When to start studying for Step 2

I hope you’re ready for a boatload of information about how to study for Step 2 CK. This will be an all-inconclusive ultimate guide on how to study for Step 2 CK.

This will also be significantly longer than most of my posts (which are long as is). To help you digest the info and be able to come back to it later, I’ve put together this blog post into a PDF (for free of course).

You can get your free PDF here.

But no more time to waste. Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide.

• • What Resources To Use For Step 2 CK
  • What Is The Best Text To Use For Step 2 CK?
  • How To Study for Step 2 CK
  • How To Increase Your Step 2 CK Score
  • How Long To Study For Step 2 CK
  • Step 2 CK Study Plans From Successful Test Takers
  • Sample Study Plan and Study Schedule for Step 2 CK
  • Tips To Do Well on Exam Day

But before we begin, if you find this content helpful consider sharing it with a friend or through social media. The only way I’m able to reach more people and grow TheMDJourney is through kind recommendations by readers like you!

Also I’m gradually adding more YouTube videos on the topic.

Here is my first in the series about my top 5 tips to doing well on Step 2 CK.

Let’s get to the tips!

Table Of Contents

• What Resources Should I Use For Step 2?
  • UWORLD For Step 2 CK:
  • OnlineMedEd For Step 2 CK:
  • Step 2 Secrets:
  • Picmonic For Step 2 CK:
  • UWORLD Self Assessment Exams:
  • Brosencephalon Anki Cards For Step 2:
• What Is The Best Book For Step 2 CK?
  • First Aid For Step 2 CK: 
  • Step Up To Medicine CK: 
  • Master The Boards: 
• How To Study for Step 2 CK:
  • The Sandwich Method For Step 2 CK:
• How To Increase Your Step 2 CK Score:
  • The Flashcard Method For Step 2 CK:
• Notebook Method for Step 2 CK:
• How Long To Study For Step 2 CK:
• Step 2 CK Study Plans From Successful Test Takers
  • Step 2 CK Study Plan #1: 2-Week Study Plan
  • Step 2 CK Study Plan #2: 1-Week + Study Plan
  • Step 2 CK Study Plan #3: 4-Week Study Plan
• Sample Study Plan And Study Schedule For Step 2 CK:
  • Week 1-2: 
  • Week 3:
  • Week 4: 
• Tips To Do Well on Exam Day For Step 2 CK:
  • You’re Earning Points Not Losing Them:
  • Plan Out Your Breaks:
  • Want To Crush Your Clinical Rotations?

What Resources Should I Use For Step 2?

When it comes to the resources for Step 2 CK, I have some good news and bad news.

Good news is that there are fewer resources to use for Step 2 compared to step 1.

The bad news is that there are fewer resources to use for Step 2 compared to step 1.

You may recall back to the good old (not really) step 1 study days, where you seemed to have an endless amount of choices. You could study with UWORLD, Kaplan, Pathoma, Sketchy, and of course first aid.

For Step 2, the options, or at least good options, are pretty limited.

Honestly, I prefer it this way, but I know many students (you may be one of them) who love to have 5+ resources to use during their dedicated.

Here are the best Step 2 CK resources I recommend you definitely have when studying for Step 2.

UWORLD For Step 2 CK:

This is a big duh. If UWORLD was considered king for step 1, it’s a freaking emperor for Step 2.

Whenever I’m asked about how to study for Step 2 CK – I mentioned UWORLD and give this one simple advice. Use it.

I’ll discuss how exactly I recommend using UWORLD, but here’s the simplified version – do as many iterations as possible. 

UWORLD was the closest thing to the real thing I found during my study prep. The vignettes are close to the length of the actual Step 2 exam and the questions are also similar difficulty.

We’ll discuss how to use UWORLD in your study schedule, but it’s never too late to begin doing questions.

I did UWORLD 2.5 times before my exam. I attribute my score in large part to this!

get Honors On Your Rotations Easily!

Learn Exactly How To Study For Each Rotation With Our Easy Step-By-Step Guide!

Is UWORLD Enough For Step 2 CK? 

I’d say this is student-dependent. 

I’ve honestly heard of some med students whose only study material was UWORLD and they slayed it! But there are also others who got good scores in Step 2 CK even without UWORLD.

No one can tell for sure, but from my own experience and observation, it’s probably not enough for many.

While UWORLD is the most popular among all USMLE Step 2 resources, it is not the single best resource out there (nothing is!). 

