USMLE World Scores and Step II Scores

[lmh14]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Probably been discussed before, but can't find a recent thread....

I'm just curious about what scores people were getting on USMLE World, and then how you ended up doing on Step 2.

All you have to do is post two numbers...... 🙂

Thanks folks, and good luck with everything!!

 

[thehundredthone]

I began the blocks scoring low 70s and by then end I was scoring 88-90s pretty consistently. Overall avg was ~77%

Step 2CK: 260s

I hope this is helpful. Also, SDN messes with your head. I was happy with my Step 2 score for about one week before I felt bad about myself for not having a 270 😉 ...and now apparently a 280 (congrats, CDI !!!)

Congratulations on the great score! SDN definitely messes with your head, I still can't get over feeling bad about my step 1 score. It wasn't CDI with that score though, it was norealname.

UWorld 1st pass: 86%, 95 percentile
UWorld 2nd pass: 98%, 99 percentile
NBME 4 (3 weeks out): 262
Free 150: (1 week out): 92% (sort of messed up that one)
UWSA (1 week out): 265+

Real score: 280

Wow, just wow. Congratulations! What specialty are you applying to?

1st time through - 83% did about 800 start last june. then in Jan--April - finished the remaining 1400 or so.

2nd time through - Started in May til last week - 94% - didn't get through 400 of them. wish i had.

i'd recommend doing like 200 questions a day for the last week. that's what I did last week and versus how I felt on one step I, i definitely was not nearly as fatigued this time around.

If the above is anything to go by, it looks like you're breaking 270 for sure. Great job.

200 questions a day in the last week could be doable I guess. I'm currently reading First Aid for the first time. I'm also reading MTB 3 for the first time while revising MTB 2 alongside and adding relevant notes into it. Will start UWorld this weekend, doing one relevant block of questions after every 2-3 topics (i.e. every 4-5 days). Once I'm done with the books (last week of June) I'll start doing 3 blocks of UWorld every day, that should allow me to finish the bank in a little over 2 weeks. Looks like I need to break 80% on it at least.

 

[jman131]

Can someone comment on FA for step 2 CK and their step 2 experiences?

 

[Cecilia Imelda]

.

 

[norealname]

Congratulations on the great score! SDN definitely messes with your head, I still can't get over feeling bad about my step 1 score. It wasn't CDI with that score though, it was norealname.



Wow, just wow. Congratulations! What specialty are you applying to?

.

Emergency medicine is very high on my list. I am somewhat realistic though in that it will be very hard for me to get that residency spot, regardless of my scores. Radiology is second on my list. And yes, I know, Rads and EM have nothing to do with each other

 

[CDI]

Emergency medicine is very high on my list. I am somewhat realistic though in that it will be very hard for me to get that residency spot, regardless of my scores. Radiology is second on my list. And yes, I know, Rads and EM have nothing to do with each other

You're not seroius, are you?

With a 266/280, it's going back to the 1960/70s with you during interview season, when PDs used to pick up "FMGs" at the airport curb in a limo.

 

[NewYorkDoctors]

IMO, people who get ridiculously high scores are smart and do work hard, but a huge component of luck is involved as well.

Some questions contain material that is NOT in uworld, first aid, step up.

To have studied to cover on the exam would have required studying with a tremendously high rate of diminishing returns with various other qbanks, scouring forums and asking upperclassmen for difficult questions they recalled, reading actual textbooks and journals in addition...

The luck aspect comes from seeing a question with terms never heard before... Applying logic and reasoning to eliminate some answers, and then getting lucky

 

[CDI]

Can anyone comment on how the "gimmes" work on CK?

For instance in Step 1 - we know that around 40-50% of the exam is direct recall "auto-click and move on" type questions where the facts are laid out in FA directly. Nailing all those gets you in that 210-220 vicinity (possibly more).

Is there a straight forward way to get to that score range on CK? Is it your Step 1 knowledge which is instead considered the gimmes on CK?

