about the exam is that they throw in a lot of distractors. I t | Usmle step 2 experinces

about the exam is that they throw in a lot of distractors.
I took the first 2 blocks, 8 min block, 2 blocks, 10 minutes block. Then roughly 10
minutes after each block.
Topics asked were mostly topics that everyone knows. It is just asked in a particular
situation, and you have to apply your common sense and go ahead. No book can
guarantee you a right answer, but you knowledge would help you in total in trying to apply
common sense and choosing an answer.
Topics that I felt were heavily tested: Postop complications, Psychiatry, trauma and
emergency.
Got media that I found was OK. I couldn't figure it out from the stem, but listening was
not an issue for me.
After the test, I had no idea how it went. I literally told my friend I can get 240 and I could
get 270. I will have to wait!
● Important tips:
I believe the duration is not the most important factor in preparing for the USMLEs. I did
my step 1 in 5 months and this in 4.5. I believe it’s all about studying effectively and not
dive in the low yield materials. My Step 2CK preparation was helped by my step 1
preparation, but I believe 56 months should suffice.
Books are fine. Questions are the best.You see, books are great, once you’re done
with a chapter, you feel like a god. But 1 week later, it’s all gone. If knowledge was not
applied, it will be forgotten. There comes the role of questions.
Try to understand the WHYbehind everything. Don’t just memorize if the patient had
back pain with this then the next step is an XR, and if with that then MRI. Rather, know
the WHY. The reason for this is that in the exam, you will have to think in seconds and
there are many distractors. Understanding the WHY can help you get the answers right
and save you a lot of time.
There is no “ Recipe”for Step 2CK. Everyone has his own way of studying and
understanding. I did this and it worked for me, you can do whatever works for you, as
long as you are not screwing up in your resources or the way you prepare.
Learn the differential diagnosis very well. Not just know the name of it, NO, go and
look after how is it different from my main diagnosis. The reason for this is that the
distractors thrown in the exam are usually stuff that will help you rule out\in those
differentials. Make sure you master this point. This comes in really handy in Psychiatry. If
you just go with what is there in the books, you’re not gonna be able to answer with
confidence in the test. They can easily make you go crazy with their distractors.
Master the criteria for Psychiatry. Know what every word means. Again,
UNDERSTAND, and not just memorize. They will be able to trick you in any of these
points. It’s all about mastering the criteria. Knowing the differential helps tremendously
too, again, not just the name, but why its this and not that.
UTD was of great help when it came to mastering the differential diagnosis, because
there is always a part in the article that talks briefly about each differential and how it is
different than the main diagnosis. This is lacking in Medscape, as it only puts the
reference for the differential’s article, without talking about why and how it is different.
UTD is a HUGE reference. If you see this experience and start reading all the articles in
UTD, you’re gonna fail or you’re gonna spend the rest of your life preparing for the test.
You have to be careful and specific when using it. Unless it’s something you really want
to master, I would suggest just reading the summary and algorithms and then going from
there.
MTB is fine, but be careful and don’t take things for granted. Anything that looks odd to
you, go back and confirm it. I can’t tell you how many mistakes I found there, and thats
the main reason I never really read it back again.
The clinical mastery series were helpful. First of all, I did an extra 500600 questions.
Second of all, its from the NBME! You kind of get yourself in the mood of their way of
asking questions, so it helped. But again, the length of the questions is too short
compared to the real deal.