step 2 question banks for step 1?

[hardee17]

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I'm at the point where all quality questions available have been exhausted for step 1. Has anyone used step 2 questions to help with obscure presentation and vignette decoding? Thanks!

 

[MedicalBeast]

**** you.

Sincerely,
Everyone

 

[paul411]

You've used up USMLERx, UWorld, NBMEs and (the lower quality) Kaplan questions?

If so... you should be ready for that 260+

 

[Transposony]

I'm at the point where all quality questions available have been exhausted for step 1. Has anyone used step 2 questions to help with obscure presentation and vignette decoding? Thanks!

Not a good idea since it will be very low yield.
Instead I would review NBME questions and think "What/how else they can ask on this topic".

 

[operaman]

If you've really taken everything, take the real deal ASAP. Step 2 questions are similar yet completely different from what you see on Step 1. It gets much more into management and treatment decisions and focuses much less on pathophys, physio, etc. There are some step 1 questions that appear to be Step 2-like, but are really just regular old pathology or physio questions with new paint. There are people who say that step 1 is becoming more like step 2, but those people don't really understand how questions are constructed.

I'm assuming by exhausted you mean done each bank at least 2x, right? If not, do that. If so, take your test and enjoy some time off. You're at your peak, and days spent doing Step 2 questions will only be days your memory allows important details to slip away while you replace them with non-tested material.

 

[hardee17]

Thanks guys, looks like I'll just review until the big date. Nbmes currently show me in the 270 range, would love to get 280s but probably not going to happen

 

[coolforschool]

There are some step 1 questions that appear to be Step 2-like, but are really just regular old pathology or physio questions with new paint. There are people who say that step 1 is becoming more like step 2, but those people don't really understand how questions are constructed.

You sound so sure, but you're wrong. I get what you're trying to say, and I agree with you for the most part. That being said, I definitely had a few Step 2 CK questions on my exam that were not at all ambiguous in their wording. They wanted to know something most preclinical students would have never come across unless they had already started rotations prior to taking the exam. Studying Step 2 concepts when you're taking Step 1 is awfully low yield and pretty stupid, but the questions are there. OP is already in the upper 260s, so I don't blame him/her for wanting to look at other resources.

Edit: 270s. My mistake.

 

[Brain Bucket]

Did you start in M1 or did you do them all in M2?

 

[loveoforganic2]

Thanks guys, looks like I'll just review until the big date. Nbmes currently show me in the 270 range, would love to get 280s but probably not going to happen

You sound like an idiot when you say things like that. I'm not sayinnnn, I'm just sayinnnn. I can't imagine wasting all that money on a question bank for a gain in points that is literally meaningless for any applicant regardless of their circumstances

 

[Choo]

Maybe focus on path, starting with the differences between bph and chronic prostatitis.

 

[JP2740]

Don't listen to these guys, I think you should do at least all of uworld step 2.

 

[CDI]

You do you.

UW for CK is more fun/interesting anyways.

You just won't gain much cause your clinical judgement (having handled no real patients) will be suspect at best.

 

[hardee17]

Maybe focus on path, starting with the differences between bph and chronic prostatitis.

😛

 

[operaman]

You sound so sure, but you're wrong. I get what you're trying to say, and I agree with you for the most part. That being said, I definitely had a few Step 2 CK questions on my exam that were not at all ambiguous in their wording. They wanted to know something most preclinical students would have never come across unless they had already started rotations prior to taking the exam. Studying Step 2 concepts when you're taking Step 1 is awfully low yield and pretty stupid, but the questions are there. OP is already in the upper 260s, so I don't blame him/her for wanting to look at other resources.

Edit: 270s. My mistake.

I had a few that could be construed as CK questions, but they were all ones you could deduce if you understood the underlying pathophys of the condition. Steps 1 and 2 will might give you an ICU patient and some labs and both would expect you to notice a really high or low potassium level and respond to it. Step 1 would expect you to pick potassium from among the other abnormal labs as the most important to correct immediately. Step 2 might ask you the fastest way to correct their potassium and expect you to understand that orals may be faster because the IV infusion has to be given very slowly, or may ask you the correct protocol for correcting it based on X, Y or Z. This might be deducible from physio, but is slightly beyond the scope of what step 1 tests. Definitely low yield for step 1.

Speaking as someone whose practice tests were in the same range: take the test asap. This is about as good as it gets.

 

[wanderer]

You sound so sure, but you're wrong. I get what you're trying to say, and I agree with you for the most part. That being said, I definitely had a few Step 2 CK questions on my exam that were not at all ambiguous in their wording. They wanted to know something most preclinical students would have never come across unless they had already started rotations prior to taking the exam. Studying Step 2 concepts when you're taking Step 1 is awfully low yield and pretty stupid, but the questions are there. OP is already in the upper 260s, so I don't blame him/her for wanting to look at other resources.

Edit: 270s. My mistake.

I agree. Some management questions that are pretty easy if you've had clinical experience but would take significantly longer than the average question and ultimately would be en educated guess by most MS2s.