passed step 2 ck- 92

[aleea]

hi,
well that was my last exam.
i studied 3 mnts. well mayb 2.5 cuz had alot of interruptions . i did 2 mnts of usmle world q bank and made notes. read kaplan notes and usmle first aid.
the exam to me was easier than step 1, for step 1 i had to guess much more. they still have few step 1 questions on ck exam, one biochem pathway, was ridiculous.
the timing sucks, not much time to think , one time i had to choose answer with only labs.
i only missed like 2 or 3 questions.
even though i thought it was easier than step 1 , i still did better in step 1 with 95, i was kinda surpried that i did better is step 1.
thats about it.

[Seminole]

You only missed 2 to 3 questions per block and got only a 92? Am so screwed, its over for me then.

[hunteradam07]

Are the stem of the questions as long or longer than UW questions? What was ur average in UW with time and unused? If u dont mind i m asking.

[aleea]

hi,
i didnt miss 2 to 3 questions per block , well maybe 5 questions, but i meant the overall exam, and there were alot of guessing as i said, also some calculations. sometimes i just guessed and chose answers only from labs bcz of time. so i guess alot of my guesses were wrong.
the questions were of length of usmle world, soem longer.
there is not much time to think on the exam, if there was more time for sure i would have done better. in the exam room there was this guy who had a cold or something made me read the like 3 times cuz he was so distracting, so alot of things happen.
also, i dont think i studied enough for the exam like 2.5 mnts. for me was not enough. i did some golgan lectures but i dont think it helped me really.
usmle world helped but no questions like tht on the exam, alot of the exam is about reasoning and trying to choose the right answers from elimination.
tht is just how it is.
just try not to leave any questions undone even if u have to guess last minute from labs or pic or symptoms, just try to put an answer, it may be right.

[hunteradam07]

W a 92 you did great! Congratulations and thanks for the addtional info on the stem of the question. That is one thing that worry me rite now, the length of the questions. Well i hope i can get close to ur score.

[SYRMD]

Hey you guys, I am new in this forum, and I find it very interesting. I am actually finishing my MD at a Med school in the US, not sure, but I get the feeling that there are many IMG's here? Sorry if I am mistaken...any how, why am I here? simple, although I am a US graduate, I am myself an international student in the US, English is my second language, and taking standardized tests is definitely not a strength.

So, I wanted to share my USMLE experience with you guys. I took Step I over a year ago. The med school where I am finishing my MD is supposed to be 'top 5 in the country.' So every body that I talked to would say that they did not study for the test, that the only thing they did was review first aid book for about two weeks and then they took the test. Of course they were not happy with their score b/c it was in the 230's... so I let this ** get to my mind and decided to do exactly the same thing. I studied First Aid for Step One for three weeks, did absolutely no questions, and almost failed the test- I got a 186/75. So, happy not to have failed and discouraged to see how bad I had done, I realized that I would listen to no-one, would get online and hear how others who are similar to me study and decided to use that strategy for step 2.

In step 1, I runned out of time in each block, had no idea what they were asking and came out feeling like I did not deserve to be a doctor.

For Step 2, it was a whole different experience. Once again, I studied from First Aid, but this time, I made notes on the book as I went along each clinical rotation, and studied from FA for my exams in addition to other notes that were given to me during each rotation. Then I subscribed to Kaplan Qbank, did about 75% of their questions in about three weeks along with reviewing all my notes that I had made in First Aid. Then, I decided to test myself and subscribed to UsmleWorld and would do about 150 questions a day, timed, and would go over each question, right or wrong. I finished all the database in about three weeks, then re-did all the ones I had wrong, and repeated about 200 more questions that dealt only with pediatrics b/c that was my weakest area.

I took the exam on December 22, 2008, and I haven't gotten my score yet, I will let you know how I did; however, I felt that I was way better prepared for this time than the first time around. I also did USMLE secrets about a week before the test, and it was helpful.

So, I am not sure if the posts that I read here about people getting 250's and 270's are real, but if they are I truly hope I can be one of those success stories as well, given the great amount of work I put for this test. In total I would say I studied a good two months, with the last month being very intense. I took a month of from rotations to dedicate to the exam. My mother moved in with me during that time and she did everything for me so I could concentrate on the test. I would start about 9 AM and be done about 10 pm with a total of 1 1/2 hours in break. I studied 7 days a week, and asked friends and relatives for all the support.

Except for two blocks in which I had to rush on the last five questions, but still feel that I had a good handle on the questions, and had about five minutes left in each block to check those that I had flagged. I feel that the test takes many questions straight from UsmleWorld and also from Kaplan Qbank- I would say a good 50% of the questions seemed to me as If I had done them before. Possibly those were core questions that you would get regardless, but as simple as they were, it was very helpful to have done them before or at least something very similar to them, because as some had said, you really don't have much time to think about many of your answers on the test.

Pediatrics was my weakness, and I was glad to have reviewed it more than anything else b/c my test had tons of peds in it. First Aid was owesome in that regards! but having seen the material in question format from UW and Qbank made it very easy to remember a lot of those facts and principles.