I have a feeling thats why people tend to think coming out of the exam they have done worse on Step 2, because theres less gimmes, however, the curve seems to better overall.

 

[nVictus]

for my CK, the gimmies were the vignettes that were 5-6 lines long, no labs or images and asks you a direct question.

none-gimmies were 10 lines long, with labs and/or images and asks you the best answer.

there were more none-gimmies than gimmies.

 

[Phloston]

I am a Caribbean-IMG. I did my Step 1 in 2011, and my score then was 266.



Real score: 280

Emergency medicine is very high on my list. I am somewhat realistic though in that it will be very hard for me to get that residency spot, regardless of my scores. Radiology is second on my list. And yes, I know, Rads and EM have nothing to do with each other

I just swore aloud when I saw your post, and I'm in a silent study room so everyone turned to look at me. Hey, I have an idea, let's just casually get 280+ on 2CK. Totally simple!

With a 266/280, you're going to get accepted everywhere. That's a fact. End of story. Done deal. If you don't get in somewhere, it would only be because you totally flaked your interview, which even still, would probably be a good thing because the interviewer would just assume you're too cognitive to relate to.

Congrats (and I love that you give us IMGs a good rep with this one).

 

[Cecilia Imelda]

.

 

[mvenus929]

I just got my score back today.

My score jumped nearly 40 points from Step 1 to Step 2 (Step 1 was low average), and I couldn't be happier. I was hoping and praying for a 15ish point jump to put me in the average range again.

I used UWorld religiously with my average somewhere around 68%, and Step Up to Step 2 casually. I wasn't a huge fan of Step Up, but it did cover some of the basics I had forgotten.

FWIW, I took the exam after doing my PICU Sub-I and Peds ID for a month, which definitely helped with my antibiotic usage. I took two weeks to study for it, but studied casually during Peds ID (like 1-2 hours per day). During the two weeks I studied like 4 hours per day for the first week, then up to 6 hours in the week leading up to the test. I also listened to the Emma Holliday Ramahi lectures for Surgery and Medicine the day before my exam to hit the highest yield stuff one more time.

 

[CDI]

I just got my score back today.

My score jumped nearly 50 points from Step 1 to Step 2 (Step 1 was low average), and I couldn't be happier. I was hoping and praying for a 15ish point jump to put me in the average range again.

I used UWorld religiously with my average somewhere around 68%, and Step Up to Step 2 casually. I wasn't a huge fan of Step Up, but it did cover some of the basics I had forgotten.

FWIW, I took the exam after doing my PICU Sub-I and Peds ID for a month, which definitely helped with my antibiotic usage. I took two weeks to study for it, but studied casually during Peds ID (like 1-2 hours per day). During the two weeks I studied like 4 hours per day for the first week, then up to 6 hours in the week leading up to the test. I also listened to the Emma Holliday Ramahi lectures for Surgery and Medicine the day before my exam to hit the highest yield stuff one more time.

Thats awesome. Congrats!

How did you do on your NBMEs? Did they help at all? I think I got a similar Step 1 score as you, and am looking for the same improvement.

 

[mvenus929]

Thats awesome. Congrats!

How did you do on your NBMEs? Did they help at all? I think I got a similar Step 1 score as you, and am looking for the same improvement.

I scored in the 80s on my shelves, if that's what you mean. I'm never sure what the grade report we get means (because they just give the number), but the vast majority of the time, they brought my grade down. I also took the exam at a point where I was pretty much not caring anymore (most of my classmates took the exam 2 months ago, so I definitely felt odd studying in the library), so I wasn't stressing over the questions that I didn't know the answers to right away, and I think that might've been a good strategy for me.

I didn't take any NBME practice exams. One of my friends said that UWorld practice exam was really representative of the actual exam--he got within like 5 points of the score he got on that.

 

[drk]

So whats the best order to do the NBME's? I've been studying for Step 2 for about a month now and I want to take an NBME to see how I have been doing and see where my weaknesses are. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[nVictus]

I just got my score back today.

