Taking CK in 3 weeks... please advise

[Weinberg Angle]

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[Babycatcher2B]

Hello:

I'll be taking Step II CK in 3 weeks. I used USMLEWorld during MS3 for shelf exams, but only completed about 15%. I had my USMLEWorld account reset so I could have a fresh start. My shelf scores during 3rd year were around 65 raw.

My step I was: 217/90

I would like to improve my CK score to at least 230+. I started studying yesterday with USMLEWorld. I only got through 30 problems yesterday, tutor mode, looking up info and making notes into a notebook on topics I didn't know well. Using this method, I ended up spending about 20 minutes per question. But I am afraid that at this rate, I will only get through about 600 questions in three weeks.

I am thinking of changing strategies and signing up for 1-month Kaplan QBank. In the morning, I would do 3x46 QBank problem sets at a timed pace and not take any notes. In the afternoon, I would do UWorld in tutor mode, looking up everything I don't know and writing it down. Do you think this is a good idea?

Other sources I'm using are FA, Step-Up to Medicine, Step 2 secrets.

1. Should I sign up for Kaplan QBank?
2. Should I read through FA?
3. Any input regarding a reasonable/logical strategy would be greatly appreciated... as I am totally lost.

Thanks.

I took my exam 1.5 weeks ago. This is what I did: I spent the first few days (~5) reading Secrets. Then I purchased a 30 day prescription for USMLE World. In the very beginning, I only would get through about one block (46 questions) in timed mode, and reading each and every explanation, and taking notes on the things I didn't know. I used Step-Up to Medicine to read sections I was not so sure on while studying the explanations. Eventually I bumped up to 2 blocks a day (sometimes waiting until the next day to read the explanations for the 2nd test). And as time got closer (around the last week before the test) I tried (stressing TRIED) to get 3 blocks completed per day. Towards the end, I did some blocks in tutor mode which took about an hour off my time for reviewing. And also, I tried the technique of highlighting the parts of the explanations that I wanted to take notes on. And then when I was done reviewing the entire test, I would just go through each question with explanations that I had highlighted and copy the notes into my notebook. That made reviewing each explanation, less cumbersome and also it was a good reinforcement for the points that I wanted to learn. (Also it was like a mini-break for me, because I would spend an hour copying parts of explanations while listening to some music at the same time). So I say if you want to take notes, wait till the end of reviewing a test. And also, taking a test in tutor mode will take atleast an hour off your reviewing questions time. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

 

[Weinberg Angle]

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[OddNath]

Hello:

I'll be taking Step II CK in 3 weeks. I used USMLEWorld during MS3 for shelf exams, but only completed about 15%. I had my USMLEWorld account reset so I could have a fresh start. My shelf scores during 3rd year were around 65 raw.

My step I was: 217/90

I would like to improve my CK score to at least 230+. I started studying yesterday with USMLEWorld. I only got through 30 problems yesterday, tutor mode, looking up info and making notes into a notebook on topics I didn't know well. Using this method, I ended up spending about 20 minutes per question. But I am afraid that at this rate, I will only get through about 600 questions in three weeks.

I am thinking of changing strategies and signing up for 1-month Kaplan QBank. In the morning, I would do 3x46 QBank problem sets at a timed pace and not take any notes. In the afternoon, I would do UWorld in tutor mode, looking up everything I don't know and writing it down. Do you think this is a good idea?

Other sources I'm using are FA, Step-Up to Medicine, Step 2 secrets.

1. Should I sign up for Kaplan QBank?
2. Should I read through FA?
3. Any input regarding a reasonable/logical strategy would be greatly appreciated... as I am totally lost.

Thanks.

I think 3 weeks is just the right amount of time. I finished UW, went through Secrets ~1.5 times, used Step-Up as a reference (read like 4 chapters completely, jumped around the rest of it to look up answers from UW).

I say, continue w/ UW and there probably isn't a need to sign up for Kaplan since you'd have to do *lots* of questions every day to get through both. I did like 2-3 sets of 46 per day, timed + random, and took notes over the set afterwards. Use FA if you used it during the year, and Secrets is really awesome.

 

[Babycatcher2B]

Thanks Babycatcher2B... for the reply. It seems like my current study strategy is similar to yours.

1. How much of UWorld were you able to finish?

2. If you were to do it again, would you make any adjustments to your study strategy?

3. Did you read step up to medicine cover to cover?

4. In the real test, were most of the questions from internal medicine?

Thanks.

No problem.

1. I complete 100% of USMLE World

2. If I would do it again, I would read Secrets again right before the test. Its really high yield. And some answers to some questions were right in Secrets.

3. I read some of Step Up to Medicine during my medicine rotation. However, I didn't complete it. While studying for Step to I just read and reviewed certain sections. Still haven't read the entire book.

4. On the real tests, most of the questions were Medicine (i think). Its hard to really say cuz when you are taking the test you aren't really catogorizing which subject matter is being test. You just are trying to answer the questions. I'd say I had quite a few Psych questions. (more than what I'd expected).

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Weinberg Angle]

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[alesa]

I think doing questions from different sources is the key to passing the step exams.

 

[Skills of House]

I think doing questions from different sources is the key to passing the step exams.

If you have the key to 260 and above I'd like to borrow that if you don't mind, I think my door is jammed😀

 

[Weinberg Angle]

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[Weinberg Angle]

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[OddNath]

Just to update.

I did a timed set on UWorld yesterday and my score was 58%. Overall avg for this set was 60%.

I'm veering towards postponing CK, because what's the point of taking it early in MS4 if the scores won't be better than Step 1.

Does this sound reasonable?

Thanks.

Have you taken a practice NBME? That's probably going to be a better predictor of score than UW averages. Might as well take one NBME to help you decide if you're in the right score range.

That said, probably not a big deal to postpone it, either. If your next rotation isn't heavy, it's feasible to continue studying. Good luck~