The rest of the test was pretty general.... had psych, some child psych, OB/Gyn, the usual STD's q's.... Learn your RMSF and Lyme disease inside out... they asked me how to treat advanced Lyme disease.... I learned that one from a Q bank question (Ceftriaxone)...
Also get your foundations in dermatology.... I had about ten q's in derm... most of them from FA.

And then you had the kind of questions that test why you are about to become a doctor.... they give you data, and you have to reason it out and come up with a possible answer. Of course, I will wait for my results before I say more on that (-:

I guess in conclusion.... Study, Study, Study.... don't listen to anybody who tells you the test is easy... it is a doable test, and you can definitely score well, but you need to prepare well for it. I believe that Kaplan Qbank and UWorld were amazing in preparing me with the timing... I would reccommend that you jump into the questions timed, and start disciplining yourself as if each block you take is in the real test. Even if you don't know the answer... take the best guess and then read why you made the mistake. i guarantee u you won't make the same mistake twice.

Well take care, and I'll let you know how I did. If you need some spirit boosting post a note and you'll get the encouragement along with some tips.

Take care-

[shawnm3]

Hey, sounds like you did it the right way this time...Best of luck with your score...the waiting is really a difficult time!

Hey you guys, I am new in this forum, and I find it very interesting. I am actually finishing my MD at a Med school in the US, not sure, but I get the feeling that there are many IMG's here? Sorry if I am mistaken...any how, why am I here? simple, although I am a US graduate, I am myself an international student in the US, English is my second language, and taking standardized tests is definitely not a strength.

So, I wanted to share my USMLE experience with you guys. I took Step I over a year ago. The med school where I am finishing my MD is supposed to be 'top 5 in the country.' So every body that I talked to would say that they did not study for the test, that the only thing they did was review first aid book for about two weeks and then they took the test. Of course they were not happy with their score b/c it was in the 230's... so I let this ** get to my mind and decided to do exactly the same thing. I studied First Aid for Step One for three weeks, did absolutely no questions, and almost failed the test- I got a 186/75. So, happy not to have failed and discouraged to see how bad I had done, I realized that I would listen to no-one, would get online and hear how others who are similar to me study and decided to use that strategy for step 2.

In step 1, I runned out of time in each block, had no idea what they were asking and came out feeling like I did not deserve to be a doctor.

For Step 2, it was a whole different experience. Once again, I studied from First Aid, but this time, I made notes on the book as I went along each clinical rotation, and studied from FA for my exams in addition to other notes that were given to me during each rotation. Then I subscribed to Kaplan Qbank, did about 75% of their questions in about three weeks along with reviewing all my notes that I had made in First Aid. Then, I decided to test myself and subscribed to UsmleWorld and would do about 150 questions a day, timed, and would go over each question, right or wrong. I finished all the database in about three weeks, then re-did all the ones I had wrong, and repeated about 200 more questions that dealt only with pediatrics b/c that was my weakest area.

I took the exam on December 22, 2008, and I haven't gotten my score yet, I will let you know how I did; however, I felt that I was way better prepared for this time than the first time around. I also did USMLE secrets about a week before the test, and it was helpful.

So, I am not sure if the posts that I read here about people getting 250's and 270's are real, but if they are I truly hope I can be one of those success stories as well, given the great amount of work I put for this test. In total I would say I studied a good two months, with the last month being very intense. I took a month of from rotations to dedicate to the exam. My mother moved in with me during that time and she did everything for me so I could concentrate on the test. I would start about 9 AM and be done about 10 pm with a total of 1 1/2 hours in break. I studied 7 days a week, and asked friends and relatives for all the support.

Except for two blocks in which I had to rush on the last five questions, but still feel that I had a good handle on the questions, and had about five minutes left in each block to check those that I had flagged. I feel that the test takes many questions straight from UsmleWorld and also from Kaplan Qbank- I would say a good 50% of the questions seemed to me as If I had done them before. Possibly those were core questions that you would get regardless, but as simple as they were, it was very helpful to have done them before or at least something very similar to them, because as some had said, you really don't have much time to think about many of your answers on the test.

Pediatrics was my weakness, and I was glad to have reviewed it more than anything else b/c my test had tons of peds in it. First Aid was owesome in that regards! but having seen the material in question format from UW and Qbank made it very easy to remember a lot of those facts and principles.

The rest of the test was pretty general.... had psych, some child psych, OB/Gyn, the usual STD's q's.... Learn your RMSF and Lyme disease inside out... they asked me how to treat advanced Lyme disease.... I learned that one from a Q bank question (Ceftriaxone)...
Also get your foundations in dermatology.... I had about ten q's in derm... most of them from FA.

And then you had the kind of questions that test why you are about to become a doctor.... they give you data, and you have to reason it out and come up with a possible answer. Of course, I will wait for my results before I say more on that (-:

I guess in conclusion.... Study, Study, Study.... don't listen to anybody who tells you the test is easy... it is a doable test, and you can definitely score well, but you need to prepare well for it. I believe that Kaplan Qbank and UWorld were amazing in preparing me with the timing... I would reccommend that you jump into the questions timed, and start disciplining yourself as if each block you take is in the real test. Even if you don't know the answer... take the best guess and then read why you made the mistake. i guarantee u you won't make the same mistake twice.

