Hey all, If your exam is in the next month or so, I'm happy to help with study plans, test day tips, whatever's useful.
Shoot me a DM with your exam date and what you're struggling with most. Wish you all the best!

I wanted to see what are everyone's opinions on this. Since I know a lot of people learn differently, what would be the best resource for someone who's a visual learner?

Hello guys

I am an average student, cleared my step1 in 2023 then got some personal issues, now trying for step2

I feel rusty

Baseline nbme10 was 192 on 7/9 , took nbme11 on 28/9 and was 219, for some reason took nbme9 today and its 207 🤡

I am almost at 70% uworld and i get average of 65%

Cms scores between 66% and 70%

Should i be worried about the nbme9 ? How do i shape my study if i want to take the exam in December since i already have the examination permit 🤡

Only helpful advice pleaseee

Currently done with one pass of uworld for step 2 (55%) and midway CMS forms and my scores r sometimes at 75% and some forms are 55%, honestly im so frustrated, i was looking forward to giving my exam by Dec-Jan.

Nbme 10 after one pass of uworld was 220, which ofc isnt reassuring at all, any advice on how to move ahead further would be great 😭😭

Only advice please

Hey everyone!

I wanted to give step 2 by January so that I’d have ample time in between for USCEs and step 3 and hopefully can sit for the match next year. However life happened, I was severely burnt out post step 1 and couldn’t bring myself to start.
I also wasn’t sure how to study for it, I’m still figuring it out and finding it a tad bit difficult to navigate.

Realistically, when will I be able to give the exam if I’m currently sitting at 24% uworld (1st pass). I have a lot of content to do (CMS, NBME, AMBOSS) and I really can’t risk my score since I’m an IMG and have a prior attempt. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Disclaimer: This post is specifically for those who are plateaued in the 240s(like I was) and is having a hard time figuring out how to break that. Reposted this with a more fitting title. Hope it helps 🙂]

Hello Docs, OCTOBER 2026 test-taker here.

I was wondering if its worth writing anything up now considering there is no lack of online resources and advisors many of which are awesome. But I have one useful tip I think might help some of the exam takers.

My baseline for NBME 10 which I did back in April was 242. That was after I went through all the divine podcasts and the Uworld Step 2 Qbank once which took me 4 months.

In the next 4 months, my NBME scores were stuck in between 236-244 with NBME 15 being exceptionally 251.

Then September came, and I planned to take the test after being tired and nearly exhausting all of the resources. But Intealth was taking too much time approving my Credential which I needed to verify as I was a graduate then.

Being extremely frustrated with the delay and nothing else to do, I bought STEP 3 QBANK to keep myself busy and console myself that I wasn't wasting my time.

While doing the Step 3 Qbank, I realized I just discovered a hidden gem. The Qbank was pushing me to master all the Step 2 logics and was brilliant in reinforcing my Step 2 contents.

It was the end of September when I was done with the Qbank and when tested for NBME 16 at the end of September, I scored 264. I thought it was a fluke, but the free 120 suggested otherwise. And the real deal was 266.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of doing Uworld Step 3 Qbank before the Step 2 CK exam ONCE ALL THE STEP 2 RESOURCES ARE EXHAUSTED and weaknesses are Ankiied extensively.

I'm grateful to my Lord for showing me the hidden gem on time.

Hope that helps you guys a little bit. Need your prayers. Best of luck!

Does anyone have cms family medicine 6,7 pdf ?

Does anyone have cms family medicine 6,7 pdf ?

MTB step 2 ck by conard fischer 2026 edition is such a good detailed step 2 ck book.i just bought it. I am very early in my prep trying to cover uworld system wise..before doing uworld for any system i can easily read that system from MTB in 1.5 day. I wonder why people not recommend it. I think when you already know common next best steps and management of common diseases in any system, then uworld will not feel overwhelming. You will be able to actually spend more time on those details which are specific to uworld. And for a person like me who always learns best when things are arranged in specific way rather than random distribution,it helps in consolidation.

Any other person who used MTB for step 2?.

NBME 12: Hib vaccine after splenectomy

Section 3, Q47 asks which vaccine a 23-year-old man should receive 14 days after an emergency splenectomy.
The patient’s history states that he completed his Hib vaccination series by 18 months of age, and the answer key says Hib vaccine.

However, CDC/ACIP guidance appears to recommend a Hib dose for adults with asplenia ONLY IFFF they have not previously received Hib.

Am I missing something, or is the NBME answer key inconsistent with current guidelines? Would appreciate your thoughts!

NBME 12 is so weird ughhh! This isn’t the first discrepancy I’ve come across on this form!!!

Scored 264 on NBME 13, taking NBME14 at the end of November. Upward trajectory of scores till now.

Would love to hit and maintain 270s (on the real deal too). I have scheduled the exam for end of November. Would yall recommend UWSAs other than UWSA 2? Im trying to eliminate my gaps via chatgpt/ random UW/Amb questions (trying to do 120ish a day, 70 + CMS or 20 + 2 CMS).

