USMLE-StepII

USMLE: Step II Study Recommendations

From 4th year UWSOM medical students:


Link to USMLE Step II

The following is a summary of recommendations from 62 members of the class of 2011 on what they found helpful in studying for Step II.

What resources did you utilize in studying for Step II?

  • USMLE World Qbank 89%
  • First aid for step II CK 40%
  • Crush Step 2 18%
  • Step up to Step 2 15%
  • First aid for step II CS 8%
  • Step II Secrets 6%
  • Other resources mentioned by 3 responders or less: Goljian lectures for Step II, Step Up to Medicine, Step II Doctors in Training, Kaplan flash cards, Step II Made Ridiculously Simple, Kaplan comprehensive book prep, Clinical vignettes, Internal Medicine MKSAP, selected second year texts (EKG syllabus, Neuro)

How long did you study for Step II?

  • 34% studied 11-14 days.
  • 23% studied 15-20 days.
  • 19% studied for 21-25 days.
  • 11% studied for +25 days.
  • 11% studied for 7-10 days.
The vast majority of responders were happy with their study times, which underlines the importance of knowing yourself so you can evaluate how much time YOU need.

When should you schedule Step II?

This is an individual decision although it’s important to schedule a slot early as they do fill up. The last two quotes are included as one way to think about this issue.
  • “Be sure to schedule a slot for Step 2 early. They fill up fast and are hard to get.”
  • “I sat for the exam during the two week time off period between 3rd and 4th year. I advise students to take it during the time before ERAS applications and interviewing madness.”
  • “Take both Step II CK and CS early in the summer and get them out of the way.”

What strategies would you recommend for studying?

Most responders felt that it was very important to do both A LOT of Q Bank questions and the practice tests themselves. After that, sift through which recommendations best suit your style, your weaknesses, and your strengths.

Do Q Bank questions!

  • “USMLE World questions are extremely realistic.”
  • “I did nearly all of the 2000+ questions from USMLE World. The questions were especially helpful.”
  • “Questions, questions, questions. They are, hands down, the best learning tool.”
  • “Make it a priority to get through all the QBank questions.”
  • “The best resource is USMLE World. I would venture to say that you could study exclusively from this source. I did for Step 2 CK. I found the best way to use this resource was to always do blocks of questions equal to the time blocks on the test. (If I recall correctly, 44 questions in 60 minutes.) I would then give myself 2 hours to review the answers. I would do three tests per day while studying.”
  • “I used QBank to help study for the IM Shelf exam thus, I felt pretty ready to start studying for Step II.”

Use First Aid as a study adjunct.

  • “For areas I was weak on, I used First Aid—but only a few of the sections.”
  • “I recommend focusing mostly on QBank and using one book to review. When I needed more information, I used First Aid as a back up.”
  • “First Aid for Step 2 CK is more than what you need to know but is helpful as a review source if you run into a USMLE Word question that you need to look up and review.”

Set up a schedule and stick to it.



Take practice tests and time them.

  • “Doing the actual questions, while being timed, using a full mix (not just the areas that you’re good at) will give you a fair appraisal of your skills and provide you with the best endurance training for the actual exam.”

Know your areas of weakness and focus on them.

  • “I studied more for what I did prior to February because that info gets erased a little by later clerkships. You may not need to study as much for the material from your last several clerkships.”

Pay attention to the areas where UW students’ scores have fallen under the national norms in recent years.

  • These include Pediatrics, Diagnoses, Immunological Disorders, Diseases of the Nervous System and Special Senses, and Understanding Mechanics of Disease. 7. If you need help with organization….
  • “I highly recommend Doctors-In-Training for anyone who tends to get overwhelmed with details, because it is a very efficient and organized program. Also the workshop that DIT provides reviews all the key points from USMLE World.”
  • “I divided the material into 14 segments (i.e. cardiology, peds, ob etc.) and read the First Aid chapter in the AM and practiced those specific questions in the afternoon.”

CS doesn’t require as much studying. Some students said reviewing for two to three days was sufficient.



Take study breaks!  Don’t panic!!

  • “Your 3rd year clerkships will prepare you well,” especially Internal Medicine.
  • “The test was mostly clinical and much less stressful than Step I.”
  • “Don’t worry about it as much as you worried about Step I. It is probably going to seem easier just because we’ve learned so much more and we already took Step I and know what the tests are like.”

During the exam itself, watch your break time.

  • “Even if you’re only gone for 5ish minutes for each break, sometimes you need to wait in line to check back into the exam.”

 

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