My score jumped nearly 40 points from Step 1 to Step 2 (Step 1 was low average), and I couldn't be happier. I was hoping and praying for a 15ish point jump to put me in the average range again.

I used UWorld religiously with my average somewhere around 68%, and Step Up to Step 2 casually. I wasn't a huge fan of Step Up, but it did cover some of the basics I had forgotten.

FWIW, I took the exam after doing my PICU Sub-I and Peds ID for a month, which definitely helped with my antibiotic usage. I took two weeks to study for it, but studied casually during Peds ID (like 1-2 hours per day). During the two weeks I studied like 4 hours per day for the first week, then up to 6 hours in the week leading up to the test. I also listened to the Emma Holliday Ramahi lectures for Surgery and Medicine the day before my exam to hit the highest yield stuff one more time.

howd ya feel coming out the test?

 

[mvenus929]

howd ya feel coming out the test?

Better than I did coming out of Step 1 (which isn't saying much, because I felt horrible coming out of Step 1). In a daze. I was also running on about 4 hours of sleep, so probably just a bit giddy. Relieved that I was finished.

As I said before, I had much more of a carefree attitude going in, so I wasn't stressing about the questions I didn't know. I just picked an answer and moved on To the point where I couldn't recall any of the questions 2 hours later... not topics or anything.

 

[naseeha]

I got my result today and I passed. The materials I used were kaplan notes with videos, all sections of MTB 2 and the non-IM sections of MTB 3. I also used kalplan qbank and UW.
I first started off with kaplan notes and videos. After each section I would do the corresponding questions in kaplan qbank. I would annotate notes into MTB 2 and 3 from kaplan qbank. After I completed kaplan qbank, I read both MTBs from cover to cover. Then I took NBME 2. I then started UW and started reading both MTBs simultaneously. After finishing MTB cover to cover again, I took NBME 4. After that I stopped reading and focused on completing UW. After finishing UW I again read MTB cover to cover. I then read the IM section from MTB 2 before my exam date. I bought UWSA but didn't have time to do it since I gave more emphasis on reading.

Kaplan qbank: 63%.
UW: 73%. Timed, tutor.
NBME 2 3/26/13: 232
NBME 4 4/17/13: 239
UWSA: didn't have time
Step 2 on 5/22/13: 248

I had 8 blocks with questions ranging from 43-45 Qs. I would mark between 10-15 questions per block. If I wasn't 80-100% sure, I would mark. The questions were not as lengthy as people were saying. To me, they seemed similar to UW question lengths. I finished one run through each block with about 15 mins left then I would go back and visit my marked questions.
Unfortunately, I found this exam harder than UW. I wasn't expecting this and I didn't feel good coming out of the exam. I also felt awful during NBME 4 (more during the real exam because it actually counted) and thought I was gonna fail and not do as well as nbme 2. There were about 5 questions per block that I could only narrow down to 2 or 3 choices, so you have to go with your gut. However, the materials I used gave me the knowledge and you have to be able to apply it during the exam. You may feel awful coming out the exam (I felt great coming out of step 1, but scored about 10 points less than this ck exam), but have confidence in your prep since it won't lie. That's all I can think of. Ask away.

 

[Thebestofus]

I just swore aloud when I saw your post, and I'm in a silent study room so everyone turned to look at me. Hey, I have an idea, let's just casually get 280+ on 2CK. Totally simple!

With a 266/280, you're going to get accepted everywhere. That's a fact. End of story. Done deal. If you don't get in somewhere, it would only be because you totally flaked your interview, which even still, would probably be a good thing because the interviewer would just assume you're too cognitive to relate to.

Congrats (and I love that you give us IMGs a good rep with this one).

I know someone personally with a 268/282 IMG who was top of her class in everything and a great interviewer and very pretty too....she applied to 80 rads programs and got 7 interviews...no one ranked her.

