How I Scored 283 on USMLE Step 2 CK (100th percentile)

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Hi everyone! In this video, I will go over How I Scored 283 on USMLE Step 2 CK. We will explore general tips and available resources for Step 2 CK like UWorld, Amboss, CMS Forms, Anking Anki Deck, along with the Practices Tests currently available from NBMES to UWSAS.
🙋🏻‍♂️ Who am I?
My name is Assem Al Refaei, an MD from Syria and an active researcher with 14 publications. I am truly honored to teach and learn from medical students and graduates around the world. This channel is dedicated to people everywhere. I appreciate your visit and sincerely hope to earn your subscription, and interest.
My best wishes,
Assem Al Refaei
0:00 Intro
1:07 General Advice
6:19 Resources
11:48 Tips for Young Students
14:30 Acknowledgments

[@khaledbarham8949]

Congratulations on your amazing achievement! I’m excited to hear about the next steps in your journey!

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you Khaled! Wish you all the best in your journey.

[@abdurrahmanjabr2K]

Thank you Asem for your valuable advices! Wish you all the best

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you Abdulrahman! Best wishes for you too.

[@zarasari]

Thank you! That was very helpful! Alf Mabrook for you 🎉

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you so much! Wishing you all the best.

[@abdurRehman-g5d]

I’ve recently passed my step 1, and I was looking for some overall guide for step 2. I’ve watched many videos and I must say, this is the best one. MashAllah great score. I am instantly so inspired by your humbleness. IA you’re going to be a great physician. May Allah be with you.

[@alxfbn]

congrats, really happy for you and i wish you the very best. You deserve it

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you so much!

[@EssamEldien]

Congratulations🎉 Happy to see our IMG colleagues from Jordan shining! salute from Sudan.

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you so much. Prayers for Sudan!

[@hamzaelkasaby8]

الف مليون مبروك ما شاء الله درجه خرافيه ربنا يوفقك فى كل اللى جى ان شاء الله ❤❤❤

[@alrefaeiMD]

ربنا يبارك فيك ويوفقك ان شاء الله 🙏🏼

[@abdullahshurafa9379]

Congrats brother, proud to witness this achievement from a dear friend like you. ما شاء الله عليك

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you Shurafa! You will always have a place in my heart❤️

[@MGMD_97]

Congratulations assem , inspiring experience , good luck in the next steps

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you 🙌 wishing you all the best!

[@dr.shailazz9335]

Congratulations brother. That is an amazing score. Good luck for every step ahead.🎉🎉

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you!

[@mohammedtajelsir5549]

نصائح مختصرة و مفيدة جدا مبارك يا دكتور و شكرا جزيلا على ما قدمت ❤

[@alrefaeiMD]

العفو، جزاك الله خيراً

[@capkrunch7029]

this video is sooo helpful bro, thank you so much brother

[@alrefaeiMD]

My pleasure

[@Drjyo2.0]

Congratulations assem 🎉😊 thank u for advice 😊

[@alrefaeiMD]

Most welcome

[@mahnoorirfan8890]

Came across this amazing video.Am proud of you MashaAllah.May you shine bright always!

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you and welcome!

[@doctorh700]

i am imagining when he will watch this video years later on…dont overthink then believe me this is so natural and amazing video plus ur english accent is awesome man👌🏻 MashaAllah congratulations 🎉

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@ayeshaasif9111]

Congratulations!!🙌

[@spititout12]

very well explained, to the point .

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you so much

[@frameshift_mutation]

Congrats man 🎉 I love how articulate and thoughtful you are! Could you please give us an idea about your background before step 2 prep? Your basic science foundation, med school performance and step 1 prep.. Thanks for this amazing video!

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you! Sure thing! I was good at medical school and left with a solid background on topics. I think this helped me begin with 2 blocks and that’s why I mentioned finding your own pace. I did not do Step1 yet!

[@zaidadeinat1851]

Congratulations and thank you so much,, please make a video for step 1 also ,it will be very helpful

[@alrefaeiMD]

Sure I will. Thank you!

[@jaleyucel6032]

Congratulations on your amazing score! Thank you for the honest video. What is the best way to go through UWorld 3-4 times? Did you go through incorrects or marked questions since there is only one reset option? What do you think is the best approach? Also, do you have any suggestions for using UWorld during shelf exams, which I need to do subject-wise as well?

[@Camoflaged3]

Alf mabrook! Mashallah great score

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you so much

[@srinivasachakradharearni6328]

Amazing video congratulations on your score

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thanks so much!

