“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Tao Le, MD, MHS Assistant Clinical Professor Chief, Section of Allergy & Immunology University of Louisville Senior Editor First Aid Board Series USMLERx Test Bank Series First Aid for the USMLE Step 2CK: The Really Short Version

Overview n USMLE Step 2 – The Basics n Defining Your Goals n Timelines for Study n Choosing Prep Resources n Study Tips n Panelist Discussion n Q&A

USMLE Step 2 CK - The Basics n 9 hours total n 352 questions in 8 one hour blocks n 44 questions per block n 45 minutes of break time Lunch

Question Types n One-best answer items n Sequential item sets n Matching sets u A few with multimedia u Clinical vignettes – 95+% of exam u Multi-step reasoning u Experimental questions

Physician Tasks Tested Physician Tasks% Establishing a diagnosis25-40 Understanding the mechanisms of disease20-35 Applying principles of management15-25 Promoting preventive medicine and health maintenance15-25

Most Common Lead-Ins Lead-In% What is the most likely diagnosis?40 Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in management? 20 Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management? 20 Which of the following is the most likely cause of... ?5 Which of the following is the most likely pathogen... ?3 Which of the following would most likely prevent... ?2

Scores and Passing Rates n Passing is 189/75 n Mean is 226 n 23 points is roughly 1 SD n Allopathic med students u 96% pass on first try u 99% eventually pass n Osteopathic med students u 87% pass on first try n IMGs u 81% pass on first try

USMLE Step 2CK Score Report

Defining Your Goals n Just pass the exam  200 – 225 n Beat the mean  226 – 250 n Ace the exam  250+ n “ROAD to Riches” u Radiology/Radiation Oncology u Ortho/Ophtho/Otolaryngo/Urology u “Aesthetic” Surgery (Plastics) u Dermatology

NRMP: Charting Outcomes in the Match

75-80%60%50%

NRMP: Charting Outcomes in the Match 75%

Academic Factors Important to Residency Directors

Timeline for Study n The “Just Pass” Schedule – 2 to 4 weeks u First Aid High Yield Facts u Mini-reviews or all-in-one reviews u Review questions – 1 question bank n The “Gunner” Schedule – 4 to 12 weeks u In addition to above u Detailed reviews u More review questions – 1-2 question banks

Defining Your Goals n Just pass the exam  200 – 225 n Beat the mean  226 – 250 n Ace the exam  250+ n “ROAD to Riches” u Radiology/Radiation Oncology u Ortho/Ophtho/Otolaryngo/Urology u “Aesthetic” Surgery (Plastics) u Dermatology

Review Resources n Text reviews n Test banks n Self-test reviews n Case-based reviews n Review courses n Other media u Flash cards u CDs/MP3/Videos u PDA/smartphone

Picking and Choosing Resources n Check out the book reviews in First Aid for the USMLE Step 2CK n Use clerkship texts n Check out the library reserve n Buy only what you can use n Don’t blindly buy a whole series

Study Tips n Establish a study schedule and stick with it n Alternate study methods for variety n Focus on high yield material and what you already know n Keep the common lead-ins in mind n Allow time in schedule for breaks, exercise and personal issues

CBT Tips n Be very familiar with the CBT tutorial n Know the keyboard shortcuts n Use computerized practice tests in addition to paper exams n Mix Q&A throughout and at end

CBT Practice Options TypesSuggested Use USMLE Sample TestFormat familiarity NBME/CCSSABenchmarking Commercial Test BanksPractice/study Simulation

Now a word from our sponsor… USMLERx Step 2CK Qmax n high-yield USMLE Step 1-style questions n 100’s of revised questions for 2011 n Select questions by difficulty level n Additional discounts for AMSA members

Panel Discussion + Q&A n me at u Help me improve this talk n Visit our blog – u Download the presentation u Get First Aid/USMLERx updates n Go to – u Step 2CK Qmax u AMSA discounts