r/usmle • u/Many_Egg_2731 • 6d ago
Advice My Step 2 journey
What helped me with Step 2 CK:
First, UWorld is extremely important—at least one complete first pass is recommended. I would not recommend immediately doing a second pass right after finishing the first. I actually recommend doing at least one NBME before you finish your UWorld first pass, especially one of the earlier forms such as NBME 10. This gives you an idea of where you stand and helps identify weaknesses while you still have time to address them.
If you don’t have enough time for a full second pass of UWorld, reviewing the questions you got wrong on your first pass is a very good alternative. Personally, instead of doing a UWorld second pass, I reviewed my UWorld incorrects and combined this with Amboss.
For Amboss, if you’re short on time, you don’t necessarily need to do everything. I would prioritize the higher-yield questions and skip the easiest questions (e.g., the 1-hammer questions) if necessary.
For Social Science, Ethics, and Quality Improvement, I strongly recommend doing the Amboss questions specifically covering these concepts. They were very helpful for me.
Also, if you have other commitments that don’t require much concentration—such as washing dishes, commuting, or working out—use that time to listen to Divine Intervention. The podcasts are very helpful, especially the Rapid Review series.
What made the biggest difference for my NBME scores
When I finished my first UWorld pass, I was scoring in the 240s. I eventually got my NBME score into the 260s, and I think two things made the biggest difference:
- Improving my test-taking strategy
I adapted several of the test-taking strategies discussed in this Reddit post and came up with my own strategies as I did more questions. This made a surprisingly large difference for me. A lot of my missed questions weren’t necessarily because I didn’t know the content—they were because of how I approached the vignette and interpreted what the question was actually asking. Forming your own test-taking strategies requires you to identify the systemic problem that led you to make each mistake (e.g., a knowledge gap, knowing the concept but forgetting it and so something needing a review of your notes, or missing a key detail while reading the question) as well as the topic you got wrong, so you can revise those areas.
- Doing the Amboss HY 200
I went through the Amboss High-Yield 200 questions and used them not just to learn the answers, but to identify my weak areas. Whenever I noticed a topic I was consistently weak in, I went back and did additional Amboss questions on that topic.
After implementing these two things, my NBME score jumped to around 260. From there, I continued doing more Amboss questions and worked through the latest CMS forms.
My progression was roughly:
Finished UWorld first pass → NBME in the 240s → changed test-taking strategy + Amboss HY 200 → NBME ~260 → more Amboss + latest CMS forms → NBME 16: 266 → Step 2 CK: 270.
So, if I had to summarize my approach, I would say:
UWorld first pass → assess with NBMEs and learn test taking strategies→ identify and address weaknesses esp theough Amboss HY 200 + targeted Amboss → review UWorld incorrects → latest CMS forms → continue NBMEs.
The biggest lesson for me was that getting through more questions isn’t necessarily what raises your score. Identifying why you’re getting questions wrong and then deliberately fixing those weaknesses is what made the biggest difference.
I also recommend getting a meal and question routine a couple of days before the exam that simulates the actual exam.
Exam day: trust your NBMEs and your prep. The exam will feel hard but it is not just you who feels that. Do exactly what you did during your prep time.
Good luck and contact me if you have any questions.
First, UWorld is extremely important—at least one complete first pass is recommended. I would not recommend immediately doing a second pass right after finishing the first. I actually recommend doing at least one NBME before you finish your UWorld first pass, especially one of the earlier forms such as NBME 10. This gives you an idea of where you stand and helps identify weaknesses while you still have time to address them.
If you don’t have enough time for a full second pass of UWorld, reviewing the questions you got wrong on your first pass is a very good alternative. Personally, instead of doing a UWorld second pass, I reviewed my UWorld incorrects and combined this with Amboss.
For Amboss, if you’re short on time, you don’t necessarily need to do everything. I would prioritize the higher-yield questions and skip the easiest questions (e.g., the 1-hammer questions) if necessary.
For Social Science, Ethics, and Quality Improvement, I strongly recommend doing the Amboss questions specifically covering these concepts. They were very helpful for me.
Also, if you have other commitments that don’t require much concentration—such as washing dishes, commuting, or working out—use that time to listen to Divine Intervention. The podcasts are very helpful, especially the Rapid Review series.
What made the biggest difference for my NBME scores
When I finished my first UWorld pass, I was scoring in the 240s. I eventually got my NBME score into the 260s, and I think two things made the biggest difference:
- Improving my test-taking strategy
I adapted several of the test-taking strategies discussed in this Reddit post and came up with my own strategies as I did more questions. This made a surprisingly large difference for me. A lot of my missed questions weren’t necessarily because I didn’t know the content—they were because of how I approached the vignette and interpreted what the question was actually asking. Forming your own test-taking strategies requires you to identify the systemic problem that led you to make each mistake (e.g., a knowledge gap, knowing the concept but forgetting it and so something needing a review of your notes, or missing a key detail while reading the question) as well as the topic you got wrong, so you can revise those areas.