[@abdullabinhridoy4301]

Ma Sha Allah bhai❤

[@muzdalifhabdullah2108]

ماشاءالله تبارك الله مبرووك 🎉🎉

[@alrefaeiMD]

الله يبارك بعمرك

[@ahmadal-husseini1416]

Wow Alf Mabrouk Assem! I am a US MD taking Step 2 in 3 weeks and this video was a helpful look into how to get a fantastic score. You will make a great physician inshAllah!

[@alrefaeiMD]

Wishing you the best on your exam! Inshallah you have it easy and accomplish a great score.

[@usmanxf]

Congrats bro Masha Alah keep it up

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you Usman! Best wishes.

[@Yum676]

congratulations on passing with such a high score🎉

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you so much!

[@maabhussein9910]

Really congratulations ❤️❤️❤️

[@kemomoh9484]

الف مبروووك يا دكتور انا في سنه تانيه طب حاليا ، طلع الي الفيديو بتاع حضرتك بجد ملهم جدااا ليا ❤❤ مفسي لما اكبر احقق الإنجاز ده تنصحني في ايه في فتره الجامعه ؟

[@ahmetsimsek4606]

Congrats 👏

[@istevanKhazmi]

Congratulations on your amazing score!! Can you please share what did you use to prepare for research, ethics, quality improvement and drug ads?

[@madhviyadav4167]

wow! god bless you

[@vencenezo6283]

that's amazing doc

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you!

[@trivikrammalladi7137]

congratulations☺👏

[@ahmedtezeghdenti904]

Thank you Doctor ! Alf mabrouk ^^.

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you! 😃

[@user-ow7es2wg1q]

Congratulation mashaaalah. Can you tell you resources for proration for us lie step1. And also resources in each subject during preparation of medical school that you you recommended to build strong basis videos books platforms question resources. We wait for you to matching inshaallah الف مبروك يا دكتور مشرف العرب ما شاء الله

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you! I did not take Step 1 yet and this is going to be what I will explain in my next video .

[@okoroifeanyichukwu8762]

Congrats bro! 🙌✨

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you 🙌

[@HeshamMohamed-we1wx]

الف مبروم يا دكتور ما شاء الله علي اصرارك وعزيمتك عندي طلب ممكن توضح طريقة عمل انكي كارد للاسئلة اللي بتحلي غلط اشكرك علي الفيديو فادني كتير مع اني لسه بدرس ستيب ١

[@alrefaeiMD]

اهلاً دكتور هشام، أبشر ❤️ وان شاء الله موفق بمسيرتك.

[@Sharmatof]

Congrats doc❤️🎉 Can you make a step 1 experience video please

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you! I did not take Step1.

[@whisperwhisper6408]

I took many years studying for step 1 and 2 because of the kids and so many responsibilities/ job and my illness It was insane journey but I will never give up ❤

[@rayansa9845]

فخر ماشاء الله عليك دكتور

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you!

[@user-ow7es2wg1q]

Some curiosity. Such a good score absolutely reflect a good background medical knowledge in you school. Any one can do uworld and some flash card but starting point is much variable during your learning that will affect the required resources bypass many resources having a strong basic and also shortens your preparation making it couple months to get such as brilliant score in average 6 months

[@alrefaeiMD]

I totally agree. Everyone has to find their pace and be comfortable with it!

[@ooooooo4922]

Thanx dr assem for your helpful feedback. Could you please share a video with us on how to use anki for USMLE

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you for your words. I will do soon!

[@fouadmustapha5899]

ماشاء الله اللهم بارك الف مبروك

[@alrefaeiMD]

الله يبارك فيك صديقي

[@drtausif]

That’s a Great achievement

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you!

[@alymhamad2677]

well done doc 🙏🙏

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you!

[@roaafaisal8217]

Congratulations ❤️❤️❤️

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you!

[@reemr2482]

Congrats and thanks alot for this, it has been great! I just have difficulty in understanding how to use Anki so may you plz guide me?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you. Sure thing! I made a detailed Anki video in my channel.

[@usmleislife3396]

❤❤❤❤❤. Congratulations

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you!!

[@ashtaralhamad9627]

Alf Mabrook Dr Assem MashAllah that is a great score :) . Wish you all the best on your journey to the US. So you don't advise making Anki cards from the first read?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you so much. Yes, only after first read!

[@belalomoush9494]

Mashallah, congrats man .. what a goat 🐐

[@alrefaeiMD]

Appreciate it

[@vamsikrishnakaza8582]

Hey, congratulations on the exceptional score! I heard the ethics section has gotten a lot tougher recently, was ethics in the final exam doable with Uworld alone?