The fact of the matter is, as an IMG we are very much so at a disadvantage and like someone else said...a little bit of luck on your side is needed.

 

[CDI]

I know someone personally with a 268/282 IMG who was top of her class in everything and a great interviewer and very pretty too....she applied to 80 rads programs and got 7 interviews...no one ranked her.

The fact of the matter is, as an IMG we are very much so at a disadvantage and like someone else said...a little bit of luck on your side is needed.

= connections

 

[happyfeet123]

so what would people suggest from these 3:

First Aid Step 2 CK +UWORLD

or

MTB 2 IM, MTB 3 for everything else, +UWORLD

or

Step up to Step 2 +UWORLD

Im running low on time myself. I'm thinking about just cranking out as much of the MTB I can within a week (~100 pgs a day) and then go nuts on Uworld as that seems to be the census as the "gold standard" item.

With MTB, as I read I feel like I am reminded of more UWorld/shelf questions. Anyone else get this feeling? One can then argue why bother even using it, just use UWorld thoroughly...any opinions?

 

[kaleerkalut]

I got my result today and I passed. The materials I used were kaplan notes with videos, all sections of MTB 2 and the non-IM sections of MTB 3. I also used kalplan qbank and UW.
I first started off with kaplan notes and videos. After each section I would do the corresponding questions in kaplan qbank. I would annotate notes into MTB 2 and 3 from kaplan qbank. After I completed kaplan qbank, I read both MTBs from cover to cover. Then I took NBME 2. I then started UW and started reading both MTBs simultaneously. After finishing MTB cover to cover again, I took NBME 4. After that I stopped reading and focused on completing UW. After finishing UW I again read MTB cover to cover. I then read the IM section from MTB 2 before my exam date. I bought UWSA but didn't have time to do it since I gave more emphasis on reading.

Kaplan qbank: 63%.
UW: 73%. Timed, tutor.
NBME 2 3/26/13: 232
NBME 4 4/17/13: 239
UWSA: didn't have time
Step 2 on 5/22/13: 248

I had 8 blocks with questions ranging from 43-45 Qs. I would mark between 10-15 questions per block. If I wasn't 80-100% sure, I would mark. The questions were not as lengthy as people were saying. To me, they seemed similar to UW question lengths. I finished one run through each block with about 15 mins left then I would go back and visit my marked questions.
Unfortunately, I found this exam harder than UW. I wasn't expecting this and I didn't feel good coming out of the exam. I also felt awful during NBME 4 (more during the real exam because it actually counted) and thought I was gonna fail and not do as well as nbme 2. There were about 5 questions per block that I could only narrow down to 2 or 3 choices, so you have to go with your gut. However, the materials I used gave me the knowledge and you have to be able to apply it during the exam. You may feel awful coming out the exam (I felt great coming out of step 1, but scored about 10 points less than this ck exam), but have confidence in your prep since it won't lie. That's all I can think of. Ask away.

Which practice test did you feel was most like the real test? Congrats on great score.

 

[naseeha]

Which practice test did you feel was most like the real test? Congrats on great score.

Thanks. I would say nbme 4 since I wasn't sure how it was going (like I wasn't sure about the real exam).

 

[PagingDrP]

UWorld: 71% (last 500-600 questions)
UWSA: 245
NBME Free 136: 82%
Real Deal: 249

I felt pretty bad coming out of the test, kept thinking of questions I got wrong, but in the end did the same as my practice scores would have predicted. No matter how you feel after, you'll probably end up scoring close to what the practices predict. Just try to forget about it until you get your score in 3-4 weeks.

