Five USMLE Step 2 Study Methods That Work

Hoover  27 Mar, 2007  Medical School

While not as intense as Step 1, studying for the Step 2 board exam can still get you worked up into a frenzy. Here are five sure-fire tips that will increase your score.

1. Take Your Time
You’ve probably heard the saying “2 months for Step 1, 2 weeks for Step 2, and a number two pencil for Step 3.” Take caution with this. You’ll need more than 2 weeks of studying if you expect to beat the mean on Step 2. I think it’s safe to start studying at least one month ahead of time. Give yourself more time if it has always taken you longer to digest the information. Not only will you not be rushed, but you’ll have more confidence going into the exam.

2. First Aid for Step 2
First Aid for Step 2 is one of the best resources available. You probably used the First Aid series for Step 1, and the Step 2 book is just as good. You’ll have all of the high-yield information at your fingertips, and learning all of the information presented in this book should be one of your first priorities. Consider going through book multiple times. For your first read through the book, focus on learning information that you haven’t yet mastered. Each subsequent time you go through the book, you’ll get faster. Just make sure to keep on top of all of the information and before you know it you’ll have the information down cold.

3. Crush Step 2
Having only one study resource is shooting yourself in the foot. Each book you read will emphasize different material, and this will be beneficial to you as you prepare for the test. After completing First Aid for Step 2, thoroughly read your Crush Step 2 resource. The information in Crush is presented more in a textbook format, so you’ll find it refreshing while reading through it. This will minimize study burnout.

4. Step 2 Secrets
As a final resource, pick up a copy of Step II Secrets. After completing First Aid for Step 2 and Crush Step 2, Secrets will be more of a review than anything else. And this is just what the book is designed to do. The information presented in Step 2 Secrets is in a basic question format. It asks a question in bold, and then has the answer right under it. Cover up the answers and see what you can answer on your own. If you get stuck, review the answer until you’ve got it. There’s also a Top 100 secrets chapter at the end of the book, perfect for last minute review days before the exam.

5. USMLE World vs. Kaplan QBank
There are pretty much two choices when it comes time to decide on which question database you’re going to use: Kaplan Q-Bank and USMLE World. After talking with many people who prepared for the Step 2 exam, most say that USMLE World is the better choice. Not only will a one month subscription save you $60 ($90 versus $150), but the questions in World are much more difficult than the Kaplan Q-Bank questions (based on feedback that I received). If you master these questions, you’ll be prepared for exam day and will more than likely be happy with your score. If money isn’t an issue, give yourself more time and complete both question databases.

While going through questions, set up blocks in sets of 46 in timed mode. This will create identical examination conditions. Do not go through blocks with less than 46 questions or in tutor mode. You need to be used to what you’ll experience on test day, and mimicking testing conditions is best way to do it. Try to complete the entire database, whether you do USMLE World alone or both World and Kaplan Q-Bank.

Immediately after finishing blocks, make sure to take this time to review not only the questions you got wrong, but also the questions you answered correctly. Some of your correct answers will be guesses, so you need to refresh your knowledge on what the question is asking. Reviewing right after you finish the block ensures that the information is still fresh, and you can reason more easily why you answered a question in a particular way.

Finally, take notes in the margins of your First Aid for Step II book as you review. Days or a week before your exam, go back through you First Aid and review major points in the margin as well as you own notes.

Follow these steps and I’m willing to bet that you’ll be pretty happy with your Step II score. You’ll be less stressed to boot.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Did you enjoy this post? If so, consider subscribing to my full RSS feed and adding MSH to your Technorati Favorites.

Related Posts

13 Comments so far »

  1. Parchomd said

    March 27 2007 @ 8:01 pm

    I used Kaplan QBook (the cheaper book version of QBank), First Aid for Step 2, and Crush Step 2.

    It took me about 4-6 weeks to study for Step 2…but that was a waste of time b/c my time was always wasted. I basically spread 2 weeks worth of solid studying into a long, wasteful process.

    But I did 27 points better on Step 2 than I did on Step 1.