So, while I’d highly recommend using it, you shouldn’t be too reliant on just finishing UWORLD as your sole study resource for Step 2 CK. 

OnlineMedEd For Step 2 CK:

If you follow TheMDJourney then you know I love to rave about OnlineMedEd (OME).

After getting my Step 2 CK score, I’m going to rave about them even more.

Here’s why –  Step 2 really doesn’t have a great comprehensive text. For Step 1 you could turn to first aid and Pathoma. That doesn’t really exist.

But imagine if high yield info from first aid and Pathoma were combined together for Step 2. That’s exactly what OME is.

I’ve made a totally separate post about OME which you can check out here.

Here’s my YouTube video with my exact plan on how I used OME to increase my score by 25+ points!

OME was golden for me. I’m someone who loves when someone tells me what’s important to know (save the BS please). OME and Dr. Williams did that for me.

After reading this post and watching the video, if you’re interested in trying the premium content for OME for Step 2, you can use there discount code for an annual subscription.

You can check out OME here.

We’ll talk about in the rest of the post how to use OME for Step 2 CK!

Step 2 Secrets:

Now I know I just got finished bashing the various text resources for Step 2.

This is the exception.

I loved Step 2 Secrets. For me, it’s one of the best Step 2 CK resources because I love learning in Q&A format (think Pestana for Surgery but for Step 2 instead).

This book was great as review towards the end of my study prep.

I convinced myself for confidence that if I could answer the questions in this small book (quick 300 pages) then I should know most of the high-yield info for Step 2.

I was right.

Again we’ll go over how to use this text later in the post. But I recommend you get yourself a copy.

Here’s a link.

Picmonic For Step 2 CK:

Now I don’t know about you but I’m a visual learner. So I loved Sketchy Medical when studying for step 1.

Unfortunately, there’s no Sketchy Micro for Step 2 (that would be helpful!)

But there’s another way. Try out Picmonic for the same style of videos which combine silly images with high-yield info.

The one thing I liked about Picmonic, even more so than Sketchy, is that the videos are significantly shorter. Most were 2-6 minutes!

This helped save a lot of time.

I used Picmonic to look up topics I kept missing on UWORLD on practice exams. I for the life of me couldn’t remember the difference between CML and Leukemoid reaction (don’t panic if you don’t either).

I would use the search function and create a personalized playlist of all the topics I’d always miss (I’m looking at you Aspergillus).

The videos were great overall and a good supplement to my studying.

If you’re a visual learner then I recommend you try out Picmonic. Here’s a link for 15% off!

Check out this article, where I went into details about how to use Picmonic to study for clinical rotations.

UWORLD Self Assessment Exams:

Now you may notice that I’m talking about UWORLD’s practice exam before I even mention NBME practice exams.

In fact, I’m not even going to talk about NBME practice exams at all.

Does that mean you shouldn’t use the NBME tests?

Absolutely not, you should definitely use them!

The tests, however, are notorious for having crazy fluctuating and steep curves. Thus they can really mess with the mind of a student who’s freaking about Step 2 (likely you but hopefully not by the end of this post!).

UWSA exams, in my opinion, were the best predictor of my final score. This seems to be the norm across the med school forums as well. (Mine actually significantly underpredicted mine but they’re usually spot on.)

So use USWA. Take both of them.

We’ll talk about how to space them out in the study schedule.

Brosencephalon Anki Cards For Step 2:

Now again if you know me and TheMDJourney, you know I love my flashcards.

Brosencehaphalon cards were great for step 1 and they’re just as great for Step 2.

Do I recommend you use them for your dedicated however? Not really.

I would use the cards for the topics you’re weak on. If you have a good amount of time before your exam then definitely consider starting them.

But regardless they’re a great easy and refreshing tool to learn the high yield info. Most of the questions are also from UWORLD so it’s helpful to see how much you’ve retained.

Here’s a link the Anki deck.

get Honors On Your Rotations Easily!

Learn Exactly How To Study For Each Rotation With Our Easy Step-By-Step Guide!

What Is The Best Book For Step 2 CK?

Now you may notice that I didn’t really mention a true text you can use during you Step 2 CK study prep.

As I said before, unfortunately, no one resource serves the purpose for Step 2 the way first aid did for Step 1.

Most of the texts are long, boring, and often not comprehensive enough.

So if you’re looking for a text to depend on, it sadly doesn’t exist.

But perhaps you need a text to study well.

Here are a few options you have.

A quick disclaimer, I didn’t use these texts in my own study plan but am familiar with the books.

