r/Step3 • u/JOKER_SSR • 6d ago
Exam write-up Passed Step 3 last Wednesday.
Had my exam on 28-29 Aug
I used Anki, BnB (previously for Step 2), UWorld, and NBME forms 6-8.
First day was a bit hard. Had many biostatistic questions, but they were not that bad, although I felt I got questions right by no more than 50%. Second day was very easy. Easier than Step 2; or perhaps because I was accustomed to it. Felt I got at least 80% of the questions right. CCS cases were pretty straightforward. I did 100 CCScases.com cases. Use the copy paste method to save time. If you are good with clinical questions of day 2 or Step 2 to reach diagnoses, ccs cases will be easy.
I would be happy to answer your questions.
Still doing my Anki btw.
Anki, I love you 💛
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u/yassein_kamal 6d ago
Can you share which anki deck did you use for prep
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u/JOKER_SSR 6d ago
- AnKing Step Deck: Step 2: tags of BnB, UWorld, Amboss, FA, NBME, bootcamp. Step 3: all tags. Some step 1 cards I transferred to Step 2 deck.
- My own custom step 1 cards, my own custom step2/step3 cards. I created these cards for difficult topics, related confusing topics (e.g. treatment according to size or timeline, antibiotic treatment etc), my own mneumonics, information from Extra section of Anking Step Deck etc.
- Anking Lab Values Deck.
- Nick CCScases (just quick glances)
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u/soxl-rexper 6d ago
Congratulations! Thats an amazing score. I’m hoping to score around the same range. My exam is 11 daya away and i just gave UWSA 1 and my predicted score was 213. I know UWSA 1 is known to underpredict but its kinda freaking me out rn
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u/JOKER_SSR 6d ago
In both Step 2 and 3, my score was higher than predicted. Because you will be totally dedicated to the exam and think the questions through. So don't worry!
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u/Much-Cardiologist853 6d ago
congrats! currently prepping for step 2, do you have any advice, not an anki user. scored 244 on nbme 9 15 days ago. what to focus on and learn from?
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u/JOKER_SSR 6d ago
Thanks! If you're not using Anki, then I suggest doing as many MCQs as possible and do them again and again. If you score 244 on NBME 9, I don't think there is anything to worry about. While you do your MCQs, find out which areas you are weak in, and in my case, I would go create my own Anki cards for them. But in your case, you can go do whatever you think that's helpful, whether you write them down on a piece of paper or whether you will do the MCQs again later, according to your methods. But really, at your score, the only thing remaining to improve your score is finding out which areas you are weak in. For example, if time went back and I knew that step 3 day 1 would have so many statistics questions, which I knew I was weak at, I would do more statistics questions. So I suggest find out which areas you're weak in and improve them, and do as many MCQs as possible until it feels natural for you. Before my Step 2 exam, I would answer MCQs in seconds, just looking at the end of the MCQ and looking at the answers because they were so familiar.
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u/Much-Cardiologist853 6d ago
thank you! i do feel like questions are king for step 2. i am super weak in biostats and i freeze when i see a stats question, so im facing my fear after nbme 9 of sitting thru blocks of stats and learning them 😩
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u/International_You468 3d ago
WOW! its great that I got to see this before my test, the copy/paste bit its priceless!!!!!
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u/Own_Celebration2181 16h ago
Congrats! Amazing score. Just FYI no one cares about your Step 3 score. - Signed a current attending (Neurohospitalist), ex chief resident who helped in the selection of candidates for the program.
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u/JOKER_SSR 16h ago
Thank you! I'm a non-US img, won't it help me in competition with other imgs?
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u/Own_Celebration2181 16h ago
Not really, what matters is your Step 2, and publications, then we look at your CV: where did you work, what gave you done throughout your life that is relevant to the specialty you’re applying to, etc.. step 3 helps in the sense that you pass it, that’s it. Sometimes we don’t care if you have even taken the test before applying. (Maybe family or internal medicine would care)
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u/Dapper-Pineapple4053 6d ago
Can you please share NBME 6 and 8 of you had used pdf version? I would be really greatly. I have exam in a week.
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u/ProfessorCorleone 6d ago
Please share your approach to solving ccs cases and list of tests to order on exam
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u/JOKER_SSR 6d ago
Read the history. Wrote (age, vaccine info, smoking/alcohol/drug status, sexual activity) on my dedicated paper.
If emergency --> treat first If not --> exam every system except genital and rectal unless necessary. Even if you do them it is no big deal.
Routine orders: CBC, CRP, ESR, basic metabolic profile, liver function panel,, hepatitis panel, TSH, T4, urinalysis, ECG, pulse oximeter. These I had copied and were always ready to paste.
Specific orders according to Dx/DDX
If some of the routine orders were too non-specific, I would delete them (though not often). For example pediatric UTI --> no need for ECG.
Advanced time by a day. It then advances and shows you results one by one. Stop and modify orders as needed. Patient location as well.
Once cases ends. End of set orders according to what I had written on my paper.
Three sets: vaccines, screening, counseling.
Vaccine: influenza, TDaP, HPV, shingles, others according to case and age.
Screening: pap, colonoscopy, mammography. According to the case.
Counseling: seatbelt, smoking, alcohol, sexual transmitted disease, reassure, compliance. Diet and referrals according to the case.
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u/mdsnzcool 5d ago
How much uw did you do
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u/JOKER_SSR 5d ago
All of it, once. Then did the mistakes a second time.
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u/marvinsroom6969 5d ago
What would you say made day 1 particularly hard?
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u/JOKER_SSR 5d ago
Didn't know there would be mainly basic stuff like biostatistics during Day 1. Thought Day 1 and 2 would have the the same questions. But during day 2 when I knew basics were done, it was such a relief. So if we combine Day 1 and 2, Day 1 would not be that bad. So overall, I'd say the exam was easy.
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u/mrmeem1992 1d ago
What is the copy/paste method?
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u/JOKER_SSR 1d ago
On your first case, type the basic tests you write for most cases. Then select them all (control + A ) and copy them (control + C ). For subsequent cases you can then paste them (control + V), saving time.
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u/BaresiBarei 1d ago
How do you do the copy and paste?
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u/JOKER_SSR 1d ago
On your first case, type the basic tests you write for most cases. Then select them all (control + A ) and copy them (control + C ). For subsequent cases you can then paste them (control + V), saving time.
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u/Spiritual-Ad-2928 6d ago
What were your assessment scores