USMLE STEP BY STEP- STEP 2 CK

Step 2 is divided into two parts- Clinical knowledge (CK) and Clinical Skills (CS). CS can be given only in the US.

Step 2 CK focuses on clinical management. Subjects consist of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, OBG/Gyn and Psychiartry. Step 2 CK is mostly an extension of Step 1. If you have read Step 1 well, you will breeze through Internal medicine (which is the main bulk), Psychiatry, Pedia and most of surgery. OBG/GYN has some newer info but the book is great and is a fast read.

The main difference between Step 1 and CK is the questions. So, even if you read CK 3 times, you might get bombed by the questions if you had studied expecting Step 1 like questions.
Here the focus shifts from mechanism to what is the next best step or the best step? (investigations and management) and the questions are longer.

So doing the orientation practice blocks at the outset might be a good idea.


http://www.usmle.org/Examinations/step2/step2ck.html
http://www.usmle.org/Orientation/2011/menu.html

What to study?

Kaplan Subject books

• The books for Step 2 are great and no extra books are needed expect in Psychiatry where BIOSTATS from Behav science is missing. Biostats is the weak point of Kaplan books and thus UWORLD Step 1 BIOSTAT question bank is a great resource for both the steps
• Caution: The books in CK (esp. IM) are boring in comparison to Step 1. It might be a struggle to go through IM twice.

UWORLD question bank

• I would strongly recommend UWORLD from the beginning. As mentioned, the only difference between Step 1 and Step 2 CK is some course material and mostly the question type. So getting a feel of the exam is much more important in Step 2 CK. ONLINE subscription is the best way to go about it (around 1300 questions). If a downloaded version is available that should be good too. However, the older versions (2005) available had unsatisfactory/sometimes incomplete/outdated explanations.

Kaplan Qbanks- questions are too easy here

Kaplan DVDs
I personally didn't view the DVDs and still scored better than Step 1. However, please feel free to watch the DVDs if you are having trouble understanding certain points. The books are good by themselves.

Master the Boards Step 2 CK
I havent read the book but Conard Fischer wrote Kaplan IM book and also has a audio lecture series (downloadable) for Step 2 CK. So the book should be good.

First Aid for the Step 2 CK is not so good as the ones for STEP 1, 2 CS and 3.

How much time between Step 1 and Step 2 CK? How long for Step 2 CK?

It is very difficult to study till your Step 1 results are out. However, in that time if you are able to go through Step 2 Ck once, you are well set. Step 2 CK can be given from 1.5 months-6months. I would even suggest studying for both the Steps together and giving them 15 days to a month apart. In summary, it depends on you, there is no right time difference, give it if you feel confident and comfortable.

Happy studying

Thank you