First Aid For Step 2 CK: 

I bought this book because of the reputation its predecessor has.

Did I use it?

Not really.

Don’t get me wrong, it seems to have a lot of useful information, but I personally hate reading review books.

Still the book is less dense than the following resources we’ll cover. (A brief 500 + pages)

If you’re one who needs a text this may be a good supplement to UWORLD.

I personally didn’t have this in my study schedule so I can’t recommend a good way to go through the book. It should be possible to go through a major section in two days if you’re on dedicated time off.

With anything, it’s best to start with the topics you struggle with the most. Gain a few points on your final exam this way.

Here’s a link to the book and you can check out the Amazon reviews to see if the book would be a good fit for you!

Step Up To Medicine CK: 

I loved this series for my IM rotation, and it looks like it’s Step 2 version is just as good.

Seems to be one of the shorter texts of the three I’ve suggested for you (~400 pgs). Similar to the rest of the books on this list, it’s likely a good option as long as you don’t use it as your sole resource.

The book is informative and many students do use it for the test.

Check out the book and its reviews here.

Master The Boards: 

I personally have little experience with MTB but it seems to be the go-to book for students who need a text.

It is about 700 pages, so again be wary of how likely you’d be to go through the book + UWORLD + practice questions.

Many students appear to enjoy it according to the reviews. One of the common cons, however, is that it’s not all-inclusive.

I can see how students can combine MTB with UWORLD to fill in the blanks the text may leave out and do just fine.

If you need a text, this may be one of the USMLE Step 2 resources worth checking out. Here’s a link.

How To Study for Step 2 CK:

I’m going to suggest the Step 2 CK study plan and strategies that I used.

Since I didn’t use a text (aside from Step 2 Secrets) I won’t suggest that in this section. Adjust if you do have a text.

The Sandwich Method For Step 2 CK:

Did someone say sandwich? You probably deserve one if you made it this far into the post. But sadly this is a figurative sandwich.

The sandwich method is how I structure my studying for big (and little exams)

Here’s how it goes:

• • Master High-Yield (first week)
  • Fill In Details (middle)
  • Master High-Yield (last week)

Now, this method would be done during your dedicated. For roughly the first week, your goal is to learn the basics and high yield info that you know will show up.

This includes like topics the test makers love like shock, depression, kidney injuries, prolactin stuff etc.

You will likely see all of these show on your actual exam.

How you gain this basic knowledge is up to you. I recommend OME because you have both videos and notes to obtain just the high-yield info. Plus it’s much easier to read notes I know have already been distilled to high-yield facts rather than reading a 700-page text.

So first find out how you’ll obtain this info. Try to do it as fast as possible to give yourself time to fill in the details.

During this first week or two, you’ll still be doing your UWORLD questions btw.

Then your middle part of your studying is when you go 150% at doing questions. More often than not you’ll miss questions regarding details you never knew mattered. Well, now it matters. So learn these bits of info.

In the next section, I’ll suggest how to memorize the details.

But to finish off the sandwich method, at the very last 1-1.5 weeks of your studying, come back to the high-yield info.

This is the time to raise your confidence going into the exam. You want to feel prepared for the exam and trying to memorize detail is likely not going to do it.

So go back to a resource like OME or Step 2 Secrets and make sure you know the info there cold. The exam won’t be stressful then!

How To Increase Your Step 2 CK Score:

So you know the best Step 2 CK resources and you now have a general structure. But what can make the difference between an average score and a score you’re beyond the moon about?

The following two strategies will lay out techniques that were valuable to me to decrease my mistakes and improve my scores!

The Flashcard Method For Step 2 CK:

Now how do you learn the detail?

I honestly think the best way to do this is via flashcards. In particular, using Anki.

Here’s what I recommend. When you’re reviewing your UWORLD question, make short and to the point flashcards for any question, you missed or guessed correctly on. 

Do your cards the next morning before beginning with a few review cards. This will help you avoid making the same mistakes again on UWORLD and for sure on the real Step 2 exam.

So if I missed a question about shock I’d make a short sentence about the key concept or try to replicate the vignette. Then I’d put just the important info that I didn’t understand quite right before.

Remember these shouldn’t be elaborate flashcards. Don’t waste too much time on making the flashcards and have no time to actually study them. Make sure they’re in a quick question and answer format.

If you don’t like flashcards then try out this next technique.

Notebook Method for Step 2 CK:

I’ve talked a lot about my notebook method before in the blog.

