http://www.doctorshangout.

com/group/usmlestep3

http://www.bassatom.com/2013/03/what-next.html

http://www.bassatom.com/2013/02/when-to-give-your-step-3_17.html

http://www.bassatom.com/2013/02/step-3-study-materials.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/50320359/Ethics-Fischer

http://www.scribd.com/doc/102892711/The-Long-and-Winding-Road-to-a-Residency-by-
Zainab-Malik-Class-of-2000-Paeds-Resident-Duke-University

http://www.scribd.com/doc/119480190/Downloads-for-Medical-Books

http://www.scribd.com/doc/112293102/usmle-step-3-complete-review-package

http://www.scribd.com/doc/113546668/usmle-helper

http://www.scribd.com/doc/102892973/Another-Road-to-Residency-Updated

http://www.scribd.com/doc/6736572/The-Speed-Reading-Course

http://www.scribd.com/doc/12732671/Speed-Reading

Kaplan Step 2 CK lecture notes 2011-12
drsanchana - 02-08-13 16:12

Available to download as pdf files for just $9

Please contact drsanchana@yahoo.com


Sorry for delaying, I completely forgot I owed you this one.

I took Step 3 in December and received results on the 11th of this month. I passed 238
corresponds to 88 on the new scale. These support forums on the web aided me a lot in this
victory. Hooray! I can now do unsupervised practice. This will be my last post, as the
USMLE is now far behind me.

When I first started looking for information on Step 3 and how to prepare, I felt lost because
there is so much information out there and too scattered. I will outline important stuff about
Step 3 and preparation along with my experience for benefit of future step3ers.

The original USMLE Step 3 orientation material and content you can find at www.usmle.org.
First look at these before you start anything. Read the outline of the content and check the
orientation material.
Then register for Step 3. You must register in one of the states which you can do at
www.fsmb.org FSMB. Schedule a date , allow yourself three to four months preparation time.
The exam is split into two days, 8 hrs each day. There is 45 min break time and 15 min
tutorial time. I skipped all the tutorials. If you do orientation material tutorial you do not need
this again and can add 15 minutes to your break period. Day 2 is 50% CCS. I ended day 2
early by 90 minutes.

I prepared for 2 months. I did not really care about getting high scores on USMLE Step 3. I
just wanted to pass because I am also doing a full time research position in molecular biology.
I am lucky to have had a written agreement with the program in the same facility for first year
residency to begin in July 2012. So, a big score means nothing to me but the program wanted
me to pass Step 3 as soon as possible because I am a Canadian Citizen and I had to take this to
get visa. I purchased USMLE world question bank first, and found it to be enough. I also
purchased lectures from Archer review and it took me about 1 month to complete them. They
were very helpful in answering challenging questions. I did UW questions for 2 months, and
then took the exam. If you want a high score, you must do more than this. It is not an easy
exam.


For day 2, I subscribed Archer ccs workshop and USMLE world ccs. These helped in
reasoning how the software functioned. It is critical that you understand how the software
works for day 2 before you turn up. If had not done this, I would have failed. You are given a
scenario that may start in the emergency room or office, and you have the ability to order
medications etc. and re-examine the patient, and you are given real-time feedback that you
must respond to ("patient's blood pressure is now 80/40" etc.). You can transfer the patient to
the ICU etc. Go to the USMLE website and download the free cases online. Archer workshop
and UWORLD will help with all these real-time settings and helps tune your quick response.
This should be enough to pass the CCS.

Please keep in mind that I did not care about score on this exam. If you are the type that just
must have a 99, ask someone more thorough. But I think more or less it may be easy to pass if
you know the general topics and CCS well.

