I started reading the Kaplan Lecture Notes in February. I took a whole month to read the notes while doing an observership.
I attended Kaplan Live Lectures in NYC during March and April. I took notes in class and transferred my notes to Master The Boards.
During the following month and a half, I read Master The Boards and started doing Kaplan Qbank.
Then I spent another month and a half with my brother in the United States. I read Master The Boards again and did at least one block of questions per day. At first I would study a few hours per day. Throughout the last month, I would study 8 to 12 hours per day.
Three weeks before my test I did the UWSA. I didn't do any NBMEs. I feel they only discourage you.
UWSA: 230 (3 weeks before the test)
Kaplan Qbank: around 30% complete (mostly 60s)
UWorld Qbank: around 70% complete (mostly 60s and 70s)
Step 1: 216
Step 2 CK: 245
I'm very happy with my score. I know it's not a 250, but it's a big improvement from my Step 1 score.
I started reading the Kaplan Lecture Notes in February. I took a whole month to read the notes while doing an observership.
I attended Kaplan Live Lectures in NYC during March and April. I took notes in class and transferred my notes to Master The Boards.
During the following month and a half, I read Master The Boards and started doing Kaplan Qbank.
Then I spent another month and a half with my brother in the United States. I read Master The Boards again and did at least one block of questions per day. At first I would study a few hours per day. Throughout the last month, I would study 8 to 12 hours per day.
Three weeks before my test I did the UWSA. I didn't do any NBMEs. I feel they only discourage you.
UWSA: 230 (3 weeks before the test)
Kaplan Qbank: around 30% complete (mostly 60s)
UWorld Qbank: around 70% complete (mostly 60s and 70s)
Step 1: 216
Step 2 CK: 245
I'm very happy with my score. I know it's not a 250, but it's a big improvement from my Step 1 score.
They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Kaplan Qbank is more specific and targets many low-yield questions. UWorld Qbank is more exam-like and targets lots of high-yield questions.
While I think Kaplan Qbank isn't necessary, UWorld definitely is. But if you're planning to do more than one Qbank, leave UWorld for last.
I managed to get at least 6 hours of sleep the night before (I slept 2 hours before my Step 1). During the first couple of blocks I panicked and wasn't able to finish the blocks. I missed out on 5 Qs. Then I took a break after which I took a long deep breath and told myself I could do this. When I returned to the centre I was more focused and didn't run out of time again. As the exam progressed, answering Qs became more mechanical. Even though it was longer than Step 1, I wasn't as tired when I came out.
Concerning the question stems, some of them were longer than UWorld, but definitely not longer than Kaplan. Most of them were 4-5 lines long, with or without labs. I only had 3 or 4 ad vignettes. I didn't read the whole ads, and simply looked for the information they were asking for. I thought those were easy.
As an advise for people who have not taken the test yet, I would say that if you run out of time on one block, don't freak out. Instead, take a break and take a deep breath. When you return, you'll feel much better.
Congratulations. It's a huge improvement from your step 1. Plus it's refreshing to read a post where a person found the step 2 exam easier than step 1.
hey congratulations
i had few ques plz take out time to rep..
1st did u do any other bk for IM except for kaplan & MTB 2?
Do u think kaplan LN are a must for IM?
lastly did u do MTB 3 for the rest of the subjects or MTB 2 for all?
Thanks in advance.. Enjoyyy
I think the Kaplan Lecture Notes adequately cover all subjects and are essential to obtaining a good score in the Step 2 CK. Master The Boards is the equivalent of First Aid for this test, but it's only good as a review book. Whatever isn't covered in MTB is surely covered in the LN. As an add-on to MTB, I used Dr. Fischer's flashcards, which I highly recommend. They would keep me sharp with high-yield subjects while I improved on my worst subjects. I read some chapters of Step 2 Secrets, which I also highly recommend if you have the time as an add-on to Internal Medicine. Even though I didn't read MTB 3, many students do and say it's helpful. Nevertheless, the LN go into greater detail than any MTB.
I hope this answers your Qs.
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