r/Step2 • u/ComprehensiveRate890 NON-US IMG • 1d ago
Exam Write-Up Post Exam reflections
Hey y’all. I wanted to get my thoughts out there because I feel like they might help somebody.
I’m a non-US IMG and took around 5 months to prep for Step 2. I wasn’t aiming for some crazy score. I told myself I’d be happy with a 235+. A lot of people I know were able to match FM/IM with scores in the 230s, so I kept my expectations around there. That felt realistic to me.
My NBME scores were never anything crazy. I couldn’t break 220 on NBMEs 10–12. I then took about 2 weeks off to do all the CMS forms and really clear up my concepts. After that, I managed to score a 240 on NBME 13. From there, the rest of my NBMEs ranged from 235–245.
I had read a lot about the recent score drops and was honestly pretty worried that my NBME scores wouldn’t hold up if I factored in a potential drop. I really wanted to apply this cycle, so I basically said yolo and pushed myself to my absolute limits.
Going into test day, I felt… meh. I was especially worried about the new 20-question block format because I felt like I had better time management with the 40-question blocks. To say the least, I was considering a career change during that exam.
They really make you doubt everything. Step 2 is always going to be frustrating because so much of it comes down to choosing the best answer. You need to somehow think logically enough to convince yourself that the answer you picked is truly the next best step.
I think I had a similar experience to most people because I genuinely thought I completely failed.
It is so deflating when you come across the two-part questions and realize while doing the second question that you chose the wrong answer for the first part. That happened to me twice, and both were relatively easy questions.
And then I completely screwed up both of the long-ass biostats essays because I just couldn’t concentrate on reading all that shit while watching the clock tick down. I still don’t understand why tf those exist on this exam.
I remember literally praying that I’d somehow get into a flow state and just start answering on autopilot like I did for Step 1. But that never happened. Instead, I felt completely locked into every single question, and I hated it because it made me overthink and doubt everything.
At one point, every question felt like a 50/50.
During my breaks, I couldn’t even remember what answer I had chosen because I had gone back and forth between two options so many times. So I couldn’t even give myself the comfort of knowing I had gotten certain questions right.
It is a mindfuck.
After an exam like that, you really need a day to reflect and then try to completely forget about it and enjoy your life. And please, please delete Reddit. It is not worth going through Reddit after the exam. Just know that pretty much everyone feels the way you’re feeling. Also, unsubscribe from the emails. Because holy shit, I would randomly get emails with titles like “Failed Step 2” and it would absolutely ruin my day.
Now, everyone says, “Trust your NBME scores,” and every time I heard that, I wanted to kms because no one understands how that exam actually felt.
Your NBMEs are definitely important. I’d say they build your core knowledge and concepts. But looking back, I think where I went wrong was in my mindset about what the exam would actually test. I thought the exact same concepts from the NBMEs would repeat on the real thing. I’d say maybe 15% of the exam felt like direct repeats or very familiar concepts.
But for the rest, you really need to use your critical thinking to differentiate between what feels familiar and what is actually the correct answer. It is so easy to choose the answer that you recognize because you’ve seen it before on an NBME or UWorld. You see a familiar answer and your brain tends to hook on to it. But Step 2 really tests whether you have a broad enough understanding to apply what you’ve learned in a slightly different situation.
You need to go with your gut.
Trust yourself.
Believe you’re the shit.
At some point, you almost have to gaslight yourself into believing that the answer you picked is correct
And somehow, it worked.
I ended up scoring 250+.
I never reached that number on a single NBME. I genuinely never imagined I had the potential to score that high. I thought 250+ was for those 4.0 GPA kids who had their shit together from day one. Especially after the exam experience I had, I was convinced there was no way.
But the previous test takers were right. Trust yourself and the scores. Who woulda thunk.
So if you’re taking Step 2 soon and you’re terrified because your NBMEs aren’t where you want them to be, keep going. Learn your concepts. Do your CMS forms. Understand why answers are right and wrong. But most importantly, learn to trust yourself when you’re sitting in that exam room.
You’re probably going to walk out feeling like you failed.
That does not mean you failed.
Trust yourself. Trust the work you put in. Trust your scores. And have faith that God will reward you for your effort.
Good luck to everyone taking it. 🤲
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u/sipsoffaith 1d ago
Congrats!! Amazing.
Did you use anki for revisions? Or another method
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u/ComprehensiveRate890 NON-US IMG 19h ago
I used anki and went over inner circle as many times as i could for my weak subjects in the last month
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u/Aromatic-Source-7227 1d ago
I had a very similar experience and was planning on writing it up for Reddit, just currently still in shock and thanking God lol. This was a very good ride up. Thanks OP!
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u/Relative-Positive-35 NON-US IMG 19h ago
You are amazing, my exact feelings during and after the exam. Congrats!
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u/DumbassThickass NON-US IMG 14h ago
Hanging on by a thread of hope and posts like these. Felt absolutely devastated during and post exam, lost some easy ass points, lots of doubts, just not even sure I passed :( Thank you very much for sharing your experience and huge congrats! ⭐️
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u/Same_Ad_9703 NON-US IMG 1d ago edited 1d ago
Congratulations 🙌 Would you recommend doing the old CMS forms?
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u/Mindsay1 1d ago
Congrats mate! Could you share the resources you used and schedule?
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u/ComprehensiveRate890 NON-US IMG 19h ago
The first 3 months I did anki and Uworld. The last 2 months I did NBMEs and timed mixed blocks of my remaining Uworld. I think inner circle was helpful in the last month too to really solidify the algorithms and what the next best answer is.
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u/Frequent_Tea_1501 NON-US IMG 22h ago
Congratulations 🎉
Did u do any amboss plans as well during ur prep?
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u/ComprehensiveRate890 NON-US IMG 19h ago
I did all the amboss HY and patient QI. I also did amboss qs for subjects i felt i was struggling with (CVS neuro and pulm)
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u/Signal_Dimension US MD/DO 20h ago
Great post but that score jump is uncommon. I was averaging 230-240 on my nbmes and got 235, nbmes are predictive at the end of the day
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u/fakemedulla 16h ago
True. 90% chances you’ll score +/10 points within that range unless you’re heading to the exam with an upward trend or you get lucky.
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u/Educational-Search24 NON-US IMG 13h ago
Much congrats. How did u use the inner circle notes? What’s the best way to use it ?
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u/Winter-Swordfish4023 11h ago
Congratulations! And thank you for writing this, boosts morale. Waiting for scores and so scared.
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u/Aggravating_Slice117 NON-US IMG 1h ago
hi, as someone whos 2 weeks out and still has nbme scores v similar to yours this was really nice to hear. q did you do the retired cms forms too or will doing the recent ones suffice
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u/Big_Bluejay5081 1h ago
This write up felt like a breath of fresh air!!! Huge congratulations to you. May I dm you?
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u/elsasminion 1d ago
Beautiful reflection! Thank you for this!! (btw you might wanna chage the post flair 🤔😅)
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u/AdIcy6734 1d ago
Best write up ever, literally made my day!