Well take care, and I'll let you know how I did. If you need some spirit boosting post a note and you'll get the encouragement along with some tips.

Take care-

[shawnm3]

Hey, sounds like you did it the right way this time...Best of luck with your score...the waiting is really a difficult time!

Hey you guys, I am new in this forum, and I find it very interesting. I am actually finishing my MD at a Med school in the US, not sure, but I get the feeling that there are many IMG's here? Sorry if I am mistaken...any how, why am I here? simple, although I am a US graduate, I am myself an international student in the US, English is my second language, and taking standardized tests is definitely not a strength.

So, I wanted to share my USMLE experience with you guys. I took Step I over a year ago. The med school where I am finishing my MD is supposed to be 'top 5 in the country.' So every body that I talked to would say that they did not study for the test, that the only thing they did was review first aid book for about two weeks and then they took the test. Of course they were not happy with their score b/c it was in the 230's... so I let this ** get to my mind and decided to do exactly the same thing. I studied First Aid for Step One for three weeks, did absolutely no questions, and almost failed the test- I got a 186/75. So, happy not to have failed and discouraged to see how bad I had done, I realized that I would listen to no-one, would get online and hear how others who are similar to me study and decided to use that strategy for step 2.

In step 1, I runned out of time in each block, had no idea what they were asking and came out feeling like I did not deserve to be a doctor.

For Step 2, it was a whole different experience. Once again, I studied from First Aid, but this time, I made notes on the book as I went along each clinical rotation, and studied from FA for my exams in addition to other notes that were given to me during each rotation. Then I subscribed to Kaplan Qbank, did about 75% of their questions in about three weeks along with reviewing all my notes that I had made in First Aid. Then, I decided to test myself and subscribed to UsmleWorld and would do about 150 questions a day, timed, and would go over each question, right or wrong. I finished all the database in about three weeks, then re-did all the ones I had wrong, and repeated about 200 more questions that dealt only with pediatrics b/c that was my weakest area.

I took the exam on December 22, 2008, and I haven't gotten my score yet, I will let you know how I did; however, I felt that I was way better prepared for this time than the first time around. I also did USMLE secrets about a week before the test, and it was helpful.

So, I am not sure if the posts that I read here about people getting 250's and 270's are real, but if they are I truly hope I can be one of those success stories as well, given the great amount of work I put for this test. In total I would say I studied a good two months, with the last month being very intense. I took a month of from rotations to dedicate to the exam. My mother moved in with me during that time and she did everything for me so I could concentrate on the test. I would start about 9 AM and be done about 10 pm with a total of 1 1/2 hours in break. I studied 7 days a week, and asked friends and relatives for all the support.

Except for two blocks in which I had to rush on the last five questions, but still feel that I had a good handle on the questions, and had about five minutes left in each block to check those that I had flagged. I feel that the test takes many questions straight from UsmleWorld and also from Kaplan Qbank- I would say a good 50% of the questions seemed to me as If I had done them before. Possibly those were core questions that you would get regardless, but as simple as they were, it was very helpful to have done them before or at least something very similar to them, because as some had said, you really don't have much time to think about many of your answers on the test.

Pediatrics was my weakness, and I was glad to have reviewed it more than anything else b/c my test had tons of peds in it. First Aid was owesome in that regards! but having seen the material in question format from UW and Qbank made it very easy to remember a lot of those facts and principles.

The rest of the test was pretty general.... had psych, some child psych, OB/Gyn, the usual STD's q's.... Learn your RMSF and Lyme disease inside out... they asked me how to treat advanced Lyme disease.... I learned that one from a Q bank question (Ceftriaxone)...
Also get your foundations in dermatology.... I had about ten q's in derm... most of them from FA.

And then you had the kind of questions that test why you are about to become a doctor.... they give you data, and you have to reason it out and come up with a possible answer. Of course, I will wait for my results before I say more on that (-:

I guess in conclusion.... Study, Study, Study.... don't listen to anybody who tells you the test is easy... it is a doable test, and you can definitely score well, but you need to prepare well for it. I believe that Kaplan Qbank and UWorld were amazing in preparing me with the timing... I would reccommend that you jump into the questions timed, and start disciplining yourself as if each block you take is in the real test. Even if you don't know the answer... take the best guess and then read why you made the mistake. i guarantee u you won't make the same mistake twice.

Well take care, and I'll let you know how I did. If you need some spirit boosting post a note and you'll get the encouragement along with some tips.

Take care-

[dr.mooda]

Good morning everyone. I am an old IMG currently studying for a doctoral degree in Japan and I am a university staff in my country. I passed step one but with a really bad score (199/ 81%) a year ago. From that time till now I could not start again to do my step 2 ck. I feel disappointed about the previous score and also to practise a speciality and teach it for about 10 years, makes you to feel defficulty particularly with basic sciences. Mostly, this was the reason of low score in step one. I need your advices.