USMLE Step 2 Study Tips

Albert Chiang, M.D., UIC–Chicago, Class of 2004

Study tips for Step 2. Well, I wanted to try to match my 2-digit score from Step 1 (99) for my own gratification, so I probably put in more effort than absolutely required. Here's what I did.

Review:

Prescription for the Boards: USMLE Step 2
Boards & Wards
Crush Step 2

Questions:

NMS Review for USMLE Step 2 (900q)
Qbank: USMLE Step 2 (1200q)

Rotation schedule:

9/22–10/18 Medicine Sub-I @ WSVA (4w)
10/20–11/01 Radiology @ UIH (2w)
11/03–11/29 Time off to study and interview (14 interviews, 4w)
12/01–12/13 Literature & Medicine @ UIH (2w)

I started studying 9/22 and I took Step 2 on 12/13. During my sub-I and rads, I went through Prescription twice, reading during down-time at work, in the evenings, on call, etc. During November, I started going through B&W and doing questions, amidst the interviews. Like Step 1, I recommend doing all of NMS and all of Qbank. NMS is split into 5 tests of 180 questions each; I did one test a day. For Qbank, I did 200 questions a day. I finished everything by the end of the month, and then spent the last couple weeks reviewing any notes I had made and going through Crush 2 or 3 times. In the end, it worked, and I did what I set out to do.