    Keys: Finish all of QBook (not Qbank), read all of First Aid, and skim Crush Step 2.

    -Parcho

  2. The Peanut Gallery said

    March 27 2007 @ 8:13 pm

    Great post. Thanks for the advice. I need to start planning out my study plan for Step 2.

  3. Road Kill Ninja said

    March 27 2007 @ 9:56 pm

    The book I enjoyed the most was Boards and Wards for Steps 2/3. I thought it was much better than Crush, although I didn’t read First Aid. I did read through Secrets X 1 and it was a good quick review.

    I second Hoover’s recs for USMLEworld. Most importantly, review all your answers!!!!! Follow the words of Hoover and all will be well.

    Oh yeah, it also helps to read some here and there during 3rd year.

  4. Biscuit799 said

    March 27 2007 @ 10:22 pm

    This is a very non-Med-School-Hell-esque post. But hey, any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

  5. Hoover said

    March 27 2007 @ 11:10 pm

    I also wasted tons of time while preparing for these exams. If I had concentrated my studying, I could have eliminated many wasted hours.

    As RKN mentioned, doing well on the shelf exams during third year is probably some of the best preparation that you can do for this exam.

    Biscuit - Yeah, this is a non-traditional MSH post. But, one thing I want to do is include helpful information to the readers as well as the typical MSH stuff. Just about everyone that reads this blog has either taken or will have to take Step 2 at some point in the future, so I hope it’s useful information. =D

  6. Raveen Shenoi said

    March 27 2007 @ 11:16 pm

    Any advice for Step 1?

  7. The Lone Coyote said

    March 28 2007 @ 1:12 am

    Step 1: limit your resources to 3 books because you will not have time to get through tons of books. 1st Aid, BRS Pathology, and BRS Physiology are good.

    Do tons of questions and review all the answers. I thought Kapland Q-Bank was good.

    Most important: make a schedule and stick to it. Build in a couple of “catch-up” days. And DO NOT push back your test date. Stick with it because you will never feel ready to take this bad boy.

    Good luck.

  8. CobraCommander said

    March 28 2007 @ 11:03 am

    Good advice for the boards. Incoming juniors, First Aid for Step 2 has a section in the back with recommended review resources that is handy for deciding what to read during clerkships. Intense studying at the end is pretty much necessary and will help, but the best prep is to learn as you go along and do well on the shelf exams (remember, the same guys who write Step 2 write the shelf exams.)
    Internal Medicine on Step 2 is akin to Pathology on Step 1, that is, it is the most heavily-tested subject.

  9. Tiny Surgeon said

    March 29 2007 @ 11:45 pm

    Any advice for step 2 CS?

  10. Hoover said

    March 30 2007 @ 1:56 am

    CS is pretty straightforward. Pick up a copy of First Aid for CS and review the physical diagnosis stuff in Mosby’s. All of the cases are very basic, and I think it’s an English proficiency exam more than anything else. You get points for “showing compassion for the patient’s illness” and “respectful draping.”

    I’ve even heard that they don’t grade so much on whether or not you were able to come up with the correct differential, but rather on human interaction skills.

    CS is a joke and a money sink. The NBME has a good racket going on this one.

  11. Sesha said

    April 17 2007 @ 9:48 pm

    You are a very natural writer Hoover. Don’t stop the good work. Cheers and thanks!

  12. How to do well in USMLE Step 2 CK « UCSF STUDENTS - COME HERE TO READ OTHER STUDENTS COMMENTS AND TO POST YOUR OWN said

    July 8 2008 @ 8:38 am

    […] Here’s a good website: http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/27/five-usmle-step-2-study-methods-that-work/ […]

  13. UCSFSTUDENTS Website Statistics « UCSF STUDENTS said

    September 20 2008 @ 4:17 pm

    […] medschoolhell.com/2007/03/27/five-usm… […]

Comment RSS · TrackBack URI

Leave a comment

Name: (Required)

Email: (Required - will never be shown)

Website:

Comment: