with a couple minutes at the end of most blocks.
There was a lot of stuff I felt like I never really saw before or was kind of like "Where in the books can I find this answer?"

Anyways, I guess taking a day off questions help me get that gut feeling back. I decided to keep my scheduled date for the end of this month. Just going to follow my original schedule and take the next 7 days to read 1-2 chapters out of Step up to Step 2/Secrets and do a block or 2 a day of what's left in my Uworld. (I have about 12 blocks left I think.) Gonna keep with 10-12 hour study days to make sure I don't lose that stamina. Going to take the day off before the test and just look over Biostats as a refresher.

If I postpone, I'll be into rotations and I'll be exhausted coming off of these 2 months of intense studying. I think I've peaked in terms of motivation. I don't think much more time is going to do much for my score or my confidence.

I hope I don't end up scoring less than 235. Thanks for all the advice everyone. Much appreciated.