Hey guys, finally done with Step 2 and ended up with a 267 as a non-US IMG! Prepping during my internship was pretty rough, but here's what actually moved the needle for me.

Honestly, ditch the Step 1 mindset. It's not about memorizing facts anymore; it's about seeing the pattern. Whenever I reviewed a block, I tried to figure out exactly what one word in the vignette needed to change to make the wrong answers correct.

UWorld is great for learning, but CMS forms and NBMEs are the real deal. They teach you how the test writers actually think. I found the giant Anki decks way too overwhelming, so I just made my own custom 1400-card deck strictly from NBME/CMS logic and drilled that instead.

The actual exam felt like a mix of vague NBME concepts with UWorld-length stems. Just trust your gut, don't overthink the straightforward ones, and get some sleep before test day. You got this!

Hi every one, i recently scored 266 on USMLE Step 2 CK, preparing in approximately 150 days alongside a full-time job. I graduated from medical school more than 15 years ago and currently work full-time in healthcare.

I wanted to share my experience, especially for older graduates and people wondering whether they can prepare while working.

My background

I cleared Step 1 in June 2025. My Step 2 preparation began in mid-March 2026, and I took the exam on August 31.

I had a strong foundation from my earlier training, but returning to exam preparation after years of clinical practice meant revisiting many subjects outside my daily work.

How I managed preparation with work

My working hours were approximately 8:30 am to 4 pm. I usually studied:

• 4–5 hours on weekdays
• 10–12 hours on weekendsThe principles that have worked for me over the years

About 15 years ago, I secured a top rank in my country’s highly competitive postgraduate medical entrance examination. The principles I learned then have continued to work for me:

1. Know how badly you want it. Be clear about your goal and why it matters to you. That sense of purpose helps you keep going on difficult days.
2. Consistency beats talent. Showing up every day and doing the work matters more than occasional bursts of intense study.
3. Make the process enjoyable. Find satisfaction in understanding concepts, solving questions, and improving. Preparation becomes sustainable when you enjoy the daily work.
4. Think of preparation like bodybuilding. You exercise every day, but visible muscle growth takes months. Learning works similarly: progress builds gradually, even when you cannot see it immediately.
5. Use MCQs as your guides from day one. Questions show you what matters, how concepts are tested, and where your understanding needs improvement. Start solving them early.
6. Understand the exam before going deep into preparation. Work through at least two representative papers—for example, NBME 11 and 12 for Step 2 CK—to familiarize yourself with the question style and prime your mind for what you need to learn.
7. Spend the first half of your daily study time building concepts systematically. Choose a topic within a subject or system, such as asthma. Study it, make concise notes, and solve the available MCQs on that topic, refining your understanding as you go. Then move to the next topic, such as COPD, and repeat the process.
8. Spend the other half learning through mixed questions. Use previous examination papers or representative assessments, such as NBMEs. Let each question guide a focused review. For example, if a question tests PPD interpretation in tuberculosis, review that concept, make brief notes, and solve related MCQs. If the next question is about angina, repeat the same process for angina. This helps you build knowledge across subjects while practising how the exam actually tests you .

My routine

1. Morning practice before work: I started the day with 25 questions from a CMS form before my job began.
2. First study session: 4–8 pm: I studied systematically, topic by topic within a subject—for example, respiratory medicine. I built concepts using UWorld and reinforced them with topic-specific MCQs from AMBOSS.
3. Second study session: 8–11:30 pm: I worked through NBME questions sequentially. For each question, I reviewed the underlying concept and reinforced it with related MCQs from AMBOSS.
4. Consistency during the first 3.5 months: I followed this routine every day without a break. Within the first three weeks, I completed NBME 11, 12, and 13 to understand what the exam expected me to know and how it tested that knowledge.
5. Weekend study: On weekends, I studied for 10–12 hours using the same combination of systematic topic review and mixed-question practice.
6. My approach to each topic: First, I understood the concept. Then, I made concise notes and tackled MCQs testing it from multiple angles. I repeated this until recognizing the patterns became almost automatic.
7. Total question practice: I solved approximately 14,000 MCQs during my preparation using this approach.
8. What I believe is possible: This experience convinced me that a score of 275 can be an achievable goal with the right guidance, consistent effort, and an effective strategy. Individual outcomes will vary, but I believe many students underestimate their potential.
9. Build reflexes through practice. This exam tests more than memory—it requires you to recognize patterns and apply concepts quickly. Make mistakes during preparation, understand why you made them, and learn from them so you can approach test day with fewer surprises and greater confidence.