Like others have said, the test is about clinical reasoning, applying what you know and being able to make educated guesses. The stems are usually long (with lots of info of varying utility) and vague, much as clinical situations are in real life. Reminded me of shelf exams, but def easier than those overall. There's usually 2-3 good answers representing the top differential diagnoses or logical potential next steps in management, but 1 "best" answer. At least 50-60% of the test is very easy and straightforward "gimmes", unfortunately you may have to spend 2-3 minutes sifting through a long stem to figure out it's actually asking something really easy. Stamina is a big part of it as well - take short breaks frequently and at least one longer break to eat lunch. The Free NBME 136 drug ads/abstracts are actually good practice for the real thing. I thought these were hard and time-consuming on the real test.

Good luck all!

 

[jman131]

any FA Step 2 CK reviews?

 

[Phloston]

I know someone personally with a 268/282 IMG who was top of her class in everything and a great interviewer and very pretty too....she applied to 80 rads programs and got 7 interviews...no one ranked her.

The fact of the matter is, as an IMG we are very much so at a disadvantage and like someone else said...a little bit of luck on your side is needed.

That has nothing to do with being an IMG. To not get ranked with those stats requires something critically wrong (e.g. mediocre LoRs, lack of US clerkship experience [or even for some programs, lack of research]).

I just looked at the 2011 match results. For IMGs only:

For diagnostic radiology: there were 7 applicants that had applied with >260 Step1. 6/7 matched. There were 12 applicants with >260 Step2. 10/12 matched. The latter means that there were some IMGs with <260 Step1 but >260 Step2 who had also matched.

For radiation oncology: there was only one applicant with >260 Step1, and he or she matched. There were two applicants with >260 Step2. Both matched. This means one applicant with <260 Step1 matched (assuming the person who got >260 on Step1 also got >260 on Step2).

So I don't know where you get your stats, but the odds are in our favor if we do well on the Steps. I recognize that you're not saying she didn't match; she probably did. But if she had ranked 80 programs and got 7 interviews, that likely means she had attended seven interviews or had literally applied to schools with zero history of interviewing IMGs. Any school with a history of interviewing IMGs would have interviewed her.

 

[CDI]

So I don't know where you get your stats, but the odds are in our favor if we do well on the Steps. I recognize that you're not saying she didn't match; she probably did. But if she had ranked 80 programs and got 7 interviews, that likely means she had attended seven interviews or had literally applied to schools with zero history of interviewing IMGs. Any school with a history of interviewing IMGs would have interviewed her.

This is the usual occurrence. It's actually the problem faced by extremely high IMG scorers. They apply to a lot of reach programs once they see their high scores which are competitive for the interview alone. When it comes time for the actual interview and rank orders - the AMGs (with identical stats but a better resume overall) have the advantage. There's enough AMGs scoring high now to snag all those spots.

Example: The highest scorer in the history of our school matched but fell to her 10th (or 11th) ranked program, a low-tier community hospital. Several others who scored 20-40 points lower than her were matched at their #1 ranked choices, or even pre-matched, and a few got into university programs.

 

[jman131]

FA vs SUS2. Pick one and why?

Ruled out MTB based on lack of info. (Idk how people are comfortable using this source when it seems to be skipping out on topics as a whole)

 

[chillax9]

UWorld: 71% (last 500-600 questions)
UWSA: 245
NBME Free 136: 82%
Real Deal: 249

I felt pretty bad coming out of the test, kept thinking of questions I got wrong, but in the end did the same as my practice scores would have predicted. No matter how you feel after, you'll probably end up scoring close to what the practices predict. Just try to forget about it until you get your score in 3-4 weeks.

Like others have said, the test is about clinical reasoning, applying what you know and being able to make educated guesses. The stems are usually long (with lots of info of varying utility) and vague, much as clinical situations are in real life. Reminded me of shelf exams, but def easier than those overall. There's usually 2-3 good answers representing the top differential diagnoses or logical potential next steps in management, but 1 "best" answer. At least 50-60% of the test is very easy and straightforward "gimmes", unfortunately you may have to spend 2-3 minutes sifting through a long stem to figure out it's actually asking something really easy. Stamina is a big part of it as well - take short breaks frequently and at least one longer break to eat lunch. The Free NBME 136 drug ads/abstracts are actually good practice for the real thing. I thought these were hard and time-consuming on the real test.

