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I am studying Step 3 these days. It's another painful experience. Sorry for the delay in updating my test eperience.
I took step 2 in June 2006. It tooks me almost 15 months to finish this step with a full time job. The result is good, 243/98, so I do not have regret for the time spent.
I used Kaplan Center Prep video. It took me 4 months to finish the video tapes. The lectures are good. They are a good starter before you review your Kaplan books.
After the video, I read the books two times. Then I started the USMLEWORLD questions. I don't feel the questions in UW have a lot similarity to the real exam. The UW gave you a feeling of taking exam and the explanations help you review some topics. Some questions in UW are too tricky and with too much details tested.
I did not have time to finish the Pediatrics in UW, instead I used PreTest Pediatrics. I was not impressed by the PreTest book. Not suggest it.
From my experience, I feel the Kaplan books are the best. Actually, in the last two weeks, I did not do any questions. I just read all the Kaplan books once again. It helped me a lot.
Pay special attention to Pediatrics. Treat it as important as Internal Medicine. I came across a lot peds questions in the real test, especially the newborn care.
An interesting thing, it seems that the Step 2 CK exam has a smaller question bank because I was given exactly same questions three times, even in the same block.
This time I did not use NBME simulation exam. I did not feel to scare myself with a simulation just before the exam.
If you have questions, please post.
I took step 2 in June 2006. It tooks me almost 15 months to finish this step with a full time job. The result is good, 243/98, so I do not have regret for the time spent.
I used Kaplan Center Prep video. It took me 4 months to finish the video tapes. The lectures are good. They are a good starter before you review your Kaplan books.
After the video, I read the books two times. Then I started the USMLEWORLD questions. I don't feel the questions in UW have a lot similarity to the real exam. The UW gave you a feeling of taking exam and the explanations help you review some topics. Some questions in UW are too tricky and with too much details tested.
I did not have time to finish the Pediatrics in UW, instead I used PreTest Pediatrics. I was not impressed by the PreTest book. Not suggest it.
From my experience, I feel the Kaplan books are the best. Actually, in the last two weeks, I did not do any questions. I just read all the Kaplan books once again. It helped me a lot.
Pay special attention to Pediatrics. Treat it as important as Internal Medicine. I came across a lot peds questions in the real test, especially the newborn care.
An interesting thing, it seems that the Step 2 CK exam has a smaller question bank because I was given exactly same questions three times, even in the same block.
This time I did not use NBME simulation exam. I did not feel to scare myself with a simulation just before the exam.
If you have questions, please post.
Good luck on your step 3 study!
Be sure to get the most updated version since they adjust the content every year.
The pediatrics book is the most difficult to read. But it is still a useful book.
I have a full time job too, as a researcher, I am responsible for more than 5 projects, trying to finish them ASAP.
I don't think I can affort 4-month on these videos because I am planing take it in early JULY.
If I use kaplan note as my primary study source for this step, will this be a problem?