Whether you are an American medical student or international medical graduate who wants to practice medicine in the U.S., passing the USMLE Step 2 CS Exam is necessary. It includes three components:
- ICE = Integrated clinical encounter
- CIS = Communication & interpersonal skills
- SEP = Spoken English proficiency
If you’re a medical student and planning to appear in the Step 2 CS exam, you must go through each component individually. There are instances when students did well on the ICE but failed the SEP due to poor performance. Therefore, preparation for each component is crucial. Read below to learn about how to pass the USMLE Step 2 CS Exam.
Practice is the key - Although the Step 2 CS exam is comparatively easier than other USMLE’s, it is the only exam where minor mistakes may cost you heavily. Since you have to solve at least 10 out of 12 cases, so you need practice, practice, and more practice to pass this exam.
Find the right resource for you - Generally, the USMLE Step 2 CS tests your knowledge about the most common diseases in the U.S. Therefore, finding the right resource is difficult as every resource has one and other drawbacks. AMBOSS Step 2 CS package offers all the necessary information all in one place and you don’t need to refer to other sources. If you’re currently preparing for Step 2 CS, you must use the most of AMBOSS app to prepare for the exam.
Use a timer - While you practice the Step 2 CS exam, you must use a timer to keep track of the time. Most people likely to get nervous and stressed on the USMLE Step 2 CS exam day. So, if you practice with a timer, you’ll be less worried about finishing the exam on time.
Get organized - It’s normal for things to skip out of the mind when you are stressed or nervous. For that reason, it’s important to get yourself well-organized before heading up to the exam room. Pen down some mnemonics for the important questions and make a note of 3-4 differential diagnoses related to most difficult ones. By doing this you will get more organized and confident in front of the patient, also save you time.
Type quickly and accurately - Although many of you are already proficient at typing, it isn’t easy to type both quickly and accurately when you’re under stress and pressure. During the exam, you have to transfer tons of information from the blue sheet and type it up as quickly as possible or maybe within 10 minutes. If you don’t practice enough, it will become the hardest part of the exam for you. As a result, it will affect your performance. So, you must practice, practice, and practice.
To know more about the Step 2 CS exam, contact New York Clinical Skills Prep - (212) 678 5900
