re: MCCEE exam, for those IMGs who will be applying to canada as well:
-it's really easy.
-the best way to prepare for this exam is to keep step 1 material fresh in your head while studying step 2 materials.
-don't worry about "Canadian content" it doesn't exist. The only beavers you will get asked about are the ones with pediculosis.
-the online self assessment exams are a waste of cash and are significantly harder and more poorly written than the actual test questions.
-the format is exactly the same as the NBME examinations (with a review screen coming up at the end of the test where you can pick questions you'd like to check)
-All lab values are provided for you (with the normal values alongside [usmle could learn something here]) in the stem
-they love to ask about hemorroids and ovarian cysts.
-don't overthink the questions. The harder questions can be solved using mechanisms (like how you solve step 1 questions). The rest are straight up step 2 questions.
-Toronto notes, lmccexams, canadaqbank are worthless. Lmccexams are just questions about the exceptions, by doing this qbank you will lose your fundamentals and start second guessing everything. Canadaqbank is simply worthless because they are accumulated questions stolen online from various sources. No one swears by either. Your best bet are your trusted step1/step2 materials.
I'll be studying for step 2 exclusively now, and taking the mccqe1 later this year as well.
For this I'll be using:
Text:
-Firstaid for step1 (it's just worthwhile knowing this book for life), MEMORIZED
-MTB2 (not 3, i hate that erroneous, contradictory book) MEMORIZED
-Toronto notes- READ using my anki-low yield algorithm
-Step 2 secrets- ESSENTIAL points added into MTB2
-First Aid for CK- READ using the anki low yield algorithm
Qbanks:
-Uworld CK-completed/annotated into mtb2 already
-usmleRX CK
-KaplanQbank CK
Anki low yield algorithm: I use this for books I simply want to read and not memorize (large textbooks). Its also a great way to "break in" a book before you start memorizing it.
- Create a new deck (with the name of the textbook)
- Make sure 'learn new cards in order added' is enabled
- To add a card, just write the page number in the question field (a question will literally be 'page 42')
- simply read the page when prompted by anki (actively thinking/associating the material [I use the feynmann technique for this http://www.scotthyoung.com/learnonsteroids/grab/TranscriptFeynman.pdf)
- always select good for grading the card (unless you really feel the need for reviewing a page more frequently)
- for new cards you will be prompted by anki to review again in 10 minutes
- when reviewing due cards hold down enter to finish all the cards without actually doing any work
- create a filtered deck with the following line (using toronto notes as an example of a book):
- deck:"Toronto Notes" rated:1
- make sure that in the cards selected option: Order added is selected:
- Using this filtered deck will accomplish two things
- allow you to review the book in a front to back direction
- allow you review again in 10 minutes
- I used this method for my first reading of MTB2, it was quite effective at allowing me to retain about 60-70% of the material with far less effort and time than making anki questions of every fact, it also allowed me to visually remember whole pages and keep sense of the big picture (which is sometimes lost with anki).
- When I wanted to remember >90% of MTB2 I simply started repeatedly reading it cover to cover in shorter spans of time like any other book. I found that the book had been sufficiently "broken in" by the anki algorithm to allow me to finish my intitial cover to cover in 4 days. Subsequent reads eventually allowed me to complete the book every 2 days.
? no facebook or morse code?
evaluation exam ) in 8 days. Last day to do new material before the 1 week pre-test cruise 
