My Step 3 experience - passed with score of 219
Thank you everyone for their posts.
I took Step 2 CK/CS last year. I started studying the summer before residency, but was waiting on my med school to report to the FSMB that I had graduated so long story short I could not take it until several months later. I studied during a pretty relaxed rotation so I could study in the mornings. I used primarily UWorld, and their CCS cases. I also used (in the last week) ccscases (google it) which actually gives you feed back about you performance on cases (I completed about 20-30 cases; average ranged from 20%-90%. Their cases are hard and they want to you to do a complete physical exam, which isn't always indicated, and a ton of preventative things which are easy to forget in the heat of taking the exam). For the month of my rotation. I studied uworld, doing 2 blocks per day, and on the weekends doing simulated 4 blocks, and then reviewing them I completed 70% of Uworld cumulative average 61%. I would then review my notes later on that day. I would try to do 5-10 cases/day. I took the last week off in my rotation as a part of my "educational" time. I completed all of the practice CCS cases, and all of the simulated cases. I also did several questions and reviewed them. 10 days before I took the UWorld self assessment (UWSA) and scored an abysmal 182. I was so devastated! 5 days before I took the exam I took the NBME form 4 (I completed the form 4 6 months ago in December 2016 just to get a "base line" performance and got a 250, 66 out of the 180 or so questions) and scored 540 got 40 questions wrong. 4 days before my exam I did the FRED exam (timed) and scored 79%. Two days before I did a whole block of uworld biostats and uworld ethics. I wanted to review more of my notes but I was just so "sick" of studying.
Guys, the first day I had 6 blocks, only one had 40 blocks, there was a TON of biostats, 4-5 per block, a research article or drug ad per block. I felt confident in the biostat questions, a lot of My timing was good I was able to go back and review those marked. There were several step 1 style questions which really seemed out of place. Tons of receptors this drug affects type questions. These are things that I had to rely upon my prior knowledge about. They are questions you can't really prepare for. Several ethics type questions interspersed. After the exam, I checked several answers. Overall feeling kind of defeated.
Had the day off and did a whole bunch of ccs cases (30).
Day 2. Guys, for some reason I felt that the ACM questions were so vague and I was so pressed for time. For some questions I found myself confused at all the answer choices, like these are things I would not have picked at all, and just picked the one that made "the most sense." Lots of CHF and geriatric type questions, med management type questions. I just was so confused. Then the CCS, 13 cases, half were 21 minutes the other half was around 11, wide array of questions not covered by Uworld. Rape case, a prostatitis question complicated by adrenal insufficiency, some "easy" cases that did not end early so I was just advancing the time until I was d/c some orders then it finally shut off. About 6 cases shut off early (8-9 minute mark for the 20 minute cases) and 4-5 minute mark for the 8 minute cases. I was so shook by this ccs case because as I was entering in orders and advancing time, I was expecting it to shut off and for several cases it didn't. I found myself, praying that they would end. There was this DKA case where it only ended when I d/c the IV drips, towards the 16 minute mark. I felt REALLY bad after the ACM day.
After 5 weeks, I checked the TUESDAY before I got my result. The "trick" works…on the FSMB website, my status expired and there was no link to reapply so it was reassuring but I still waited at midnight until the results posted on the interactive website. They posted right on the dot midnight EST…I passed! I DID SO WELL ON THE CCS even though I made TONS OF MISTAKES, only half of the cases ended early. I think that saved my grade. What also helped me was A NEW CCS CASE PRACTICE SITE, ccscases.com (this is not sponsored) but I discovered it the week before I took my exam and went over about 30 cases. What is unique about his is that they actually give you a grade after you complete a case, and gives you feedback, something that UWORLD does not do. Overall, after I took the exam, I thought that I failed, seriously guys, I had post exam depression. But I'm so glad I got this over with early in intern year!
So guys, even if you do poorly on the UWorld self-assessment, it may be grossly underestimating your score because of a lack of CCS input. You will feel horrible after the exam, but you can use the trick to feel better the day before. Use the CCScasesdotcom the week before as this is high yield. UWorld self assessment 182 10 days before the actual exam…actual exam 219!