My Usmle Step 2 CS experience

[usmle_2013]

I took my exam on April 14,2014 in Atlanta and received my result on June 18, 2014.

I passed usmle step 2 CS exam.

Total duration of Prep; one month.
Material used; FA CS and ximedus Academy

Preparation
I read FA CS twice before starting practice. Then I practiced all the 44 cases in FA once with an sp via Skype. We typed patient notes along with every case.
After that I went to Florida and attended ximedus academy for 5 days. After leaving ximedus I had only 5 days left in which I wanted to practice all the cases from FA one more time with a live partner but I could practice 20 cases only.

Mistakes

My DDs for 3-4 cases were not good.
Couldn't do closure for one case.
Couldn't answer one challenging question because of time.
Forget to lower the foot rest in one case and but then said sorry and did it when the patient told me.
I am sure that in one I case I realized about the drape when I was about to start examination and may be forgot it in one more case.
Used sanitizer for cleaning hands in all cases.
Because of nervousness, hesitated during saying a sentence . This happened twice only in two cases.
2 or 3 times the patient had to ask me to repeat the question or some word. Because of accent I guess.
And some other small mistakes.

Suggestions
1. Improve your typing speed. I did it by practicing on typingweb.com, where I learnt how to type without looking at the keyboard.

2. Learn all the examination methods from one source or the other(youtube, academy, friends), make sure you learn them and practice them well. You are not supposed to do Physical Examination from head to toe in every case but whatever you do, do it properly. Don't rush in PE!

3. Practice all the cases in FA twice, at least once with live partner. And type patient notes every time you do a case. It is hard initially but a key to pass the test.

4.Cases in FA are detailed and with multiple diseases. In exam, they are simple( though 2-3 cases are vague) with one problem most of the time.

5. Don't waste time in HOPI. For instance if you ask a few questions in HOPI and you are not getting any clue about the diagnosis then move on, ask about past Hx, Family Hx, Sexual and social Hx or ROS because you will get it there.

6. Be careful with time! you don't have to be perfect with everything.
If you ask a history which is 100 percent correct but you couldn't do closure or PE then it is not good. You have to ask history, examine the patient and do a closure. When the announcement for 5 minutes is made in a case and you have not started PE, then look at the clock, note the time, start PE, stop PE when 3 minutes passed and start closure. Don't leave a whole section.

7.I know this test is hard, and very unpredictable but try to keep yourself calm, this will help you perform well.

8. Knock the door, shake hand with a smile, show sympathy. Say sorry when you do a mistake. Do a nice closure at the end.

9. Prep course; It depends. If you can afford and don't want to take risk then it is better to attend an academy but a lot of people manage to pass the test without going for the prep course.

10. Do PE relevant to the case and symptoms.

I was scared to death when waiting for the result but I passed it comfortably. So those waiting for the results, you will be fine. Don't worry!

Now after being ECFMG certified. I look back and think that how worried, uncertain I was in every step. But I learnt that if you remain persistent and work hard, I am sure you can achieve anything in this life.

I am thankful to Allah who gave me the strength to do usmle when no one else thought I would be able to do it..

[tamta]

Very thankful post! Good luck! Thanks for sharing!
This is the point USMLE makes us stronger in other People'e eyes, We DO are able to do things that nobody else believes we can do!

[MEDICINE DOC]

Congrats..I wish to be ECFMG certified sooner and feel like u..i know the life would be totally different once u are at the other end of this road,i wish to be there soooooooon IA...
Cheers for ur achievement....only the ones who go through this all,understand the true meaning of this achievement...party time for u

[usmle_2013]

Don't worry, you will be ecmfg certified one day.