I’m sharing this post as a gesture of gratitude to this awesome community, which was a valuable source of guidance throughout my preparation. I hope my experience helps someone else on their journey

Have been in dedicated since 2 months.
This is what i scored in the Nbmes
NBMEs 9-12 - 240-242
NBMEs 13 - 252
Nbme 14- 245
Was giving UWSA2 but had to drop it halfway because of how horribly i was scoring.
I am left with Nbme 15,16 and free 120 (2023& 2021) with my exam in the last week of October.(not possible to postpone)

Is it okay to abandon UWSA2 completely ?
I am very anxious currently with stagnant NBMEs and a horrible UWSA2

If someone is tested on Friday what chances to get results on 2md Wednesday (12 days after exam) .

Happened with someone recently?

honestly how are u guys finishing your uworld blocks on inpatient months? I get home at like 6 and my brain is basically a deflated balloon. Writing those massive admit notes just for the hospital's billing purposes literally drains my soul and my attending is obsessed with every minor detail.

I've kinda resorted to just dumping the raw emr vomit into around notes to format my h&ps just so I can physically leave the hospital before it gets completely dark. But even if I manage to get home a bit earlier, I just stare at the step 2 questions like I cant even read english anymore.

Tell me im not the only one whose percentile is tanking rn. feeling so dumb.

Taking Step 2 CK in late November and looking for someone who’s also preparing around the same time. Mainly looking for daily check-ins, sharing goals/progress, and keeping each other accountable.

DM me if interested!

Hey guys! I’m getting close to finishing my first pass of UWorld for Step 2 (88% completed, ~70% correct). I’ve been doing random, timed blocks, and so far I haven’t done any CMS forms or NBMEs because I planned to finish UWorld first.

My goal is 260+ and to take the exam around February or March, and I’m trying to figure out the best transition after finishing the bank.

Would you recommend:

• Taking an NBME first to get a true baseline and identify my current weaknesses, then using CMS forms to target them?
• Or doing some CMS forms first and then taking an NBME?

If you recommend an NBME first, which form would you use as a baseline? I’d rather save the newest/highest-yield ones for later in dedicated if possible.

Also, after finishing UWorld, would you prioritize CMS + UWorld incorrects/marked, or actually reset UWorld and start a full second pass?

Chronically stuck on 225s on my nbmes. Have exahausted them till 14. Only scored 240s in Uwsa which I heard doesnt count lol. Have exhausted all resources too. Uworld done. Amboss 40% done. Mehlman pdfs done. Cms done. What to doo to get a 240 atleast in my nbmes 🫩

Hi, everyone! I recently finished UWorld and am currently doing a second pass, but I feel like it might be more efficient to start doing CMS forms since I’m down to my final 3 months of preparation.

I’d like to ask if you have any tips on how to approach the CMS forms. Should I go through them subject-wise, and which forms should I prioritize?

Thank you in advance!

Hear me out,

i did step 1 recently and i used to do 40q/day that was humongous task for me at the start. took me over 7 months to go through UW .

now in step 2, imo the learning point is just , why ur brain took the wrong path and what minimum knowledge if u had, would make u choose the correct option,

i currently give my incorrect to gemini and like ask it the trap i fell into , and how to avoid. and what could make other options right.,

BUT

that takes huge time, and i have a tendency to spiral, end up spending a lot of time reading up on just one question. and my daily progress gets very slow

a ytuber uraveragemedstudent has a video about speed running UW like 100 to 160 Q a day. he actual bumped it to 300/day near the end. and be able to do atleast 2 passes of UW. make anki of incorect , and again ur just finding that one piece of information which if u knew you wouldnt miss the question.

I want to get speed on my prep. I spiral a lot and then im only done with 20 qs by evening. anyone who tried multiple passes? 3 to 4 month total for step2 prep? Would like to hear you guys thoughts on this.

I am Indian IMG preparing for step 2. I failed my step 2 on first attempt by great marks i only scored 197. How can i improve and what things should i try to improve my scores ?? Is it possible to reach 250 realistically ?? Please help !!!

I got 86% on Form 7, 76% on Form 8, 78% on Form 9, and 72% on Form 10. Is that an okay-ish range, or do I need to spend more time on this subject to really master it?
The 72% on Form 10 honestly scared the shit out of me 😭. I’m hoping to score in the 260s on the real deal, so I’m just wondering if these scores are reassuring or if I should be putting more time into this subject.

What was the test?!

When results expected to appear?