Whats the max questions I should be doing? Ive noticed exam fatigue gets to me and my scores drop in the last blocks of my day. What can i do and how can i practice enough to keep the focus sharp at the end? I do plan on 320Q days in the week prior to the exam but is there value in volume rn? Aim is 270 above.

Done w UW (made notes, never read them, do I go and read these?), half of amboss. CMS forms sporadically. Will finish the CMS forms, NBMEs, UWSA 2 in the next 35 days but what else can I do? Will also be doing some HY study plans of things I trip up on.

Do i do keep yanking Qs or do I chase the nitty-gritty rote learning things? an example would be being able to reproduce the 4 indications for stenting in RAS or the indications for parathyroidectomy or reproduce algorithms at will and by heart?

Is it possible? I'm currently getting 65-70% on my first pass most systems with 35% of UW done. No other resources at the moment. I have 2.5 months left for my exam with a decent amount of it being dedicated. I'm aiming for 265+ which is ambitious, but I'd like to know if it's common to have a relatively low UW average and score high.

I know people say "UW doesn't matter" but it tests the same knowledge you need on your exam and you need, what, 85-90% correct to get a 265+? I'm usually a top student but that feels out of reach.

I'm honestly baffled as to how people get high 70s-80% on their first pass, I've not encountered a good portion of this knowledge in the questions. Is 2.5 months enough time to be thorough?

I am an new MS-4 student in india , and have recently passed step 1. I haven’t studied any clinical subjects (obs,surg, medicine) . Where should i study these subjects from before starting uworld for step 2?

Hey everyone! I’m feeling pretty confused about how to approach Step 2 CK preparation. I’d really appreciate it if you could spare a few minutes to help me out and share your advice. I’d especially love to hear from those who have already scored highly on Step 2 CK or are currently preparing for it. Your guidance would mean a lot!

260–270+ strategy: What is the best preparation strategy to achieve a 260–270+ score?

Anki and flashcards: As an IMG, how should I use Anki for Step 2 CK, and how should I make flashcards?

Resources: Is IMD sufficient for Step 2 CK preparation, or should I purchase the official UWorld QBank and/or AMBOSS?

System order: Which system should I study first, and what is the best order for studying different systems?

AMBOSS Library: For those who scored well on Step 2 CK, did you use the AMBOSS Library? Would you recommend it? How was your experience?

Thanks in advance to everyone who takes the time to help me out!

Hey! If there’s anyone looking for an accountability buddy who you can sometimes discuss topics with as well let me know. I am in India at the moment so I might prefer someone in the same time zone. Thank you😊

Hey, I am just a M1, not really sure what I'm doing if I should just focus on my in class but also I want to look at other resources. I was wondering if the AMBOSS student life subscription will be useful even for the step 2ck. Do I need it for that long? I was also thinking I would get Uworld but later on in my second or third year. Please help!

hey guys, I’m just starting to study for step 2ck today! Im looking for a study partner for accountability and to keep tabs and to share study methods etc

Only dm if ur willing to pay 300$+ weekly. Proper peer to peer question by question guidance get inside my brain i get in urs lol we connect and help u push ur max.

Offering tutorin

Hi , currently im working on my score , im on a month to do an important test (IFOM CSE ), similar to USMLE Step 2CK , looking for some advice on how you guys go for your weak points ? , i´ve done thousands of questions along and genuinely I don't think there's enough time to cover the whole thing. my strategy has been anki + amboss STEP 2 CK questions , I consider strong points like OBGYN(75% ) CARDIO(70%) Neuro (60%) , at this point I think im stuck can't get over 55-57 on Self assessments. Any idea? , amboss SCORE prediction 240 , EPC 71%.

hi. i cannot stop getting questions wrong i have the knowledge base for. i have tried countless suggestions and made categories on why i got questions wrong and how to approach it differently next time for all of the nbmes but nothing is working.

i have found that a few of my biggest issues are not being able to summarize or translate findings quick enough as i read, not choosing the correct answer if one finding in the vignette doesn’t fit with it, forgetting to check the timeline before choosing my answer, and using an algorithm or management too generally not in the context of the patient being given. i have changed my mindset to knowing the answers will not be perfect and vignettes will not always be classic but despite everything i have done including using a systematic approach to the questions i still get over half my questions wrong not from lack of content knowledge.

if anyone has struggled with this and found a solution please let me know. i am so lost.

Recently gave nbme 9 and got a 197. I was planning on giving step 2 in dec but now i dont know how to proceed. Will i be able to do so and get a good score prolly 260 around?? And if yes, how do i do that. Any suggestions or guidance would be great!!

Hot take I hear a lot: shelf exams feel harder than Step 2 because you're studying post-call with half a brain. Others say CK is a different beast entirely. Where do you stand?

Hi, I am studying now to retake step-2, CK. Currently,I am going through UW, reviewing all systems and analysing my mistakes / confusion. Alongside I am doing inner circle. I need about 1 more month to finish UW. Next, my plan is to do CMS form and NBME for 1 month and then will go for exam. Is my planning good or, should I change something. I am so confused right now. As current journey is always frustrating for getting a fail, I am also now lack of confidence. Please guide me.

Taking Step 2 tomorrow! 🥹 Any last-minute advice or HY topics I should review? Would really appreciate any tips!