Good luck to all those folks reading this.

http://www.usmleforum.com/files/forum/2012/5/646788-2.php

http://www.usmleforum.com/files/forum/2013/2/719876-2.php
http://quizlet.com/21253069/usmle-step-3-part-6-peds-flash-cards/

How to Study for the USMLE Step 3

January 28th, 2013 // Medicine
The old adage has been two months for Step 1, two weeks for Step 2, #2 pencil for Step 3. In
reality, its probably more like two months for Step 1, 1 month for Step 2, and two weeks for Step
3. But if you are worried about getting that competitive cardiology fellowship, its hard to nurse
the popular opinion that Step 3 is $780 pass/fail two-day pain-fest that you can simply walk in
and take. That said, if you comfortably passed Step 1 and Step 2, you will pass Step 3 with
nominal preparation outside of familiarizing yourself with the CCS software and the official
sample cases. Step 3 is a normalized test, and because all residents put less effort into studying,
you simply need to do less work to achieve the same score.

Your resources
A busy intern doesnt have much time (or desire) to comb through any review book. If you only
plan to dedicate 2-4 weeks part-time studying (which is typical), then all you really have time for
is USMLEWorld. The question bank itself is just under 1400 questions with 44 CCS cases.
Forgo the books. Do the UW qbank and definitely do the CCS cases, and you might have time to
go through the questions youve marked/gotten wrong a second time. Besides, UW now has an
iOS app so you do questions while your attending prattles on rounds. Because everyone studies
less for Step 3, youre likely to perform similarly to Step 1/2CK with only a fraction of the work.
Dont forget to download the official USMLE Step 3 practice materials here, which contain the
official software, some sample questions, and six CCS cases (which are a must do). If you dont
bother going through lots of example cases, at least do the six free cases to become intimate with
the software.
If you have the time or desire to do a slow-burn and read actual books, you can (but probably
shouldnt/wont). However, know that none of entries from the classic series are really as good
as their previous Step counterparts.
Crush Step 3 (just updated) is the fastest, but its skeletal and fulls of holes as always. Its
definitely the only thats fast enough to blaze through. First Aid is simply not great. Master the
Boards USMLE Step 3 is probably the best complete book, but theres no way most interns
will bother getting through it. USMLE Step 3 Triage is better than First Aid, very readable and
well-organized, and theres a nice free companion website with practice questions that anyone
can use. You can also find some free questions on the Archer USMLE site.
As always, questions are most important, and UW is indispensable. Never use a book in the
place of questions. If youve spent a few days on a medicine service, an ER, done any general
surgery, played with kids, or avoided poisoning a developing fetus, then your clinical experience
will serve you well. But you dont really need itas always, this is a test. It tests your ability to
take a test, not to be a physician.

A few words about about the CCS (Computer-based Case Simulations)
Typically getting the diagnosis and the primary treatment is pretty straightforward. The finesse
comes from two skills:
1. Get the diagnosis and management done quickly efficiently. Do only the focused physical
in an emergency. Dont order and wait for tests that delay proper management.
2. Know the related but fundamental orders. Using CCS is awkward. You have to order
patient counseling and other things that you would simply do in real life. You also need
to remember to follow up labs and the like. If you start methotrexate, you need to order
follow-up CBC and hepatic function panel. If you diagnose someone with lupus, they
need a renal biopsy. If you give someone a stent, they need clopidogrel. Keep these sorts
of things in mind and youll feel much better as you go through the cases.
3. Before you start, it might help you to write out on the test-center sheet the common
orders that you would otherwise forget to do so that you can be methodical in your
approach (the kinds of things that just happen in the hospital), like starting an IV.
When ordering consults or inputting the primary diagnosis on the final screen, you may ask
yourself, I wonder how this is graded? Do they have human beings read through more than
25,000 tests to determine if the words deserve credit? Is there an algorithm that checks the text
for the presence of the correct words? The answer is neither. This text is not saved as part of the
examination, is lost forever in the sands of time, and is in no way used for scoring. Interesting
isnt it? So it makes more sense to use the final two minutes to make sure your final orders are as
complete as possible than to make sure you have time to type up the diagnosis.
2/16/2011 11:38:02 AM
permalink

