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When I started my own prep way back in 2005, the biggest problem I faced is the fact that I have forgotten most of what I had studied before. This is especially true for the basic sciences. Even for the clinical sciences, although I am very familiar with cases found commonly in clinical practice, . . . → Read More: Problem of the Old IMG – Relearning What Have Been Forgotten  For most people, preparing for an exam involves learning the material tested in the exam. After doing so, they feel that is enough for them to do well in the examination. For most short quizzes and even shelf exams, that is usually enough. But for examinations like the USMLE, it calls for a . . . → Read More: Why You Need Three Phases in USMLE Prep – I The Holy Grail of the USMLE exam is to get a 99 or much more rarely the double 99. This is where you get a 99 on both the USMLE Step 1 and the USMLE Step 2 CK. Only very few people can achieve the even rarer triple 99, where you also get . . . → Read More: Can I get a 99 in the USMLE? When I started thinking about taking on the USMLE way back in last quarter of 2004, I would scour through all the forums. Trying to find any information I can get on how to tackle this difficult exam. I would pay special attention to the postings on exam experience. And whenever I see . . . → Read More: How to Score 99′s in the USMLE Biggest Mistake in USMLE Prep One of the biggest mistakes people make in prepping for the USMLE is underestimating the time it takes to finish the prep. It seems a lot of people start their USMLE prep by opening a book and then start reading. They have no estimate on how fast they . . . → Read More: Three Phases of USMLE Prep Click here to access Askdoc’s USMLE Step 2 CS Prep Course
The USMLE Step 2 CS is probably the most neglected examination in the USMLE. It is usually taken as an afterthought, with very little preparation taken before the exam. And in relation to the other bigger exams, Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3, maybe it is not as “important”. Unlike its bigger cousins, USMLE Step 2 CS is a pass/fail exam. So performing really wells serves no other purpose than to feel good about yourself. Of course, over preparing can also insure that there is no chance you will fail. However, it is important to realize that although USMLE Step 2 CS is relatively simple, if you are unfamiliar with the methodology of the exam you can fail. For most AMGs this is not a problem since simulated patient exams are part of their normal curriculum. However, for most IMG’s it is a rather novel experience. Therefore, the key to doing well in the Step 2 CS exam is to be so familiar with the methods that it becomes second nature to you. This includes doing a relevant medical interview, performing a focused physical examination and writing a legible and coherent patient note. All under time pressure. You also need to dress, act and speak in a professional manner. And all this takes practice. The most important thing in preparing for Step 2 CS is practice. Practice, practice and more practice. Askdoc’s USMLE prep course currently consists of 30 practice cases that you can use to sharpen your mastery of the methods. An additional 30 cases will be finished in the next few days to bring the total number of cases you can practice on to 60. Continue reading Askdoc’s USMLE Step 2 CS Prep Course Now Open for Enrollment *note: I wrote this way back in 2007 and posted it in prep4usmle. I am reposting it here because many people have been asking about how to prep for Step 2 CK and I am busy to write one. Although this may need a rewrite, it will do until I actually finish and post a new article.
The purpose of this post is to help people prepare for Step 2 CK. I purposefully did not title this as ‘How to get a 99 in Step 2 CK’ even though I got one using these preparation techniques. The reason is that it takes more than knowing how to prepare to get a 99. How much sacrifice and effort you put into your preparation is most important. Some of you may already know me, from my post on how to prepare for step 1. I posted it in answer to a question on ‘What to Do’ in Step 1, and it’s purpose is to guide people in how to prepare for step 1 rather than how to get a 99 even though, again, I got one using those prep techniques. I’m posting a link to that thread: For those who don’t. I am an Old IMG from the Philippines. Graduated way back in 1989 at the top medical college in my country. I took Step 1 last April 24, 2006 and got a 99/256. Took Step 2 CK last November 20, 2006 and got 99/258. Back in late 2004, when I started this journey and like most of you dreaming of 99′s, whenever, I see someone posting that they got 99′s, 2 things always pop up in my mind, wishing that it was me and wondering how it’s done. And always, when I read what they write about how they did it, it talks of what books they read, what lecture they listened to and what QBanks they used. Of course, the problem was, everybody seems to be doing the same things and most of them are not getting 99′s and some are even failing. So the only conclusion I can make is the secret does not lie in the preparation materials rather in how you used the preparation materials. And since different people have different starting points and different capabilities, their preparations and the materials they used must be adjusted accordingly. Someone once asked in this forum if the reason I know so much about USMLE is I had taken it before. The answer is no, this is the first time I am taking all Steps. The reason I seem to know a lot about it is that it has always in my nature to know as much as I can about any task set before me. I have never failed an exam in my life and even though USMLE is supposed to be really tough especially for old Grads, I’m not about to let this be my first time. So, I set out to discover as much as I can about the exam, analyzing it and planning out what I hoped was a coherent well thought out study plan taking into consideration my special situation (a very old graduate) and my own prep capabilities. It is not enough to study hard, one has to study smart too. I believe that with proper prep and hard work, anyone can pass this exam, hence this “what to do”. It is also my belief that with proper prep and really hard work, most can get high 80′s and even 90′s. Someday I’ll probably write a post about how to get double 99′s but for now I’ll stick to proper preparation for Step 2 CK. Continue reading What to Do in Step 2 CK I would like to congratulate Logik15 