My Step 2 CK Experience: 246
Total preparation time: Almost 3 months
Started my prep 20nd Dec and gave my exam on 9th March
I started my prep with Step 2 UW system wise and MTB 2. I use to read a system
from MTB 2 really quick and use to do Questions from Step 2 UW. At the end of the
day MTB 2 didn’t help a lot I made notes from Step 2 UW and it took me about 4
weeks to complete my first cycle of Step 2 UW. I used Step 2 UW as a learning tool
and I would say it was my primary book because I made quite a few notes out of that
Q bank.
Then in next 7 days I went through my UW notes try to get the concepts and
memorize stuff.
Then I did random Question Step 2 UW again and surprisingly it took me only 14
days to complete my second cycle of Step 2 UW.
I gave my first NBME right after I completed my Step 2 UW twice, I gave NBME 6 got
260 online. It was an easy NBME but I thought it was a good start and a right choice
of NBME to give as it build my confidence
After giving NBME and doing Step 2 UW twice I identify my weak areas and decided
to work on that
I bought Step 3 UW and went through the Qs of my weak subjects there were about
1500 Qs and I did about half of the Q bank and one thing I will recommend when
doing step 3 UW just be smart try to annotate only relevant stuff on your notes only
make notes of those Qs that you think is really relevant to your CK and trust me step
3 UW really help me a lot in clearing quite a few concepts that were very vague in
step 2 UW and it strengthen my psych biostats and ethics part too.
While I was doing step 3 UW I was doing CMS questions simultaneously of my weak
subjects I did psych, obs gyne and surgery questions only. Although CMS question
stems are not that good but overall the concepts which they deliver really helps you.
I use to verify the answers by using up to date as we all know CMS answers are bit
out dated and some of them contradicts the current guidelines and that really
helped.
Well after doing this I gave my UWSA form 1 I got 254 and felt confident so I
schedule the date for my exam in next 10 days.
So in last 10 days I stick to my notes which I made out of step 2 UW , step 3 UW and
CMS questions
Gave my UWSA form 2 got 262 5 days before exam
And 2 days before exam I gave NBME 7 and got 248 which was my closest predictor.
EXAM DAY:
I was nervous I live in Lubbock Texas but got my centre in Amarillo it was about 2 hrs drive
in the morning so I couldn’t get enough sleep due to anxiety.
The Exam I thought was a mixture of UWSA form 1 and form 2. Stems were not that lengthy
to be very honest
There were Questions testing step 1 knowledge like pathophysiology, histology and psych.
My exam had a lot of ethics Qs, psych Qs, a lot of gyne obs and surgery I use to search for
IM Questions :P
Overall I thought exam was hard it was not that simple but it was very much doable there
was no timing issue for me although I missed abstract Questions just because I couldn’t get
what they were talking about.
I had 318 Qs in total. In last block I was exhausted made some blunders and after giving my
exam I thought I will get score in early 230s.
The only thing If I could have done more was to read my F.A of step 1 once before starting
for CK preparatiom. I gave my step 1 in august last year so was having bit of issue with
recall.
Also one more advice when you start to hit your desire target score in nbmes/uwsa just feel
confident and schedule your exam you’ll be fine for sure. On exam day it’s all about
confidence.
This is my experience and these are all suggestions for you guys choose what’s suits your
nature and integrate that in your part of study plan and best of luck to everyone. This group
really helped me a lot I made my own study plan choosing what suits me after reading
through all the amazing people who were kind enough to share their experiences.
And If you need any help or I missed any Question feel free to contact I’m always there to
help and respond because I have been through the same journey and I know how it feels
and I hope all of us match in our desire field of residency this coming year and remember
me in your prayers.
Abu Baker Sheikh.