Good luck all!

Can you post a link to the free ad 136 questions ?

 

[drk]

FA vs SUS2. Pick one and why?

Ruled out MTB based on lack of info. (Idk how people are comfortable using this source when it seems to be skipping out on topics as a whole)

No source is complete. Whether that is FA/SUS2/MTB. The advantage of MTB is that it is written in the style of the exam. Best Initial test, most accurate next, most likely diagnosis etc. Also, from what I have read/what I am doing my self, I am annotating UWORLD into my MTB by section which should fill in all the gaps. I've found it fairly effective so far. Book has plenty of margin room to this effectively and cleanly.

 

[nikmad]

That has nothing to do with being an IMG. To not get ranked with those stats requires something critically wrong (e.g. mediocre LoRs, lack of US clerkship experience [or even for some programs, lack of research]).

I just looked at the 2011 match results. For IMGs only:

For diagnostic radiology: there were 7 applicants that had applied with >260 Step1. 6/7 matched. There were 12 applicants with >260 Step2. 10/12 matched. The latter means that there were some IMGs with <260 Step1 but >260 Step2 who had also matched.

For radiation oncology: there was only one applicant with >260 Step1, and he or she matched. There were two applicants with >260 Step2. Both matched. This means one applicant with <260 Step1 matched (assuming the person who got >260 on Step1 also got >260 on Step2).

So I don't know where you get your stats, but the odds are in our favor if we do well on the Steps. I recognize that you're not saying she didn't match; she probably did. But if she had ranked 80 programs and got 7 interviews, that likely means she had attended seven interviews or had literally applied to schools with zero history of interviewing IMGs. Any school with a history of interviewing IMGs would have interviewed her.

Those are really interesting stats. Are they straight from the nrmp data section. I coudnt find a file there with this info.

 

[cbcb00]

(accidental post. Please ignore.)

 

[evilbooyaa]

Can you post a link to the free ad 136 questions ?

http://www.usmle.org/practice-materials/index.html

Step 2 CK - Tutorial and Practice Test Items

 

[nikmad]

Those are really interesting stats. Are they straight from the nrmp data section. I coudnt find a file there with this info.

😳 Never mind. Found it.

http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf

 

[Phloston]

This is the usual occurrence. It's actually the problem faced by extremely high IMG scorers. They apply to a lot of reach programs once they see their high scores which are competitive for the interview alone. When it comes time for the actual interview and rank orders - the AMGs (with identical stats but a better resume overall) have the advantage. There's enough AMGs scoring high now to snag all those spots.

Example: The highest scorer in the history of our school matched but fell to her 10th (or 11th) ranked program, a low-tier community hospital. Several others who scored 20-40 points lower than her were matched at their #1 ranked choices, or even pre-matched, and a few got into university programs.

I just checked the current residents page at Harvard for gen surg, and they've got IMGs from Pakistan, Venezuela and Germany right now.

I'd say the right scores would get any IMG the interview (insofar as the school has a history of interviewing IMGs). Then you've just got to sell your research / talk your way in.

 

[CDI]

I just checked the current residents page at Harvard for gen surg, and they've got IMGs from Pakistan, Venezuela and Germany right now.

I'd say the right scores would get any IMG the interview (insofar as the school has a history of interviewing IMGs). Then you've just got to sell your research / talk your way in.

Many of these IMGs are trained and very accomplished in their own countries or contribute years in an affiliated lab before they finally get into residency. As a result they may not even require high scores because the recommendations are so strong internally.

For everyone else, problem is there are just a lot of IMGs out there applying to these same IMG friendly programs, but AMGs with lower scores apply to these as well. I just don't think they can even interview them all - and AMGs generally get way more interviews than even the highest scoring IMGs.

I wish we had actual "IMG" stats rather than Independent Applicant stats which may even include AMGs who are taking a year off for research.

