USMLERx and UW: which for shelf exams and which for Step 2

[PokerDoc]

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I used both RX and UW for step 1.. both had their positives.. I saved UW for step 1 only and used Rx during 2nd year.. should i save UW for step 2 and use Rx for shelf exams just like last year? Or should I just get both now and reuse questions for step 2... im afraid of memorizing questions and not getting much out of them when its time for step 2 if i use one or both now

 

[Lamotrigine]

3rd year is a different beast altogether, I used world for shelfs and for step 2, you end up missing some of the same questions again. Save the qs for the end and read in the beginning for each shelf. gluck

 

[PokerDoc]

one last question.. i got UW today and theres only 150ish surgery questions.. thats def not enough.. what else are people doing for surg?

 

[mumd2011]

As far as questions go, I used Pretest to prep for the surgery shelf exam (and, for my inservice exam). The thing about surgery is that you must know internal medicine to be successful on the shelf exam (or, so I think-and, my shelf score indicated). You will find that there is not a lot of extra time to read a text if your school has a pretty intense surgery clerkship. Some people read NMS Surgery. I just did Pretest questions (and, finished that book) and I had medicine right before so that definitely helped! Good luck!

 

[PokerDoc]

Thanks for pointing that book out to me..my roommate has the 9th edition.. do you think its changed significantly enough that I need to go out and buy the 12th.. or can I just use this?

 

[mumd2011]

I have the newest one so, I am not really sure. I do know with review books that many times the newest editions have been edited more for errors. That is probably your call...I know of some people who used the previous edition but not the 9th edition.

 

[PokerDoc]

my library has it on reserve.. awesome.. thanks for the help!

 

[FranksWildYears]

Hi PokerDoc: Found this thread as am now starting MS3 asking the same questions you did one year ago. How did this preparation work out for you? Am hoping to both prep shelf exams / step 2 by working through UWorld and using PreTest Surgery. Any extra advice is very much appreciated.

 

[go lakers]

I used UW for 3rd year and reset it for step 2 and it worked out well.

For clerkships like surgery that have a low # of questions, I got my hands on other question sources (Kaplan Qbook, Blueprints Q&A step 2, etc.)

 

[PokerDoc]

Hi PokerDoc: Found this thread as am now starting MS3 asking the same questions you did one year ago. How did this preparation work out for you? Am hoping to both prep shelf exams / step 2 by working through UWorld and using PreTest Surgery. Any extra advice is very much appreciated.

well I just took my step 2 today..
You're fine using UW throughout third year and then using it again for boards studying.. I forgot 50% of the questions entirely, and the rest u need to know anyway.

 

[match2011]

well I just took my step 2 today..
You're fine using UW throughout third year and then using it again for boards studying.. I forgot 50% of the questions entirely, and the rest u need to know anyway.

How's feeling of the CK?

 

[PokerDoc]

How's feeling of the CK?

I dunno man, there were several blocks where things flowed well, but I can recall being really frustrated in blocks 3 and 4 for some reason. My exam, on the whole, felt like i was taking the pediatric boards. One peds question after the next, after the next. In block 3 I had maybe 33/44 questions that were peds related, or a minor with an ethical question, or a minor with a psych problem.

It was absurd, I think my last block of the day had only 2 peds questions and i was literally celebrating that.

Overall I'd say my 232 prediction is gonna wind up being pretty accurate, but we'll see.

 

[match2011]

I dunno man, there were several blocks where things flowed well, but I can recall being really frustrated in blocks 3 and 4 for some reason. My exam, on the whole, felt like i was taking the pediatric boards. One peds question after the next, after the next. In block 3 I had maybe 33/44 questions that were peds related, or a minor with an ethical question, or a minor with a psych problem.

It was absurd, I think my last block of the day had only 2 peds questions and i was literally celebrating that.

Overall I'd say my 232 prediction is gonna wind up being pretty accurate, but we'll see.

congrat!