I also mention it in more detail in my book, how to study in Medical School. You can check out the book here.

But here’s a quick rundown about the notebook method works.

Write your short questions on the left and short answers to the right.

Similar to the flashcard method, do this for any question you miss or guess correctly on.

Then the following morning go through your notebook and see if you can answer a few pages of missed/guessed questions.

Both of these methods are designed to make sure you don’t make the same mistakes again. This is all about preserving the points your hard work has gained and trying to raise your score.

Try these techniques out and let me know what you think! They were huge for my success and hope they can be the same for you! 😀

How Long To Study For Step 2 CK:

The month of June or July is the typical time students study for Step 2. But is there an ideal amount of time on how long to study for Step 2 CK?

Usually, students take 4 months with either no rotations or a light elective. This should be more than enough time to improve your score.

You can also do what  I did, which is to study for a longer period of time throughout your rotations. I studied a little (1-2 hours) for 7-8 weeks. I wanted the extra month I saved for vacation (and to plan a wedding!).

If you take my approach, be realistic about how much time you can devote to your rotation and Step 2 studying. I did 4 weeks of my study prep during an Emergency Medicine rotation which had a lot of days off.

But anywhere from 4-6 weeks of light or uninterrupted time should be more than enough!

Step 2 CK Study Plans From Successful Test Takers

Aside from knowing how to study for Step 2, you should also be acquainted with good Step 2 study plans to guide you in your studying.

I’ll also be giving you my own sample study schedule and Step 2 CK study plan later in this post, but for now, let’s look at how other med students created their own Step 2 study plans.

Step 2 CK Study Plan #1: 2-Week Study Plan

Resources: UWORLD, Master The Boards USMLE Step 2 CK, Step 2 Secrets, NBME Self Assessments, first aid for USMLE Step 2 CK

Week 1: Morning

• • Take 2 NBME practice tests
  • Review UWORLD questions

Week 1: Afternoon

• • Study Master The Boards USMLE Step 2 CK 
  • Study first aid for USMLE Step 2 CK

Week 1: Evening

• • Plow through Step 2 Secrets

Week 2: Morning

• • Take 2 NBME practice tests
  • Prometric Test Center
  • Review UWORLD questions

Week 2: Afternoon

• • Study Master The Boards USMLE Step 2 CK 
  • Study first aid for USMLE Step 2 CK
  • Gateway Exam
  • Review UWORLD questions

Week 2: Evening

• • Plow through Step 2 Secrets

(Note: You can find out more about this study plan here should you need more details!)

Step 2 CK Study Plan #2: 1-Week + Study Plan

Resources:  UWORLD Qbanks, USMLE Step 2 Secrets, Kaplan USMLE Step 2 Qbook and Goljan Step 2 Audio

Week 1: Morning

• • 88 UWORLD Questions
  • 30 pages of Step 2 Secrets

Week 1: Afternoon

• • Goljan during meals and 30-minute run
  • 132 UWORLD Questions

Week 2 (4 days out): Morning

• • Practice Exam: 352 questions abbreviated review (1 day)
  • 88 UWORLD questions
  • 30 pages of Step 2 Secrets

Week 2 (4 days out): Afternoon

• • Goljan during meals and 30-minute run
  • 132 UWORLD Questions
  • Kaplan tests in weak areas

(Note: You can get a copy of the full disclosure of this study plan here!)

Step 2 CK Study Plan #3: 4-Week Study Plan

Resources: Master The Board Step 2 CK (IM, surgery, and OBGYN sections) and Master the Board Step 3 (Pediatrics, OBGYN and everything else not IM)

Weeks 1-4: 

• • 120 UWORLD questions per day 
  • 20 Step 2 secrets pages per day

(Note: This study plan was inspired by the two other study plans above. Check out the student’s  post here!)

Sample Study Plan And Study Schedule For Step 2 CK:

Now here’s a bonus study plan and study schedule for Step 2 Ck I personally devised for your reference.

Since most med students take the 4 weeks off during June or July, I’ll lay out a sample study schedule for a 4-week study prep.

Week 1-2: 

Morning:

• • Review Flashcards and Missed Questions
  • Block 1 UWORLD 40 questions (Random Tutor) -> Review and Make Flashcards
  • 7-8 OME Notes or Read Preferred Text (Make Flashcards for Anything you struggle with)
  • Block 2 UWORLD 40 questions

Afternoon:

• • 40 UWORLD questions
  • 7-8 OME Notes/Preferred Text
  • 40 UWORLD questions
  • 4-5 OME Notes

I know this may sound like a lot of questions and notes but my main goal for you during these first 1.5 weeks is to get through all the high-yield info.

