Step 1 to Step 2 Transition

[je355804]

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Greetings gentlefriends.

I have a quick question I am hoping some veterans can answer (or just people with experience second hand.)

I am a IMG and I just took step 1, coming in with a 226. I am really hoping for either surgery or anesthesiology but I know I need to step it up for step 2 (pun not originally intended, but I decided not to change it 👍)

I suppose the reason I am here is I want to know if anyone knows if getting a 226 on step and then moving up to a 240 is a reasonable achievement. I really am going to bust ass for step 2 (not that I didn't for part 1, I worked very hard.) I just want to know if there is a general improvement on part 2, or are the scores generally similar?

 

[cliquesh]

I know a girl that went from 190's to 230's. Her secret? More qbanks

 

[turkeyjerky]

I climbed 18 points between the two, and you'll find similar, if not better, improvements by most people if you peruse this forum.

 

[je355804]

I climbed 18 points between the two, and you'll find similar, if not better, improvements by most people if you peruse this forum.

Might I ask what your study methods were in order to achieve these improvements? I see a lot suggesting qbanks... Did you guys use any books?

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Might I ask what your study methods were in order to achieve these improvements? I see a lot suggesting qbanks... Did you guys use any books?

Per my usual

First Aid Step 2 or Step Up Step 2

and

Uworld​

Gets you a 230. Average. This has now worked for 15 students that I've tutored. Average to below average medical students at a US allopathic school getting average scores on the Step 2. The way you make this better is by adding something. People have also suggested master the boards by Conrad Fischer. If you are going to use Kaplan, I suggest just using Kaplan's Step 2 materials.

By "add something" I mean add Usmle Secrets or the other book you didnt do in the "or" (if you did FA, also do SU; if you did SU, also do FA). If you have time and opportunity I strongly recommend Kaplan Step 2 online or live lectures. It takes about 6-8 weeks, but is there for augmentation.

When I say "augmentation" what I mean is this. First Aid, Step Up, Secrets, etc. give you the content you are almost guarenteed to see on the exam. It is the content that is worth learning all the time. What they all leave out is the peripheral content. To push above a 240 you have to learn 10 things you wont use for every 1 you will. That's alot of effort. You have to know all the "core" material found in the review books, then a ****ton of more details. Since the questions are random, and all material is fair game, you have to know far more than you will need to get a higher score. The way you get that is with a program designed to give you those details.

I personally got a 258 (246 step 1) doing Uworld, First Aid, and Kaplan's Lecture series. I am not a good multiple choice test taker (I fall for traps and distractors like no one's business) but I consider myself a pretty solid success. Totally worth the effort of the Kaplan Course. I am was an allopathic AMG.

 

[je355804]

OAB would you mind if I pmed you later and asked you a few specifics about my plan and what you would suggest changing going forward?

 

[jfgavina]

already here? you just did step 1 why don't take a vacation? lol

 

[SlaveOfTCMC]

already here? you just did step 1 why don't take a vacation? lol

I believe IMG must take Steps 1,2,3 in sequence? Need confirmation though

 

[dozitgetchahi]

I think a lot of FMGs are under heavy time pressure to take all the steps in time to apply for residencies and such (but I'm not positive).