for passing the USMLE Step 1 recently with a score of 92/221. He is the first member of the February batch to report back with his scores. I wish him well in his future endeavours. I am still awaiting the results of two other members of the . . . → Read More: Congratulations Logik15! USMLE Step 1 92/221 I would like to announce that I’ll be accepting applications for the September Class of Askdoc’s USMLE Step 1 Prep Course which will start on September 1, 2009 and end on March 3, 2010. This is the 5th batch of enrollees for this course. Please click on this link to go to the Home . . . → Read More: September Class – Accepting Applications for USMLE Step 1 Prep Course I would like to congratulate Marlene for successfully passing the USMLE Step 1 with a score of 88/213 which she took last March 27, 2009. She is part of the first batch of enrollees in my prep course for USMLE Step 1 which started last September, 2008. For those who were visiting the . . . → Read More: Congratulations Marlene! USMLE Step 1 88/213 *Note: Enrollment for September Classes have started. Please go to this link
I would like to announce that I’ll be accepting applications for the June Batch of Askdoc’s USMLE Step 1 Prep Course which will start on June 1, 2009 and end on November 30, 2009. This is the 4th batch of enrollees for this course and again due to experiences with the previous batches, changes are being implemented to the program for this batch. As you may well be aware, the first batch started last September, 2008. No fees were collected, however, the applicants were required to have failed Step 1 at least once. Tong, the first to take the exam from that batch has passed with a score of 97/232. The second, Marlene just passed with an 88/213. Most of you may know Marlene. She was the one who was ardently negotiating a position in the prep course on this blog last July to August when I first announced the course. Well she finally made it. You can read more about their exam experience here. The February batch is mostly on schedule to take their exams in June and July, except for two who have requested to be move the June batch and one who is MIA. So a total of 4 will be taking their exams soon. Continue reading June Class – Accepting Applications for Askdoc’s USMLE Step 1 Prep Course *Enrollments for June Classes already started and will be open for the whole of May, 2009. If you are interested in enrolling please click on this link. Thank You
Hello everyone, I will now be accepting applications for the April batch of Askdoc’s USMLE Step 1 Prep Course which will start April 1, 2009 and end on September 30, 2009. This is the third batch of enrollees for this prep course. As you may well be aware, the first batch started last September, 2008. No fees were collected, however, the applicants were required to have failed Step 1 at least once. The first to take the exam from that batch has passed with a score of 97/232. You can read more about him here. The second batch started on January 26, 2009 and currently with 7 members. They paid a fee of $100 but this time around, everyone was accepted but on a first come, first served basis. Currently 4 are doing very well and 3 are doing poorly, not in terms of scores but in terms of progress. You need to be committed to finishing the course, and in order to do that you need to show up. Therefore some modification to the programs need to be done which I’ll discuss later. Due to my experience with the first and second batch, I believe I have to describe the course in more detail including expectations and the amount of work needed so there is no misunderstanding. 1. The course covers USMLE Step 1 which is seven subjects all in all. The course is 6 months long. Therefore telling me that you do not have enough time to finish 1 subject in 4 to 6 weeks means you won’t have time to finish the course period. Therefore please be ready to invest the time needed to do the course. Nothing less than 4 to 6 hours a day at least 5 to 6 days a week is needed. If you are unable to commit this time, then this course will not help you. 2. The reason you would want in on this course is that it will teach you how to prep for the USMLE in the proper way. Therefore you must be prepared to follow instructions. You would be surprised at how many people insists on following their own methods of studying rather than those outlined in the course. If you will not follow the course’s review methodology, why bother enrolling? Continue reading April Class – Accepting Applications for Askdoc’s USMLE Step 1 Prep Course I would like to congratulate Tong for successfully passing the USMLE Step 1 Exam with a score of 97/232 which he took last January 27, 2009. He is part of the first batch of enrollees in my prep course for Step 1 which started last September, 2008. He is currently preparing for his . . . → Read More: Congratulations, Tong! USMLE Step 1 97/232
This started out as a reply to a question asked by dr patel on my blog on how to evaluate one’s readiness for the USMLE and avoid making the mistake of taking the examination and failing it. However, it got a little bit too long, so I have decided to rewrite it into an article. Failure to properly evaluate one’s readiness for the examination and one’s progress during the whole USMLE preparation process may be one of the most crucial reason not only for failing the USMLE but also for failure to achieve a less than stellar score. Proper self-evaluation involves not only how to do the evaluation, using the right tool to measure the right parameter but also when to do the measuring to insure maximal effectiveness. Most failures in self-evaluation can be divided into these 2 broad categories. Continue reading Guide to Self-Evaluation in USMLE Prep  12 comments  Exam Preparation, Study Methods, USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, USMLE Step 3  blog, Blueprints, Guide to Self-Evaluation in USMLE Prep, Immunology, kaplan, Levinson, Medicine, Microbiology, nbme self assessment, note, Q Banks, readiness, score, self assessment tests, Step, step 2 CK, step 3, usmle prep, usmle preparation, usmle step, USMLE Step 1
I would like to announce that Askdoc’s Method of USMLE Review for Step 1 is now available at my prep forum at http://forums.askdoc-usmle.com. As I promised to some of you before, it contains more or less the same instructions available to the participants in my prep course. It includes suggested alternate reviewers . . . → Read More: Askdoc’s Method of USMLE Review for Step 1 now available
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