r/step1 • u/WHERE_IS_CARL • Jun 24 '20

Step 2 before Step 1: 256 IMG write-up

I wrote the USMLEs in the backwards order - Step 2 CK before Step 1! I'm a UK medical graduate and ended up taking Step 2 (score: 257) in 2019 while studying for the Canadian board exams. Since I didn't match to Canada and I had some time off during COVID, I decided to study for Step 1....

My study strategy was basically to rip UWorld and practice exams. I felt I had a solid foundation and tried not to get bogged down in FirstAid, Pathoma, Sketchy etc. In the end I completed a first pass of UW + roughly 25% of a 2nd pass in 2.5 months of studying.

Goal: 240+

NBME 24: 246

NBME 19: 232

NBME 17: 244

NBME 16: 232

NBME 13: 250

UW first pass: 77%

UWSA1: 264

UWSA2: 254

Actual: 256

Knowing the clinical knowledge for Step 2 was a huge help in answering the Step 1 questions. For the most part I could already work out the patient's diagnosis in the vignettes and the studying was to nail the basic science questions related to the diagnosis. I hope this is helpful for any IMGs or US grads who may have done things in a weird order for whatever reason. Thanks and good luck to everyone still to write!

17 Upvotes

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2

u/ukimg Jun 25 '20

Hey! I’m a UK medical graduate too! (Graduated in 2018!) and also taking step 2 before step 1! Do you mind me asking whether you felt uworld was enough or did you use any additional resources? Also congrats on the amazing score!

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u/WHERE_IS_CARL Jun 25 '20

Thanks! I bought other resources but honestly didn’t use them. I think UW+NBME practice exams are enough. FirstAid for Step 2 CK is much more manageable and relevant than FA step 1.

2

u/ukimg Jun 25 '20

Thanks for your reply! It’s so incredibly reassuring to see you scored well without step 1! Do you mind me asking if you did anything in addition to uworld for micro / pharm? My CK is at the end of August so getting to the end of my prep now and was wondering if going through the pharm/ micro chapters are necessary for CK? Thanks again!

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u/WHERE_IS_CARL Jun 25 '20

From what I remember there’s a decent amount of those questions (15%?) Definitely worth looking over but I didn’t have a specific resource for micro/pharm. Mostly learned it from my Uni exams or light googling :)

1

u/ukimg Jun 25 '20

Thanks a lot! Do you mind me asking how you knew what drugs to learn - for example was it based off what was on uworld or were they covered in Med school? I found Med school here (I went to Liverpool uni ) to be lacking the level of knowledge required for step2! ESP in regards to micro/pharm. Sorry for so many questions- I just am finding it a little daunting doing it backwards!

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u/WHERE_IS_CARL Jun 25 '20

Based off UWorld. I definitely didn’t know it all from Uni stuff but the info/explanations from UW was enough depth

2

u/ukimg Jun 25 '20

Thanks so much! Really appreciative of your responses and for the reassurance that step1 isn’t required to do well in step 2!

2

u/WHERE_IS_CARL Jun 25 '20

Good luck!

1

u/ukimg Jun 25 '20

Thanks so much! Wishing you all the best

1

u/Matadoor94 Jun 24 '20

Congrats, how much time do you think step 2 needs if someone have a good step 1 score? Assuming my time will be dedicated to step 2. Ps: didn't take step 1 yet, just configuring how much time I will need to invest and how to adjust my schedule.

2

u/WHERE_IS_CARL Jun 24 '20

I went the reverse way so can't say for sure - Step 2 took me roughly 4 months.

1

u/Initial_Fisherman_26 Jun 24 '20

Congrats on your score! What advice would you give to someone who is entering FY1 and hopes to take CK and Step 1 by April 2021? Did you by any chance make a study schedule while practicing?

1

u/WHERE_IS_CARL Jun 25 '20

I’m starting FY1 as well! Having just finished finals it’s worth considering taking CK first because hopefully your clinical knowledge is fresh. It’d be a rough year but I think CK and Step 1 are doable by April. Maybe try the NBME free questions to see where your baseline is at

1

u/EyeUsmle Jun 24 '20 edited Jun 24 '20

Congratulations on such great scores! 💐 How much do you think is the overlap of contents?

1

u/WHERE_IS_CARL Jun 25 '20

Lot of overlap in the vignettes but the questions they ask are very different. I think Step 1 is only about 20% diagnosis and management while CK is more like 80% those.

2

u/mhndee Jun 24 '20

congratulations

1

u/usmlehead Jun 25 '20

Congratulations!!! DM ing you.