During medical school, many of us attempt to study by cramming at the last possible moment. We tell ourselves that we have adequate time during dedicated study periods to fill in our knowledge gaps. While this can work for some students, for some exams, it does not work for many, especially on massive exams like Step 2 CK. Even if cramming does work in the short term, it is a much more stressful experience than studying needs to be. In light of this, I want to highlight some tricks and tips for applying a more longitudinal, year-long study strategy that will not only increase your Step 2 CK score but also protect your well-being in the process.

In order to excel in the Step 2 CK exam, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the exam's purpose. The test is designed to evaluate your knowledge and comprehension of topics covered in core rotations, including Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and Psychiatry. It is highly recommended that you study consistently for each rotation in order to establish a strong foundation for the exam. This proactive approach will not only help you perform well in your clinical rotations but also provide a solid base for dedicated study time. To accomplish this, it is advisable to implement a straightforward study strategy for shelf exams.

Kaplan Videos: This is your crash course on the essential vocabulary of a specialty and should be your emphasis during the first week of a rotation. The videos are easy to digest and facilitate a simplistic but near-comprehensive understanding of each subject. I would recommend watching these first before starting questions.

UWorld: This is the “bible” of practice questions and contains almost all the information you need to know for shelves and CK. There are a few options on how to use it on your rotations. One approach is to set a daily question goal (the number of questions for each subject divided by the number of days left in a clerkship). I highly recommend starting them after watching Kaplan. You will still have plenty of time on the rotation to complete all the questions.

Anki: I will talk about this tool in a separate section because it is so important.

Clinical Mastery Series (CMS) practice NBMEs: Each rotation has four practice NBME exams similar to each shelf exam. Each one costs $, but they are time and money well spent. Sometimes, if you are lucky, nearly identical questions will appear on the actual shelf exams.

Shelf-specific resources: For surgery, in particular, Pestana’s is a quick read on surgical management that is a great resource to use. Additionally, there are 2-hour review videos for most rotations done by a physician named Emma Holliday. You can find these on YouTube, and they are great reviews to watch a few days before your shelf exam.

I do not believe it is wise to spend time reading in-depth textbooks on rotations, as all of the information you need to know is in the following resources. Many of my fellow tutors agree. If you have the time and interest, you can consider pursuing them, but not at the expense of mastering the core resources.

I highly recommend using Anki for your studies. There are two ways you can utilize this program: 

Firstly, you can create your own review cards by making a new deck for each rotation. When reviewing UWorld questions you got wrong, create cards that explain why the right answer was correct, why the other options were wrong, and the main takeaways. Ensure the facts on the card are the ones that would have helped you answer the question correctly. The advantage of making your own cards is that you will have a resource library to review your core topics when preparing for CK. You won't have to spend as much time creating cards during your dedicated period.

Secondly, you can use pre-made decks. Although they aren't as reliable for CK as they are for Step 1, it can still be worth using them.

It cannot be overstated how crucial it is to begin preparing for Step 2 CK well in advance, ideally over the course of an entire year leading up to the exam. Many students make the mistake of neglecting vital steps in their preparation, such as taking NBME practice tests, only to realize too late that they should have done so during their study period. Unfortunately, by that point, they may not have the time to go back and properly address these gaps in their knowledge. 

To avoid this situation, it is best to view each rotation as an opportunity to lay the groundwork for a successful Step 2 CK outcome. By focusing on mastering the material covered in each rotation's shelf exams, you can not only excel in your clinical evaluations but also build a strong foundation of knowledge that will serve you well on the exam. This approach requires discipline and commitment, but the rewards are well worth the effort. With a year-long approach that prioritizes consistent effort and attention to detail, you can give yourself the best possible chance of achieving a fantastic Step 2 CK score.