Side note: I know of a good university IM program that interviewed an IMG with low scores just because they randomly selected the app out of the applicant pile. Scores didn't stand a chance though. Someone who scored higher probably got burned as a result. Sometimes its just that lame a process. The PD admitted that they had so many apps they didn't know what else to do.

 

[futuredoctor10]

For anyone combing MTB 2 and 3: I know the recommendation is MTB 2 for IM and MTB 3 for "other subjects."

My question is regarding Neuro, Derm, Ophtho, Emergency Medicine topics: did you use MTB2 or MTB3?

 

[blossompp3]

Just got my scores yesterday and thought I'd share since this thread was super helpful to me as I was preparing. I have a really hard time focusing on reading a textbook for long periods of time so I focused mostly on UW and supplemented that with uptodate and other books I had laying around for topics I felt especially weak on.

UWorld - did about 70% of the questions during 3rd year then reset during dedicated study time (about 3 weeks). Ended up with 63% correct during my first pass (random, tutor) then went back through my missed questions.

NBME form 3 (3 weeks out, baseline) - 189
NBME form 4 (9 days out) - 214
NBME form 2 (4 days out) - 221

Actual CK: 238

Definitely not in the "typical" SDN range, but my Step 1 score was in the low 200s so I was hoping for a solid improvement and I'm pretty satisfied.

 

[cbcb00]

For anyone combing MTB 2 and 3: I know the recommendation is MTB 2 for IM and MTB 3 for "other subjects."

My question is regarding Neuro, Derm, Ophtho, Emergency Medicine topics: did you use MTB2 or MTB3?

For neuro, I'd rec combining the two. MTB 2 plus flipping through the first aid step 1 pages on it is enough for derm (I was getting 80% on UW with that alone.) Haven't studied optho or EM yet, and would love to hear what others have to say about them.

 

[cbcb00]

Definitely not in the "typical" SDN range, but my Step 1 score was in the low 200s so I was hoping for a solid improvement and I'm pretty satisfied.

Congrats on the improvement!! 🙂 I have the same issue when it comes to reading (can't focus on books for more than a few minutes) and am doing the same with UW currently.

 

[Transposony]

I agree. Use FA for these subjects. Should not spend/take too much time since there aren't many questions on the test from these topics but do look up pictures ( fundoscopic, derma etc).
Neuro should be covered from your step 1 knowledge.

 

[gulmohr]

Just got my score yesterday. Studied for a total of 3 months, out of which 1.5 months were hardcore study. Did MTB 2+3 a couple of times. Didn't do Kaplan or FA.

First pass UW - 71%
Second pass was only incorrect/marked - about 85%
NBME 4 (a month out) - 252
UWSA (3 wks out) - 254
NBME 2 (10 days out) - 244
NBME 6 (5 days out) - 252
Real deal - 256

 

[stronghold]

That has nothing to do with being an IMG. To not get ranked with those stats requires something critically wrong (e.g. mediocre LoRs, lack of US clerkship experience [or even for some programs, lack of research]).

I just looked at the 2011 match results. For IMGs only:

For diagnostic radiology: there were 7 applicants that had applied with >260 Step1. 6/7 matched. There were 12 applicants with >260 Step2. 10/12 matched. The latter means that there were some IMGs with <260 Step1 but >260 Step2 who had also matched.

For radiation oncology: there was only one applicant with >260 Step1, and he or she matched. There were two applicants with >260 Step2. Both matched. This means one applicant with <260 Step1 matched (assuming the person who got >260 on Step1 also got >260 on Step2).

So I don't know where you get your stats, but the odds are in our favor if we do well on the Steps. I recognize that you're not saying she didn't match; she probably did. But if she had ranked 80 programs and got 7 interviews, that likely means she had attended seven interviews or had literally applied to schools with zero history of interviewing IMGs. Any school with a history of interviewing IMGs would have interviewed her.

Thanks for stats. Are you sure those are for IMGs? Charting outcomes file shows independent applicants only. Also, the USMLE scores there are average, not cutoff. Probably you there is another source?!

 

[EaglesAllDay]

Just got my scores yesterday and thought I'd share since this thread was super helpful to me as I was preparing. I have a really hard time focusing on reading a textbook for long periods of time so I focused mostly on UW and supplemented that with uptodate and other books I had laying around for topics I felt especially weak on.

UWorld - did about 70% of the questions during 3rd year then reset during dedicated study time (about 3 weeks). Ended up with 63% correct during my first pass (random, tutor) then went back through my missed questions.

NBME form 3 (3 weeks out, baseline) - 189
NBME form 4 (9 days out) - 214
NBME form 2 (4 days out) - 221

Actual CK: 238

Definitely not in the "typical" SDN range, but my Step 1 score was in the low 200s so I was hoping for a solid improvement and I'm pretty satisfied.

Damn, great job...If you don't mind, could you tell me what you did differently from step 1?

Cause I need a jump like that also for me to get competitive (scored 210 on step 1)

thanks

 

[gochiefs]

Just took the exam yesterday. When should I expect my score back? Also, am I the only one who feels like they did worse on this one than on step 1? I got 240s on step one and I will be happy just to match that on this one. I thought the exam was very difficult.

 

[Houmd]

Just got my scores yesterday and thought I'd share since this thread was super helpful to me as I was preparing. I have a really hard time focusing on reading a textbook for long periods of time so I focused mostly on UW and supplemented that with uptodate and other books I had laying around for topics I felt especially weak on.

UWorld - did about 70% of the questions during 3rd year then reset during dedicated study time (about 3 weeks). Ended up with 63% correct during my first pass (random, tutor) then went back through my missed questions.

NBME form 3 (3 weeks out, baseline) - 189
NBME form 4 (9 days out) - 214
NBME form 2 (4 days out) - 221

Actual CK: 238

Definitely not in the "typical" SDN range, but my Step 1 score was in the low 200s so I was hoping for a solid improvement and I'm pretty satisfied.

great improvement 👍

 

[blossompp3]

Damn, great job...If you don't mind, could you tell me what you did differently from step 1?

Cause I need a jump like that also for me to get competitive (scored 210 on step 1)

thanks

Thanks. I think the biggest difference from Step 1 was finally getting a handle on how I study and playing to that, rather than doing what everyone else thinks is "the best". I can't do textbooks, so I didn't, even though that seems to really work for other people.

Also, like many others have said, going through UW (twice if possible) and focusing on the explanations, even for questions you got right.

 

[blossompp3]

Just took the exam yesterday. When should I expect my score back? Also, am I the only one who feels like they did worse on this one than on step 1? I got 240s on step one and I will be happy just to match that on this one. I thought the exam was very difficult.

It usually takes three Wednesdays, so if you took it yesterday you should get your score on July 10

 

[EaglesAllDay]

Thanks. I think the biggest difference from Step 1 was finally getting a handle on how I study and playing to that, rather than doing what everyone else thinks is "the best". I can't do textbooks, so I didn't, even though that seems to really work for other people.

Also, like many others have said, going through UW (twice if possible) and focusing on the explanations, even for questions you got right.

For sure...thanks and congrats again!

 

[gravitywave]

Just took the exam yesterday. When should I expect my score back? Also, am I the only one who feels like they did worse on this one than on step 1? I got 240s on step one and I will be happy just to match that on this one. I thought the exam was very difficult.

For any given Sat-Fri period, count three Wednesdays from the Wed of that period, that's your expected score report day. eg June 21 test day should get score July 10, June 22nd test day should get it July 17.

 

[SweetD2014]

Has anyone used nbme form 6, and if so, how did it compare to form 4 and/or the real deal? Seems to be very new, as I haven't read anyone talking about it.

Thanks for everyone's posts! This is very helpful!