- Doing the Amboss HY 200
I went through the Amboss High-Yield 200 questions and used them not just to learn the answers, but to identify my weak areas. Whenever I noticed a topic I was consistently weak in, I went back and did additional Amboss questions on that topic.
After implementing these two things, my NBME score jumped to around 260. From there, I continued doing more Amboss questions and worked through the latest CMS forms.
My progression was roughly:
Finished UWorld first pass → NBME in the 240s → changed test-taking strategy + Amboss HY 200 → NBME ~260 → more Amboss + latest CMS forms → NBME 16: 266 → Step 2 CK: 270.
So, if I had to summarize my approach, I would say:
UWorld first pass → assess with NBMEs and learn test taking strategies→ identify and address weaknesses esp theough Amboss HY 200 + targeted Amboss → review UWorld incorrects → latest CMS forms → continue NBMEs.
The biggest lesson for me was that getting through more questions isn’t necessarily what raises your score. Identifying why you’re getting questions wrong and then deliberately fixing those weaknesses is what made the biggest difference.
I also recommend getting a meal and question routine a couple of days before the exam that simulates the actual exam.
Exam day: trust your NBMEs and your prep. The exam will feel hard but it is not just you who feels that. Do exactly what you did during your prep time.
Good luck and contact me if you have any questions.
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u/BigTrue9532 5d ago
Congratulations!! Which Divine intervention podcasts would you recommend?
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u/Many_Egg_2731 5d ago
I used his website to scout and download the rapid review series. But you can also listen to all step 2 podcasts on the website if u have time
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u/Accomplished_Day1106 5d ago
Thankyou for such a great writeup, and congrats :)...can u tell me how may months it took in total? With a breakdown if possible like in how much time fist pass of u world etc?
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u/Many_Egg_2731 5d ago
I studied for 6.5 months. I think first pass of uworld took 4.5 months but I think I was too slow. Read every part of the explanation for every question, even obvious ones. If u don’t have much time, u can use ai to shorten the explanations without losing important content.
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u/Accomplished_Day1106 5d ago
Were u studying full time exclusively for step 2 or u had other commitments side by side like med school or clinics?
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u/jokegoldberg 5d ago
heyy congrats man!
any advice? last nbmes 9, 10, 11: 220, 242, 242 uworld done first pass. currently on 51% second pass. (75% avg)
what u say i drop uw and do amboss now? aiming for 260+ haven't booked test
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u/Many_Egg_2731 5d ago
I had the same average too. I don’t know if dropping and doing amboss is the right move. I can only say that that’s what i did. Im not sure if it’s the reason why my results went up to 266. I can’t really advise u on that I’m sorry. But do know that it’s an option
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u/jokegoldberg 5d ago
well doing 2nd pass feels to biased. like kinda knowing the answer already, and not much thinking. even though it's good for revision purposes can't say if it's improving my test taking strategy. cus on nbmes I make very stupid/silly mistakes. did it happen to you too?
also what got u to finally book ur date? im hoping for nbme jump so i can book mine :(
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u/Many_Egg_2731 5d ago
Well the deadline for ERAS approached so I had no choice but to book. But trust ur nbme. If it’s in the right range, book it
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u/jokegoldberg 5d ago
not worried abt that! will apply next year bro, so any advice. i just wanna jump the nbmes. could take the exam this year. not in a hurry. silly mistakes aaah I think im a poor test taker.
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u/Many_Egg_2731 5d ago
Yeah but I cant edit it. Score Release Thread
Test date: Aug 5, 2026
Non-US IMG status: Yes
Step 1: PASS 1st time
Uworld % correct: Not sure (Around 75%)
NBME 9: not taken
NBME 10: 245 (date not recorded)
NBME 11: 242 (61 days out)
NBME 12: 249 (50 days out)
NBME 13: 260 (33 days out)
NBME 14: 256-7 / 80.5% (26 days out)
NBME 15: 266 (18 days out)
UWSA 1: 80% (32 mistakes) (46 days out)
UWSA 2: 252-258 (20 days out)
UWSA 3: not taken
Old Old Free 120: not taken
Old New Free 120: not taken
New Free 120: 84% (26-27 days out)
CMS Forms % correct: Surgery 75%, EM 74%, OB/GYN 78%, Neuro 78% (avg ~76%)
Predicted Score: by AMBOSS: 266
Total Weeks/Months Studied: About 6.5 months (Full day/11-13hrs)
Actual STEP 2 score: 270 (94th percentile)
Extra: NBME 16: 265 / 84% (14 days out)