Once you understand the key ideas, you can transition close to 100% of your time to questions and really boost your grade!

Take your first NBME (either 6 or 8) at the end of Week 1.

Take a UWORLD self-assessment at the end of Week 2 to see where you’re really at.

Week 3:

Increase UWORLD questions to 4-5 blocks. You should have been done with your reading material (OME or text) by now. So go at your questions and flashcards 100%.

You can replace 1-2 of these days and take NBME 7 (the trickest one with the steepest score) and ideally NBME 8.

At the end of Week 3, start reading Step 2 Secrets and see how much of the high yield you’ve retained.

You should also be coming closer to finishing UWORLD at the end of Week 3. Get ready to do your marked questions during Week 4.

Week 4: 

Along with Step 2 Secrets, return to OME and skim the notes and look for any info you’ve forgotten since you first reviewed the material

Take UWSA #2 the Monday or Tuesday before your exam date. This should be a good predictor of your final grade.

If you need more practice, take the Free 120 self-assessment that the test creators provide for free.

The final step is to take the test and kill it! Reward yourself afterward!

Tips To Do Well on Exam Day For Step 2 CK:

The last part is all about how to do well on your exam.

You’re Earning Points Not Losing Them:

When we typically test like Step 2 CK, we see every question as an opportunity to lower our grade. This is a common reason we’re always anxious throughout and after the exam. We just focus too much time and energy on what we don’t know.

But instead, think about earning points! Think about getting excited about the questions you know well and see your grade getting higher.

If you have a WTF question (which you will) shrug your shoulders, guess, and think that getting it right may only help your score.

This shift in mindset can help you so much during your preparation and test.

You’ll feel more confident and not give too much weight to the questions you don’t know.

Plan Out Your Breaks:

The test is long.  9 hours to be exact. So make sure you have a gameplan.

When will you take your breaks? There is a total of 45 minutes (1 hour if you skip the tutorial. Also, any extra time from your blocks will be added (but don’t count on this).

During the last few weeks of your prep, try to do a few blocks of UWORLD in a row. When do you find your energy tanking? This is probably a good time to introduce a break during the real exam.

I took a 4-7 min break between every section and I needed those breaks! So listen to your body!

So there you have it guys! I know that was a ton (>3000 words!) but I hope the information was helpful!

If you have any questions feel free to comment below and I’ll try to answer your question as quick as possible.

The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) offers self-assessment exams. Check out this article for tips on how to use NBME’s Comprehensive Clinical Science Self-Assessment to study for Step 2 CK.

Want to get better grades on your rotations and want to learn how to best study?  Check out our free step-by-step guide below!

get Honors On Your Rotations Easily!

Learn Exactly How To Study For Each Rotation With Our Easy Step-By-Step Guide!

If you enjoyed the study methods I mentioned in this article – be sure to check out the top 5 study methods for medical students here. 

You might also want to read this article on how to study for your shelf exam efficiently and effectively.

Want To Crush Your Clinical Rotations?

This is another great resource you might want to check out – Crushing Clinicals: How To Dominate On Your Clinical Rotations. 

It’s a full-training course I dedicated my heart and soul into making to help you excel on any rotation. It teaches how you can study and be productive to impress your patients and attendings with ease! 

Hope you enjoyed the content. Follow me and connect with me on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter to keep up my daily life as a med student outside the blog!

If you enjoyed this post, then you will also find these other posts enjoyable and helpful:

• Step 2 CK Schedule From Successful Test Takers
• Step 2 CS USMLE: Everything You Need To Know!
• How To Study And Pass The USMLE Step 2 CS On Your First Try (Top 11 Tips)
• Top 10 Best Microbiology Books For Medical Students
• Best Resource For Anatomy In Medical School [Full Breakdown]
• 20 Best Anatomy And Physiology Books For Medical Students
• NBME Free 120 [Ultimate Guide]
• How To Use NBMEs For Step 2 CK
• Step 2 CK Scores By Residency Program

Good luck on your test!

Until next time friend…

12 thoughts on “Ultimate Guide on How To Study For Step 2 CK (2022)”

1. Sadia

   November 8, 2018 at 2:47 pm

   Is the ifom cse same as usmle step 2ck ?

