It's about that time to start studying and taking Step 2 CK. I'm sharing this only to help with your study plan. I did very well on this exam and part of it was because I had recently finished my Internal Medicine shelf exam and I forced myself to study like crazy for that shelf exam. Part of it was dedication and a well planned study plan. Lastly, part of it was knowing the day after Step 2 CK I would be on a plane to Italy (all of those posts here). Resources are listed at the bottom, but I mainly used my 3rd year clerkship books (that post here).
I gave myself 18 days of dedicated study time. I then wrote down the "big goals" for those 18 days.
1. Go through all of the UWORLD questions. I divided all of the UWORLD questions between the 18 days I had and I took notes on the questions I missed just like I did for Step 1. I spent around 4 hrs a day doing UWorld, so plan accordingly.
2. Go through Pestanas Surgery Notes 3 times
3. Go through Peds Notes (my notes I made based on this book) 3 times
*** I decided to share my Pediatric Study notes for you to print HERE
4. Go through OBGYN Med Ed notes 2 to 3 times (Or notes based on this book)
5. Go through Step Up to Medicine Twice (highlighted items only the second time)
6. Go through First Aid for Psychiatry Twice
7. Take two practice exams
Day 1:
Read all of Peds notes
UW Questions (took me about 4 hours each day)
Day 2:
Read all of Pestanas
UW questions
Day 3:
Read OBGYN Med Ed Notes
UW questions
Review UW question Notes
Day 4, and 5
Read 1/3 of the StepUp to Medicine Book
UW questions
Day 6:
Read last 1/3 of StepUp to Medicine Book
Skim Peds notes
UW Questions
Day 7:
Read Pestanas Notes Book
UW Questions
Review UW question notes
Day 8:
Review OBGYN Notes
UW Questions
Day 9:
Wake up Early and take a Practice Exam
(Psych notes if possible)
Still did UWorld Qs (the practice exam is only 1/2 of the exam anyway)
Day 10, 11, 12:
Read 1/3 StepUp to Medicine
UW Questions
Review UW question notes (divided amongst the 3 days because the notes are getting longer)
Day 13:
Read Pestanas Quickly
UW Questions
Review all UW question notes again and highlighted material you are weak in
Day 14:
Wake up early and take a Practice Exam
In the afternoon skim Pediatric notes and Psych notes
UW Questions
Day 15:
Read OBGYN notes and First Aid for Psychiatry Rotation
UW Questions
Day 16:
Review all UW notes
UW questions
Day 17:
Skim UW notes, especially new notations made
UW Questions
Study weak areas or highlighted sections AND/OR
Read Master the Boards
Day 18:
UW Questions
UW notes review AND/OR
Review weak areas or highlighted sections AND/OR
Read Master the Boards
Day 19 was Test Day for me!
Books used:
Online MedED for OBGYN (for clerkship notes I used Casefiles)
Hope you find this helpful as you plan out your schedule for taking Step 2 CK!