STEP 1 is useful yes. My first mistake is that I took a long s | Usmle step 2 experinces

STEP 1 is useful yes. My first mistake is that I took a long studying gap between step 1 and the CK test. I often went back to check some of the basis before I went back. I could have saved that time if I started the next test within a couple of months.
Should you start with STEP 1 or the CK; definitely step 1 if you can. It’s hard and long but it makes up 30% of the concepts and it would help you a lot with your preparation. Many places require both steps right now so there’s no motive to only take the CK only. And your previous clinical info is helpful, but not like step 1.
So YES, if you can start with STEP 1: YOU SHOULD.



Sources:


So we have the Kaplan books and Kaplan videos. These are the large books.
MTB books are the review books, there’s the MTB for STEP 2 CK, and the MTB for STEP 3 which is better than the previous in branches other than IM.
Some people mentioned DIT videos, Step up books, medstudy videos. I haven’t done them so I wouldn’t judge.

There’s First Aid for Step 2 CK, but unfortunately it’s not like the great Step 1 book. Mostly basic info with no real orientation. Don’t do it.

The most important source is UW. There was some good person who collected the algorithms and tables of UW and put them out there system wise. For me I think this is the most important source of information together with the questions of course.

Kaplan Qbank, I have tried some of the cardiology blocks. Didn’t like it, same concepts with pretentious vignettes trying to be smart. Also most people say it’s a waste of time, so I didn’t put much thought into doing it.

CMS questions are shelf exams, 4 blocks for each of IM / Neurology / Peds / ObGyn / psychiatry / surgery. Collectively they are 24 exams. They have no answers but they contain some old and new info. Some people consider them a source of info.



Studying phase I) the first read


This depends on your time frame. What I did was reading Kaplan in each subject then reading MTB. This was a waste of time. I ended up wasting time on Kaplan which had some good info but not really helpful with answering questions.

What I suggest is: read each chapter from MTB, then read the UW algorithms and tables very well, and then move to the next subject. If you have a problem with a concept then you can go to Kaplan, but reading Kaplan with everything was my Second mistake.

The videos: they say they are okay, I only watched the ObGyn part, which I could do without. But nevertheless, watch it if you have the time.

MTB 2 is for IM, everything else is from MTB 3. Except for pediatrics which I did from both MTB 2 and MTB 3. This shouldn’t take you more that 2 months to finish. The faster you move on to questions phase the better.

For statistics: UW questions. I had an idea from STEP1, but they say DIT videos are okay too. There are some extra UW questions with good explanations that you can do. They are 74 questions and they are NOT easy but they’d help you if you found yourself struggling with biostats.

Studying phase II) the questions:
UW is the most important source. Try to subscribe for at least 2 months. Before each subject read the tables for the second time and then answer the questions and take your notes.

It’s important to read the explanations very well, even those questions that you did right. Read the correct and wrong answers explanations and take notes. Invest time in those questions because you won’t have time to answer them again.

Try to solve UW online, and don’t take more than two months if you can. Some people tried the offline version first, this is a wrong thing to do because: a) questions are always updated. B) you’re gonna mess with your overall score.

Practice answering questions in a timed manner to get used to the time/block. In the end you can answer the questions you did wrong again. And also you can answer the questions you marked again.