I am finally done with all my steps, feel so relieved. UW MCQs and CCS cases played a big role
in my prep, this is what I did:
1 month of kapplan video watching
1 month of UW mcqs with review for second time of all the wrong questions I got
10 days of CCS cases
I scored 63% on UW and got a 94% on my step, so thankful with UW and this wonderful
forums.
I didn't read any books as master the boards, just half of the step 3 first aid, and did online
reviewing thru skype which worked out fine at the end of the day when studying alone was
boring and more of a torture.
I feel the CCS cases were the best, dominating the software on my testing day was a huge help in
my prep for this test!!
I hope this helps a bit to anyone...good luck to everyone!

OsMa52094322 (Posts 1) - 2/17/2011 7:29:01 AM
permalink

Hi there, this is a reply for the ur post, what I read for my CK were only the kapplan lecture
notes 2007, which are a red cover books of each specialty. They were excellent for reviewing of
every topic. That was all I read nothing else!!

AlIm19737956 (Posts 1) - 4/12/2011 11:04:34 AM
permalink

Congrats!!! that is just awesome. I am wondering about two things.
1. you said you did UW X2. Is your %63+ after in the first time around or the second time or
cumulative?
2. What supplemental books did you use to augment your study?

Thanks and congrats again.
OsMa52094322 wrote:
I am finally done with all my steps, feel so relieved. UW MCQs and CCS cases played a big role
in my prep, this is what I did:
1 month of kapplan video watching
1 month of UW mcqs with review for second time of all the wrong questions I got
10 days of CCS cases
I scored 63% on UW and got a 94% on my step, so thankful with UW and this wonderful
forums.
I didn't read any books as master the boards, just half of the step 3 first aid, and did online
reviewing thru skype which worked out fine at the end of the day when studying alone was
boring and more of a torture.
I feel the CCS cases were the best, dominating the software on my testing day was a huge help in
my prep for this test!!
I hope this helps a bit to anyone...good luck to everyone!

OsMa52094322 (Posts 1) - 4/13/2011 9:13:35 AM
permalink

Thnks for the complements. My 63% average is after my first time thru UW mcqs, later I did go
over the wrong mcqs and my average went up sky high but it would not be fair to take that as a
reference for me. Bottom line is I did UW got 63% and scored a 94/222 on step 3.
I only read half of usmle first aid, watched the videos and did summaries of every section. Did
not read anything else besides what I wrote on my study plan!!

PaPa61518864 (Posts 1) - 4/14/2011 9:35:05 PM
permalink

Congratulations and thank you for sharing it with us. Would you please share how did you study
for CCS? Did you read the explanations first and practiced later? Thanks!

ebok72311931 (Posts 1) - 4/20/2011 11:07:34 AM
permalink

congratulations......ur post is really encouraging.....i have my exam in 6 wks and really confused
about ccs.....pls can i have at least a one day tutorial over the phone...will really appreciate
it.....let me know and we can xchange phone numbers pls......

ahal59224493 (Posts 1) - 4/29/2011 2:46:37 AM
permalink

OsMa52094322 wrote:
I am finally done with all my steps, feel so relieved. UW MCQs and CCS cases played a big role
in my prep, this is what I did:
1 month of kapplan video watching
1 month of UW mcqs with review for second time of all the wrong questions I got
10 days of CCS cases
I scored 63% on UW and got a 94% on my step, so thankful with UW and this wonderful
forums.
I didn't read any books as master the boards, just half of the step 3 first aid, and did online
reviewing thru skype which worked out fine at the end of the day when studying alone was
boring and more of a torture.
I feel the CCS cases were the best, dominating the software on my testing day was a huge help in
my prep for this test!!
I hope this helps a bit to anyone...good luck to everyone!

