Step 2 CK Experience (280)

• Background:
Hello everyone. This is Hasan Alarouri, a Jordanian graduate of
Jordan University of Science and Technology (2017). I started my
dedicated preparation for Step 2 CK during my internship, and the
total duration was around 15 months. Owing to how helpful this
group had been during my preparation, and the rarity of experiences
similar to mine (Step 2 CK prior to Step 1), I thought I’ll have to
share my experience with you.

• USMLE Scores:
Step 1: not done yet
Step 2 CK: 280
Step 2 CS: Passed

• Self assessment scores:

Free120: 96% (5 mistakes); 5 months prior to exam
NBME 4: 6 mistakes (offline); 4 months prior to exam
NBME 7: 13 mistakes (offline); 3 months prior to exam
NBME 6: 5 mistakes (offline); 2.5 months prior to exam
NBME 8: 279 (online; 8 mistakes); 2 months prior to exam
UWSA1: 286 (10 mistakes); 1 month prior to exam
UWSA2: 274 (15 mistakes); 2 weeks prior to exam

• Preparation duration and hours studied each day:

The total duration was 15. This was supposed to be shorter
(maximum 1 year) as I was very well prepared by then and my
self assessments were reassuring, but my anxiety (because I was
going for CK prior to Step 1) and OCPD kicked in and I ended
up postponing for another 3 months. At the beginning I would
manage to study 6-7 hours a day (with concentration) and would
take a day off every week, but towards the end (around 3 months
prior to exam) I managed to increase that to 8-10 hours a day and
wasn’t regularly taking a day off each week. What’s really
important is not how many hours you study a day, but that you
 study with full concentration and with minimal distractions
(quality over quantity).

• Material used:
- UW Step 2 CK (online; scores: 88% after my first solve and
98% after my second solve): this was my main source, and my
goal was to master it. I solved it (in addition to studying the
explanations) twice, and studied the explanations alone
without solving, once (waste of time; always solve + read).
- UW tables and algorithms (with added information from
various resources): revised them twice.
- UpToDate: this was the second most important resource for
me. I used it every time I came across a concept/disease in UW
that I felt the need to expand on, and added whatever relevant
information I found to UW’s tables/algorithms.
- First Aid Step 1: used it for certain step 1 topics found in UW.
Mainly for glycogen storage diseases, lysosomal storage
diseases, lead poisoning/porphyrias, and immunodeficiencies.
- CMS: solved and studied all of them. Every time I came across
something I didn’t know (Even if it was the wrong answer), I
made sure I took enough time to look it up and read about it.
- UW Step 3 (offline): used it for Biostatistics, psychiatry,
OBGYN, and ethics; once.
- 100 cases by Conrad Fischer: solved the questions and studied
the explanations once.
- UW biostatistics subject review: solved and studied twice.
- AMBOSS: solved the biostatistics section and did two exam
simulations a few days prior to exam. Very helpful to build
your stamina for the exam.
- Parts of a summary I made from UW during my 2nd solve.
- Patient Safety PDF from the group; studied a few days prior to
exam.
- NEJM and MKSAP17 questions of the week on Facebook.

• Recommendations:
- Study UW in a comprehensive manner. Whenever you are
solving a question, rationalize why the answer you are
 choosing must be correct and why every other answer must be
wrong. Then when you study the explanations, you must read
everything including the wrong answers and why they were
wrong. Many times you’ll be faced with concepts, in the wrong
answers, that you’ve never heard of before and should look up
if they aren’t covered well in UW (UpToDate was my go-to
resource and I highly recommend it).
- Solving more questions is much more important than reading
texts. There is no point in adding new information if you don’t
know how to use it or how questions are asked about it, in my
humble opinion.
- For anyone who’s planning on going for Step 2 CK prior to
Step 1, like myself, but has been worried about what other
people keep saying (eg, Step 1 is a must..), I’ll say the
following: Although studying Step 1 prior to Step 2 CK
would’ve made my preparation shorter and easier, it definitely
wasn’t necessary. As long as you make sure you understand
every Step 1 concept you come across in UW (which might
include visiting First Aid at times), I believe you’ll be fine.
- Trust your self assessments and stop postponing if your scores
have been consistent and have met your goal.
- Kaplan books/videos and Master the Boards are not a must to
score high as evidenced by my score.
- Whenever you have some free time, try to read through the
crashes and questions posted on the group (some are out of left
field, don’t panic just filter them out), they were very
beneficial to me.

• Lastly:
I’d like to thank my family, this group, and my two dear friends,
Yazeed Sweedan and Ali Aldamen, for providing me with immense
help and motivation throughout my journey. Good luck to all of you!