HOW TO PREPARE FOR USMLE STEP 2 CK

 

This is a simple guide that is dedicated to people who will like to take USMLE step 2 CK, I’ll be sharing tips as well as my own experience with the exam.

The step 2 exam is the second step, usually written after the step 1. The CK behind it stands for Clinical knowledge. It is an exam that tests your clinical knowledge. Your ability to make diagnosis and choose the tests required to make the diagnosis, and the treatments. You need to know how to read and interpret labs, ECG, CT scans and X rays for different diseases. The areas that you’re going to be tested on includes; Internal medicine, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Surgery, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ethics and patient safety. You need to also learn how to interpret Medical literature and Clinical research. Other areas you could be tested on include Quality improvement and Health care management and systems. It is very important to read and learn about all of these things before you sit for your exam. I will advise that you pay attention and not overlook any areas when you’re preparing for your exam.

  When I prepared for my exam I mostly focused on the Clinical sciences like Internal medicine, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Surgery and this was good as most of my examination questions covered these areas but I still had a substantial number of questions on Ethics, interpretation of Medical literature and Clinical research, Quality improvement and Health care management and systems, so do not overlook these areas or brush them off, they’re all important.

Some people would argue that Step 2 CK is easier than Step 1 and I agree based on my personal experience and the experience of people varies, some may say otherwise. The Step 2 CK was much easier for me to prepare for, my scores was much higher compared to that of my Step 1. I think this was because, It was mostly clinical stuff, There weren’t a lot of tiny details to learn, it was just about the big picture. It took me 6 weeks to prepare for my step 2, I studied intensely during that 6 week dedicated period of study, the time required for each person varies. Take as much time as you need to prepare until you’re ready. I’ll be sharing my tips below;

1. Practice Questions; I cannot overemphasize this enough, it is so so important. The sooner you start practicing questions the better it is. You learn a lot, it sharpens your critical thinking ability, helps you to learn how to eliminate the wrong options and No, you don’t have to wait till you know all the stuff before you start. There are a lot of Question banks out there, choose the one that works for you. I’m very familiar with Uworld, used it for my Step 1 and Step 2 so I can vouch for it. The examination questions can seem like word play or semantics for example; they can ask what the ‘most accurate test’ for a disease in one question and then ask you again in another what the “best initial test” is and they have totally different answers, so practicing question often will really help getting used to it. I will also advice you practice your questions timed and mixed.

2. Have a dedicated study period; This is also very important. It helps you to stay focused and minimize distractions. Have an idea of when you’ll like to write your exam and work towards it. Your dedicated period of study can be any length of time you want.

3. Good study Materials; Gather your materials. You don’t need a whole bunch of materials to be honest, the fewer the better. I prepared using Kaplan notes and to be honest, I didn’t use it much, just went through a few concepts in the textbook. I also used First Aid for USMLE Step 2 CK, it was alright but it wasn’t as useful to me as it was for Step 1, it didn’t cover some important concept and details. There a lot of different materials just find the one that works for you. I used a particular textbook, it was an electronic copy a friend sent to me, I used it the most, went through it back and forth at least 3 times. The textbook is called All Uworld CK Notes, I found it so useful and valuable. I also used my jottings, notes that I take from practicing questions and reviewed the important facts. Anki Flashcards were also amazing, so helpful, helped me to review and cover a lot of things. That’s all I used in the preparation of my exam. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jiZGsEJW0ZQoGPouUVzUWgaBFYidgrC0/view?usp=sharing - This link should lead to my google drive where you can download All Uworld CK notes

 Having a lot dedication and hardwork is the key to Success. This exam is not scary, if I can do it, You can do it too and come out in flying colors. To register for this exam, you have to do so on ECFMG, the cost of the exam is about $1145, a little cheaper if you’re writing in the US. I wish you all the best if you’re preparing to write this exam, you’ll crush it and know that I believe in you. The exam is 9 hours long, 8 hours and 1 hour break time, be mentally prepared on the exam day, Eat breakfast, pack your snacks, get a good sleep the night before. If you’re reading this, I really hope I’ve been able to help in my own little way. If you have any questions please ask in the comment section below, I’ll answer as soon as I can. Thank you for reading!