ahal59224493 (Posts 1) - 4/29/2011 2:57:09 AM
permalink

OsMa52094322 wrote:
I am finally done with all my steps, feel so relieved. UW MCQs and CCS cases played a big role
in my prep, this is what I did:
1 month of kapplan video watching
1 month of UW mcqs with review for second time of all the wrong questions I got
10 days of CCS cases
I scored 63% on UW and got a 94% on my step, so thankful with UW and this wonderful
forums.
I didn't read any books as master the boards, just half of the step 3 first aid, and did online
reviewing thru skype which worked out fine at the end of the day when studying alone was
boring and more of a torture.
I feel the CCS cases were the best, dominating the software on my testing day was a huge help in
my prep for this test!!
I hope this helps a bit to anyone...good luck to everyone!


hi, first of all congratulations for passing all steps ,
would u please help and guide me to do step3 ,iam living in united arab emirtaes and just
recently finish part1,2 and cs ..and i have no idea about part 3 ,what are the materials ?on line
sites ?and i have no partner to help me .wolud u please send me the on line sites, coz i have no
idea about uw mcqs ?ccs cases ?skype ?
thank u .

FOOW11902451 (Posts 1) - 4/29/2011 7:17:59 AM
permalink

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pls what textbook did you study with for your step3 and do you UW is
really beneficial?your help is really appreciated.

samo10509581 (Posts 1) - 5/10/2011 7:31:48 PM
permalink

Hi OsMa

Congrats for ur score, and for getting done with USMLE finally! it must be a great relief...

I am starting to study for step 3 today.... i gave step 2 CK on december 30th, so its been 4
months.

I want to know if i should study kaplan CK books again before starting UW or can i start UW
right away? or should i do MTB? i have not done MTB before.... so will i be able to adjust to it?
I want to get done with step 3 in 2 months sharp. please advise...

My CK score was 227/99

OsMa52094322 (Posts 1) - 5/11/2011 10:22:47 AM
permalink

Hi there, congrats for accomplishing that high score of ur CK, and also for reaching the
preparation for the last step. My study plan was exactly as you read on my 2/17/2010 post,
nothing else. regarding wether to read textbooks before or after the mcqs it's something that is up
to you, but I have always read in guidelines for studying and tips that mcqs are better left for the
end, you may not have to go too deeply into the kapplan notes cuz you are only 4 months past
your ck,so everything is still fresh in your mind.
I never read MTB, not even the kapplan notes, only half of first aid. To me videos were always
much better than reading text.

BiCh71585715 (Posts 1) - 9/12/2011 7:51:30 AM
permalink

Hi,
Congrats on your great score and completing USMLE.Can you kindly enlighten about online
resources for CCS that you used other than USMLE world.
Thanks
Bindu

naheed (Posts 1) - 10/6/2011 2:51:53 AM
permalink

congratz osma

BoneKollector (Posts 1) - 10/6/2011 12:18:58 PM
permalink

Hello to all.
I am finally done with all my USMLE's. To all of those who have passed, congratulations! To
those who have failed, take a breath, dust yourself off and get back on task. To those who have
yet to take Step 3, listen to wise counsel and study your butts off.

Thought I would through my 2 cents in.
USMLE World MCQ's are a must. However, if you are speeding through them for the sake of
saying you got through so many a day, then your headed on a collision course. What is needed is
to actually do the question and read all the explanations and educational objectives and really get
your head around the material. Do not lie to yourself by changing answers from wrong to right in
tutor mode so you end up with a certain percentile at the end. You are only hurting yourself.
Better yet don't even bother with looking at how many people got a answer right or wrong vs
what you did. It is senseless to do this, especially because there are a lot of people reusing the
MCQ's so they remember answers.

In addition, the 41 print out cases are very helpful to recall and reinforce topics you learned
while on rotations in medical school and things you may have seen as an intern.
The 52 CCS are a complete must. With that do not memorize all the cases because you may
receive totally different cases on the real exam. Instead, you should learn how to navigate
through the system, mentally visualize the patient and understand what is needed for that
particular patient by practicing the cases. You must be comfortable with CCS in order to pass
this exam, can not express this enough.

