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First I have not started with any specialty yet, I am an IMG that graduated 3 years ago and have been working in my country for all these years and preparing all the steps. I took the Step 2 CK about a year and a half prior of taking the Step 3.
I prepare the Step 3 within 8 weeks of the date of the exam, studying for 6 hours daily average. I read the Crush one time and took notes from it, which I reviewed later. I bought the USMLE World for the questions and for the Cases. I also did the Self assessment exam 2 weeks prior to the exam - try to do this one earlier cause anyway you are going to get about the same score-. There is a debate over which Questions bank is the best? I cannot tell, I have not tried the others so I cannot compare, however I think USMLE World is good enough. The cases are also good and the interface is pretty similar (almost identical) to the real exam. I only had some problems with a couple of cases but nothing to worry about, you can study from these (USMLE World) and be sure you are well prepared. I know that everybody tells you that and you still think is not enough, don’t worry If you do them a couple of times is going to be fine.
The first day of the exam is as everybody says kind of exhausting. The first few blocks were ok since you just got there and you are fresh, but later it becomes more difficult based on the time not the question and secondary to your exhaustion. Do not worry but do not over relaxed cause the time is going to get you. Also, for me, the office-inpatient questions were easier than the ER-ICU ones. But this is my appreciation, it should not be for everybody. The second day is better. Again, do not get over relaxed cause you can get out of time. The cases are straight forward, most of them. I had trouble with one that I ended up not knowing exactly what he had and the last one was easy to diagnose but the treatment was not helping much. You will have plenty of time so do not worry about that in this part.
As most of USMLE test, you get out without really knowing how you performed. Do not worry, if you studied well you will pass but the score is always UNKNOWN until you get it. You can get either number and since you are not sure how you really did you will be “fine” with the score you get, you will never know which questions were correct or not. Unfortunately that is how it is.
My score, I wish it would had been a little better but is fine: 84/203. It took 3 weeks to get published.
For the people that bought the USMLE World, my total average for all the questions, ONE TIME, 48 QUESTIONS BLOCKS, TIMED (ALWAYS except the first 5 blocks): 54%. Again, I am publishing these numbers because I was once one of you looking for answers specially when the study is not going well. I know it helps but as I said earlier, all the experiences are unique so trust yourself.
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medwill (Posts 1) - 12/14/2009 7:48:08 AM
I am an IMG as you are. I already wrote a post looking for guidance to study this exam. do you thing 2 months is enuogh time to prepare it? and USMLEWORD is good enough to obtein a decent score?
thank you
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