[Sabio]

In addition to voting in the poll above please post your reply with details so that we get a grasp of the real situation.

Please follow this format (which is a true example of my Step 2 CS experience)

Time needed: 3 Weeks
Average study hours per day: Four
Mother language: non-English (set as English if it applies)
Result: Passed first attempt (u can leave blank if you don't want to tell)
Years since graduation at time of test: 3 years (u can write medical student if it applies)

Also check these links for the other steps:
Time needed for Step 1 Preparation
Time needed for Step 2 CK Preparation
Time needed for Step 3 Preparation

 

[khanar]

Time needed: 5 days!
Average study hours per day: Five
Mother language: English
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: Medical Student

 

[khanar]

Time needed: 6 weeks
Average study hours per day: 7
Mother language: Non English
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: 3 years

 

[khanar]

CS is not difficult

Time needed: 2 Months
Average study hours per day: 5
Mother language: Non English
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: 2 years

By the way CS is not so difficult, it is just we stress about it but it's not difficult

 

[indian]

Time needed: 2 Weeks
Average study hours per day: 6
Mother language: Non English
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: 6years

 

[yulaik1]

very easy, but practice is needed...practice and practice

Time needed: 2 weeks)
Average study hours per day: 8
Mother language: Non English, Spanish
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: 5 years

 

[tzbs]

time needed-4 weeks
average study hour /day- 6-7 hr
mother language-non-english
result-passed with first attempt
years since graduation- 8 years [2003]

comment- practiced medicine in english speaking country until 2010

 

[b.abid]

Time needed: 3 Weeks
Average study hours per day: 1-2 Hours
Mother language: non-English
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: Student

Did it after 1 month clerkship in an American hospital, Did not have a study partner

 

[QueenB]

The Risque Way

Time needed: <1 Week
Average study hours per day: 5hrs
Mother language: English
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: 1.5
Test Centre: LA

This post is for those last minute types- I did it in less than a week. I'd just finished my step 2 ck.. BUT english is my first language and I've had a fair bit of patient interaction back home.
my point is not to mislead anyone/brag but its meant to de-stress anyone tht thinks they're going to fail due to lack of time. I will make a couple of recommendations though (cuz some of my frends Dr.AA, Dr.GG, Dr.GS were super sweet in helping me--specially Dr.AA)
Here's what I did
1. Study the First Aid cases: the Differentials, the history taking, and then the cases (you should do all 40+ but I did about 34?32?)
2. Practice- if you don't have a study partner thats a medico its ok- practice with a non medico so u can get your timing and examination down right (TIME URSELF) BUT practice one of each type of case even ovr the phone/skype/gtalk with a friend thats taken the exam (my super sweet ones helped me)- i also practiced with kid cousins and my my frends mum!
3. Again my friend GG insisted i sign up for the Kaplan Mock exam- it was worth it..try and take it--just the practice exam.
4. OR atleast watch the USMLE examination videos on youtube or i beliv u can buy em on uworld?
calm down-sleep well-eat well and look good on the final day!
good luck!

 

[glykon]

Time needed:6 weeks
Hrs/day: at first 2-4 then went up to 8-10 at the end of my prep period
Native language: non-English
Graduated: 1 year ago
Passed within the first attempt
Note: it takes more time to study for CS if this is the first Step you take, you come from a medical school where they don't prepare you for the Steps, your medical system is different from that of U.S. and English is not your first language.

 

[Dr urbane]

Time needed: 2 Weeks
Average study hours per day: 5
Mother language: English (UK medical school)
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: 4 years

 

[sisirakkineni]

Time needed: 3 Weeks
Average study hours per day: 3
Mother language: non-English, but fluent in English
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: Med student(when i took the test.)

 

[Torm1]

Study partner and PN practice is the key.

Time needed: 6 Weeks
Average study hours per day: 3 to 4
Mother language: non-English, but fluent in English
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: 7 years, I did residency in my home country, so I have a good experience with patients and this helped me a lot.

 

[nojai]

Time needed: 2 Weeks
Average study hours per day: 8
Mother language: Non-English
Result: Passed first attempt
Years since graduation at time of test: 6 years

 

[Msami10]

Thanks for that

 

[draybala]

Thanks for these information

 

[maen90]

three to four weeks. first aid takes couple of weeks to master, and training about 2 weeks as well

 

[aamr]

Time needed: 3-4 weeks
Resources: step 2 ck FA and a good partner

 

[shaguy]

thanks y all

 

[Ma 90]

This is the best thread I found in this forum so far