Lastly, many will tell you what books to use etc. I think it is up to your preference and what you
were comfortable with in the past. All books have errors. It says that you are on the right track if
you happen to discover an error here or there while reading. It may indicate you know that
particular topic well!

So to end my rant. In my opinion (take it for what it is worth)
USMLE WORLD MCQs
USMLE WORLD 41 print out cases and 52 simulated cases
Master The Boards or First Aid (would not waste my time with Crush)
Determination and at least 1 month of study is all that is needed to pass/do well on this exam.

Excuse any grammatical errors etc (then again I don't care :-)

God speed to you all

Study materials
I used the following (in descending order of importance):
Kaplan Master the Boards for USMLE Step 3
USMLEWorld qBank (for Android tablet, Android phone, and via web browser)
USMLEWorld CCS simulator
First Aid for Step 3
Kaplan Qbook
Kaplan Master the Boards for USMLE Step 3 was absolutely key. If there ware one book to get,
get this. The book is more conceptual. And, more conversational. It pointed out a lot of traps,
such as distinguishing amyl nitrite and valsalva maneuvers. It didnt overwhelm me as much as
First Aids review materials do. I was able to read this almost three times through, doodling
pictures and memory tricks in the generous margins.
USMLEWorld qBank was also absolutely key. Just practicing all of the questions and reviewing
the materials allowed me to get comfortable with the multiple-choice questions for the exam.
This reportedly comprises 80% of the grade (CCS comprises the other 20%). Their mobile apps
and web interface allowed me to practice and review pretty much anywhere. And, of course,
their explanations were very, very helpful, even including drug/pharmaceutical company ads,
journal article abstracts, and lots of biostatistics questions. (I didnt encounter any audio,
unfortunately.) USMLEWorld was much more rigorous than the actual exam, but prepped me
well. I was able to fit in about 98 questions a day, but only because I was on an 8-hour-a-day and
5-day-a-week rotation.
USMLEWorlds CCS Simulator allowed me to quickly get comfortable with the software.
However, it didnt provide any sort of grading. Their explanations were fantastic and allowed me
to get accustomed to the mindset of answering each stage of CCS properly. I ended up only using
25% of the material (believe me, 50 simulated cases is way too many to go through!).
First Aid for Step 3 had a lot of details. Like, to the point of excessive. I only used this book for
the very useful 100 CCS mini-cases at the end, which presented good differential diagnoses for
presented cases and a good workflow of orders to put in. I spent at least 2 days reviewing these
cases, twice (once covering up the DDX, workflows, and follow-up management; then the
second time just reading the list of orders to get a feel for the patterns of orders I should put into
the computer). The rest of the book would be supremely useful if you were already a surgical or
internal medicine intern and wanted more details. For folks like me who are in psychiatry,
physiatry, pathology, or other non-primary care fields, reading Kaplan Master the Boards first
would be better to get a firm foundation for the other specialties first.
Kaplans Qbook was most useful when I was studying outside in the nice springtime sun, and for
me to avoid paying USMLEWorlds fairly steep subscription fees (early on in my studying) but
otherwise the questions were at times too easy and the explanations werent always useful.
Sometimes it provided multiple-choice questions whose answers were blindingly obvious.
Comments
And how did it go?? Anyways,
Submitted by Sigurd (not verified) on 7 May 2013 • 11:10am.
And how did it go?? Anyways, my primary question is HOW do you do UWqs AND jog at the
same time?? I would REALLY like to know exactly how! Bc she cant read while running? lol..
Congrats being done with step 3! i am takin step 1 in a months time my FA is completely
raped! lol ;)
http://stevenchan.us/weblog/2013/04/conquering-usmle-step-3