Ultimate Guide On How To Study For Step 2 CK (2023)

Once you have completed your Step 1 exam, you should start getting ready for the next phase which is the Step 2 CK.

The Step 2 CK Exam comprises two different sections that you need to prepare for even though, it is much easier.

In this article, we are going to walk you through how best to study for the Step 2 CK Exam as well as the resources that can aid in your studying.

How Do You Study For Step 2 CK?

To be able to study effectively for your Step 2 CK exam, there are some necessary steps that you must take which we have outlined below.

1. Create A Study Plan:

As a medical student preparing for one of the most important tests that determine your next step in becoming a certified medical professional, you need to first create a study plan that suits your learning ability as well as your schedules.

Though it is not all about creating a study plan, it is also about sticking to that plan as well.

So, it is important that as you are making plans of creating one, do well to also think of how best to stick to it since your study plan wouldn’t do you any good if you aren’t going to work towards it.

2. Break Your Schedules:

Research has shown that the ideal amount of time that an individual is expected to study is 52 minutes followed by a 17-minutes break.

With that being said, you can see that there is a need for you to break down your schedules while creating your study plans.

This is to give you time to study the materials you have available and also, for you to relax and take a break to process what you have read before you start up again.

Your mental well-being should come first before any other thing!

3. Give Areas You Don’t Know A Lot Of Attention.

If there are areas in which you are not as strong as you should be.

Do well to make sure that you allocate quality time to it while creating your study plan.

Spend a bit more time and energy on these areas. Most times, those areas are majorly the ones you see during the exam.

4. Learn To Try Different Methods

You should try out different methods of the materials provided.

You can’t get all the details and experiences that will help you in your studying by depending on only one method bearing in mind that the Step 2 CK exam will be computed in different formats.

So, do well to mix things up by going through some questions while still watching some videos or reading some texts.

Going through different things each time will keep your mind focused.

5. Use Your Step 2 CK Resources

There are different supplemental resources that you should use when you are preparing for this exam which we have discussed below.

You don’t necessarily need to have all of them in order to be successful but you must at least have a couple of them just to get yourself started and be on the right track.

It is important that while selecting the one to work with, you should go for the one that suits your learning ability.

Regardless of whichever you choose, do well to make sure that you are creating a useful flashcard and that you are also creating your own study guides.

6. Practice Time Management

If you can manage your time wisely, you are going to be in a much better shape to study effectively for your exam.

Bear in mind that the average amount of time you have per question is 90 seconds.

So, you need to learn how to keep your thought process within those seconds.

By doing so, you will have time to think about the questions and the best answers to give since you have already practiced ahead.

7. Study Step 2 CK Test Questions

Studying the test questions is one of the most important things that you should do.

So make sure to spend quality time as much time as you can on those past questions and use that as effectively as you need to.

8. Use The Sandwich Method

Using this method while studying for this exam will enable you to work on the most basic pieces of information as well as the things you absolutely know that will be on the exam.

While on it, fill in the middle periods with some more details and study the questions on topics that are a bit obscure.

Afterward, go back to the necessary information again at the end.

9. Know The Score That You Need For Your Test

Take a look at some of the resources that we have provided for you and find out what score you are going to need in order to match up with the program that you want.

You should also know exactly where you should be aiming before you can actually start your preparation.

That is, you should know more about what you need to do in order to get to that score.

Resources To Use For Step 2 CK Exam

There are fewer resources to use for the Step 2 exam compared to the Step 1 CK Exam that you have written before now.

These resources or materials are the supplemental materials that you must have for your Step 2 CK test which will help you not just to prepare well but also, to study effectively which will bring about a high score for you at the end of the exercise.

Some of the resources are:

UWORLD For Step 2 CK

The UWorld is one of the popular and well-known resources for studying Clinical knowledge exams among medical students especially after studying for the Step 1 CK Exam.

Using this material provides you with a good overview of all the necessary pieces of information which are in the form of questions that cover what you should expect during your exam.

It is one of the best materials that I will highly recommend to you if you are determined to pass with good grades.

OnlineMedEd For Step 2 CK

This is also one of the best resources that can get you a pass on your Step 2 CK Exam.

This material is basically in the form of videos which majority of medical students usually prefer to than UWorld since it gives hundreds of videos that are free and also well-explanatory.

It is also a material that will be much beneficial to a visual learner since you can watch the videos while strolling through other materials.

Regardless of your opinion about this material, I will highly recommend that you use it alongside the UWorld material which is question-related. When used together, you will have a much better insight into the topics.

Also, do well to check out the options in the topics area and focus on the areas that you are struggling with.

Step 2 Secrets

This book is one of the best for Step 2 CK exam preparation. It’s a book that provides you with a whole lot of resources that comprise a question-and-answer format that makes it easy to understand.

With this material, if used effectively, you will get a good number of questions that will assist you to understand the format for some of the questions that you will likely see in your exam.

Picmonic

This is an excellent option if you are a visual learner. It has the same features as the OnlineMedEd.

It offers a whole lot of videos as well as good explanatory images that are designed to help you memorize the content.

These images can be in the form of a funny-looking image or a playlist which make reading and memorizing a whole lot easier for critical details you need to absorb.

Anki

If you are fond of using flashcards, then this is a great material to use since it can create cards of any type. You can as well create videos, audio, or even some scientific symbols.

With this, you do not have to worry about the topics that you are finding difficult to memorize.

There are some provisions for flashcard banks that you can use to check out different subjects if you don’t want to create your own.

How Long Should I Study For The Step 2 CK Exam?

If you are a medical student getting ready to sit for this exam, you must be contemplating on how long you should study for this exam.

In my opinion, there is a need for you study for this exam for at least a month or perferably a few months before you write this exam.

By doing so, it will help you with your Step 2 CK score since taking this long time will give you enough time to study the materials and have better understanding.

However, the Step 2 CK Exam is easier than the Step 1 exam which means that you don’t need much time to study for it.

FAQs

1. What Is Step 2 CK?

Step 2 CK is designed to ensure examinees’ devotion to and understanding of the principles of clinical sciences and basic patient-centered skills that are the foundation of the safe and competent practice of medicine.

Essentially, this exam tests your readiness to enter medical practice as a supervised, rather than an autonomous, professional.

2. How Many Questions Are On A Step 2 CK Exam?

The number of questions per block on a given examination will vary but will not exceed 40.

The total number of items on the overall examination will not exceed 318.

So, review the Step 2 CK content outline, as well as specifications for the systems, physician tasks/competencies, and disciplines covered on the exam.

3. What Is The Best Step 2 Study Resource?

While UWorldis the most popular among all Step 2 resources, it is not the single best resource out there.

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

Do well to look for more resources within your preference.

Conclusion

We hope that these study tips that we have provided to guide you on how to study for the Step 2 CK Exam will go a long way in making your studying a whole lot easier for you.

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All the best!