2. Maham Noor

   March 31, 2019 at 3:24 am

   Hi, I’m just starting out with my ck prep. Im in my final year and hope to give the exam by the end of this year (I’ll be graduating in November). The catch here is that I haven’t given my step1 (not a US med student). I have studied for it from kaplan (books+videos) and pathoma. I’m planning to study for ck for 6 months and take FA for step1 side by side as step1 knowledge is crucial for ck. I’ll be extremely grateful if you can tell me whether or not I’m on the right path.

3. TheMDJourney

   April 1, 2019 at 4:23 pm

   Hi,

   Thanks for your comment! Email me at [email protected] so I can help you better with a plan!

   Best,

4. Cameron

   April 26, 2019 at 2:36 am

   Hello,
   I’m studying for my ck after a 3years leave of absence. I barely passed my step 1way back when. Pass my CS on first try 3years ago. Family difficulties, had to take off for 3 years. I need to take this test by July. From reading your post, I’ll do Uworld, OME and all the assessments exams. Anything else you think I need that might help me?
   Thank you very much.

5. TheMDJourney

   April 26, 2019 at 7:38 am

   I think for you the less the better. Instead focus on as much cycles of UWORLD and OME you can do. Try the OME practice questions for some extra practice on the basics if you need it. But to help you perform better on CK compared to Step 1, I think your best course of action is focus a great deal of time on practice questions, keeping note of your mistakes, and repeating. Let me know if you have more questions!

   Best of luck!

6. Steffie

   May 15, 2019 at 6:22 am

   How did you study the Uworld explanation? Do you read everything? Someone advised me to just read the educational objective and rationale of the right answer.

7. John

   May 17, 2019 at 7:47 am

   Hi ,

   I needed your advice . I graduated almost 1yrs back and am an IMG. I did one pass of Uworld qs(40 to 50% scores ), OME notes and few videos, gave my USWA2 yesterday -170 and did not pass. I just need to get a passing score. What do you recommend doing next. Should I do the Uworld again or use any other additional resources. I need to give the exam in 4 to 6 weeks time.
   I will be taking the NMBE 6 shortly.
   Thank you

8. Tunmise

   October 12, 2019 at 12:39 pm

   thanks for sharing this information. However, I have a question for you. How were you able to do 4 UWORLD blocks daily and review them? It takes a good amount of time to review 1 block not to talk of 4 or 5. How did you review each block?

9. TheMDJourney

   November 24, 2019 at 9:04 am

   The first time around I would do a quick pass through all the questions to see what I got wrong or right. Then I’d go back and spend the most times on the questions that I had no idea why the right answer was correct. These were likely the areas I was the most confused or weak about. The rest was often “Oh I need to remember that next time” kind of review questions. Thus going from weakest -> superficial knowledge questions helped me speed up the review process.

10. Andi

    March 3, 2020 at 10:40 pm

    This will be my third time taking the exam (first time OME + Uworld (supplement with Sketchy and picmonic ), 2nd time Case Files + UWORLD (also supplemented with sketchy and picmonic) and I not sure what to do this time around. I think my foundation is bad so I’m thinking of reading step up to medicine first to improve my medicine knowledge before starting uworld again. Any suggestions? Also money is tight so can’t do a tutor…

11. Steve

    October 29, 2020 at 10:19 am

    This is a great guide, however how do you know what’s high yield? Do you use a list of topics posted somewhere? I mean there’s some clearly obvious topics such as fever of unknown origin, AMS, electrolyte abnormalities, chest pain, etc….but it would be nice to have a standardized list of high yield topics.

    Otherwise this is a great guide!

12. soba

    June 1, 2021 at 11:19 am

    hey i am starting my preparation for step 2ck you didn’t mention anything regarding kaplan. like i have seen many people using it.

    How many hours a day should I study for Step 2?

    Your Step 2 CK study plan should include at least 10 hours per day for 4-6 (and up to 8) weeks. Remember, the harder you work, the higher your likelihood of a high score. Split up UWorld questions accordingly. You should allow yourself time to get through all of the questions at least once.

    How long does it take to prepare for Step 2 CK?

    But usually, it takes around four weeks to prepare for this exam given that there are no rotations. If you can devote four to five hours for these four weeks, it should be enough to get a good score in your Step 2 CK examinations.

    Is 2 months enough for Step 2 CK?

    When Should I Take Step 2 CK? Given that clinical experiences are so key to Step 2 CK-relevant knowledge, if at all possible, you should aim to take Step 2 within 6 months of finishing your core clinical rotations.