What resources should one use for CK in your opinion?

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MedSchoolPhenom

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Seems like for Step 1, everyone has an opinion for a resource to use, but for Step 2, theres not enough.

All I see is either Step Up or First Aid, and UWorld. Does anyone else have any opinions???

Thanks!
 
I assume that is "Step up to step 2ck"..

Many are mentioning Master the Boards for thep 2 ck..But they mention using both the step 2ck and the step 3 book for step 2ck..( Im hearing that the step 3 book is better for Surg, OB/Gyn and Peds)..
I was somewhat surprised about this..
 
Seems like for Step 1, everyone has an opinion for a resource to use, but for Step 2, theres not enough.

All I see is either Step Up or First Aid, and UWorld. Does anyone else have any opinions???

Thanks!

This is posted on about 5 of the threads on teh first page.

Per my usual

First Aid Step 2 or Step Up Step 2

and

Uworld

Gets you a 230. Average. This has now worked for 15 students that I've tutored. Average to below average medical students at a US allopathic school getting average scores on the Step 2. The way you make this better is by adding something. People have also suggested master the boards by Conrad Fischer. If you are going to use Kaplan, I suggest just using Kaplan's Step 2 materials.

By "add something" I mean add Usmle Secrets or the other book you didnt do in the "or" (if you did FA, also do SU; if you did SU, also do FA). If you have time and opportunity I strongly recommend Kaplan Step 2 online or live lectures. It takes about 6-8 weeks, but is there for augmentation.

When I say "augmentation" what I mean is this. First Aid, Step Up, Secrets, etc. give you the content you are almost guarenteed to see on the exam. It is the content that is worth learning all the time. What they all leave out is the peripheral content. To push above a 240 you have to learn 10 things you wont use for every 1 you will. That's alot of effort. You have to know all the "core" material found in the review books, then a ****ton of more details. Since the questions are random, and all material is fair game, you have to know far more than you will need to get a higher score. The way you get that is with a program designed to give you those details.

I personally got a 258 (246 step 1) doing Uworld, First Aid, and Kaplan's Lecture series. I am not a good multiple choice test taker (I fall for traps and distractors like no one's business) but I consider myself a pretty solid success. Totally worth the effort of the Kaplan Course. I am was an allopathic AMG.
 
Seems like for Step 1, everyone has an opinion for a resource to use, but for Step 2, theres not enough.

All I see is either Step Up or First Aid, and UWorld. Does anyone else have any opinions???

Thanks!

Take a look at the huge Step 2/UWorld thread - it has tons of study schedules and strategies along with subsequent CK scores.

I'd recommend studying hard during the M3 year, doing well on the shelf exams, and hitting UWorld hard during your set CK study time. I basically only did UWorld when I studied for CK and got a 267.

Good luck!
 
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