My Step 2 CK Experience
About me:
US med student, done with clerkships, just barely passed shelf exams (65s), not a good test taker.
Scores:
Step 1 - 199
Avg. UW 1st pass: 59%, mixed, unused, untimed.
Avg. UW 2nd pass: 58%, all, incorrect, timed.
NBME 2:___207___01/07/2010
NBME 3:___191___01/18/2010
NBME 4:___196___03/20/2010
NBME 2:___210___04/26/2010
Step 2 CK: 4/28/2010(test day), 5/19/2010(report):
209!!!!
How I studied:
Studying for the Step 2 CK exam off and on for the past couple of months. Officially started around 3/29, really hitting it hard. For me hard is spending an average of 3 hours minimum doing questions from uworld and reviewing my wrong answers. I have a really short attention span for standardized tests, perhaps that's why I'm not an expert. On average I would try to do at least 50-100 Qs/day. On weekends, I would do very little studying. Have a family, so I would reserve time for them. With trying to balance my time with studying and family, some days became difficult.
My resources:
(1)
UWORD!!! - its a must, at least for me it was. If you're a gunner, perhaps not.
(2)
Step 2 CK Secrets - I cut the binding, put a spiral bound. Made notes in this book from questions I would get wrong in uworld. Read through the chapters I was weak in. But I would recommend reading through the whole thing if you have time. 2x would be excellent.
(3)
First Aid for Step 2 CK - made notes every now and then, but not that much. Only when I didn't have room in secrets to do so.
Exam Day
Slept very little the night before. The first couple of blocks was okay. About the same level of difficulty as the NBMEs. UW qs slightly more challenging. Length of qs were looooong. Just had to weed out through the mess, pick an answer and move on. Towards the end of the day, I was having a really hard time. Became physically and mentally exhausted. I was on my last block, and found out that it wasn't my last block after-all. I had 1 more!!!! And no more break time!!! It really took all I had to finish the exam. During my breaks I would, drink, eat, or review my secrets book. I was just kicking myself after the first couple of blocks when I knew which qs I had missed. Might have been bad to do that. I was second guessing myself towards the end of the day. The distribution seemed a little skewed. Had the medicine and surgery questions, but more OB/GYN than I liked. Surprisingly very little pediatrics. It was a weak point of mine and I really studied hard for it the last couple of days. I was ready for them to ask me a rash q. To my disappointment, nothing! Overall, very doable exam to say the least!!
My advice:
(1) Do uworld!! I cannot stress it enough! If you are not a great test taker like myself, you need to do question after question.
(2) Read and re-read step 2 ck secrets. If I had to do it over, I would read the entire book. Go to sleep reading it, take it on the bus, while waiting in line at the grocery store. I mean this book is awesome! I liked it better overall than first aid because for me it was an easier read. I wouldn't get bored with reading secrets like I did with FA.
(3) Spend your time wisely!! I really could have taken the test back in Jan. I was hoping to improve into the 230s or 40s, but unless you do something drastically different in your studying technique then your score will not vary accordingly. The different NBMEs attested to that. You think you mastered a certain subject only to find out the next NBME you are weak in it. For the most part they were pretty consistent. But as I was studying, I found that the more knowledge I gained, questions I normally would have got right, I reasoned myself out of. Its really a balancing act. Gaining new information and keeping the old information there.
(4) As soon as your ready, TAKE THE TEST!! Don't waste your time. I really agree with most posters that 2 weeks is all you should need, if you really put in the time during those weeks. You will do well. I just had my time spread out, so it took me a little longer.
(5) Don't forget to take an NBME, before you sit for Step 2 CK. As you can see, they are pretty accurate.
Final Thoughts
Good Luck everyone!!! The advice I have got on this forum has been invaluable. Thank you everyone for your assistance and support. I hope by posting this information, it will help another student on their trek to becoming a future physician!!
God Bless,
overfiend06