[@alrefaeiMD]

It was hard. Not UW-alike, but I argue that you should not over-prepare because I do not think that helps either. Repeat ethics from UW in your last week

[@gloria90761]

Congratulations,God is good

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@aysha8257]

Congratulations doctor! Can you go over your schedule exactly? Thank you😄

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you! I will share it soon.

[@emeksb4823]

Wow congratulations

[@smed8545]

All my congraduations Doctor ! Thank you a lot for all the sharing! Questions for you, Doctor: how much time/hours did you spend on anki? and how many cards/day? if the number of review cards exceeds like 700, should i suspend the old one? how did you use uworld (timed, tutorial ect, multiple subjects)? what is the ideal time to spend on the preparation of step 1 ?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you! So i spent maybe 2 hours per day on Anki, the number of cards varied. On most days I didn’t achieve the perfect zero. I never suspended old cards. My uworld was always in tutored mode. And there is no ideal time for everyone, it really depends on your baseline knowledge and current situation.

[@osahxn]

283 is a wild score bro 💯🔥😂

[@zakiabdifatah4921]

Mabruk MashaAllah

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you so much

[@user-zu5ev1wy9h]

Congratulation 🎉

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you!

[@talhakashiftk7668]

First of all congratulations on your GOAT score!!! I want to have a opinion from your side, Ill be giving my real deal in a few months. And plz response to this comment kindly. I have made a anki deck that has summarized uworld qs on front and explanations on back. almost 4500 cards. After my first pass im doing it for 2.5 months, 60 anki has been completed and im doing it system wise. Havent given a assessment yet. What I want to ask is that i keep on forgetting tables and explanations from topics I have read a month back. How should I approach my third read after finishing anki (almost a second pass of uworld). Thanks alot!!!!

[@pratikparajuli6167]

Hello doctor ! Are you willing to share your anki cards ?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Hi there, Thank you for your words. This is really fantastic. You are doing a great job. Continue what you are doing and start doing assessments. You will not remember everything even after a month so the goal is not to memorize everything. See how your assessment works and fill the deficits after.

[@lightrain6211]

Congratulations, Asem! What an incredible score and fantastic advice. If I may ask, how important is the first-round percentage? Does it matter significantly? For someone who recently started using UWorld and hasn't done any other question banks like AMBOSS for Step 2, is it normal to have fluctuating and sometimes low block scores?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Hi there! Thank you for your words. I can't recall my first-round percentage that well. I do not think it is important, you should expect yourself to make mistakes but put an effort in learning from them. After that, all of your scores matter.

[@lightrain6211]

@@alrefaeiMD Oh, ok, I got it. If I may also ask, on average, how long does a block take you to finish? And what is your strategy for doing so? Like, do you do the whole block in one setting, solving and studying? Thank you again for your efforts.

[@alrefaeiMD]

@@lightrain6211 I think it might have taken me 3 hours during my first read. I would answer a question and study its explanation immediately. In the other reads, it was within one hour to align with the exam structure.

[@lightrain6211]

@@alrefaeiMD Ok, looks like I might switch to this method Thank you so much Asem 🙏🙏❤️❤️

[@steponestudent]

Hello! Thank you for the great advice. I have a question and a request. My question is how important is the knowledge you gain from step 1 and how much does it contribute to your score on step 2? since step 1 is pass/fail, I am struggling to plan the right amount of time and the amount of attention to detail I should give it. Should I take step 1 as soon as I am able to pass or should I make sure I can score a high grade in step 1 before moving on to step 2 if I want a high score for step 2? My request is - could you please make a video on how to start with research from scratch? for a person who has never done any research or who knows nothing about it and doesn't know where to start. Thank you in advance Assem!

[@alrefaeiMD]

Hi there! I actually did not do step1 and was warned by many that this will be detrimental to my Step2, and it was not. You do not need either one to do the other. It would make some parts of your experience easier but it is not necessary. It depends on your situation and current stage. If you are an early year medical student you might focus on getting rid of Step1 first, while if you had an already good clinical exposure, Step2 might be your most reasonable target. I will also be posting more content on research soon. It is completely for beginners so tune in!

[@rosatwinkleblossom]

شكرا على الفيديو دكتور، ممكن أسألك إذا درست خلال روتيشنات الجامعة دراسة ستيب ٢؟ وكيف؟ نفس الطريقة المذكورة في الفيديو؟

[@alrefaeiMD]

Ahlan. I only studied the university material during my school but made sure to study well.

[@qasimmosadaq3110]

Congrats

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you!

[@MahmoudSoultan]

Congrats dr. Assem

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you so much. I detailed my anki experience in another video.

[@batoolmohamed9413]

ماشاءالله مبروك

[@alrefaeiMD]

الله يبارك فيك يارب

[@christi20076]

Congratulations! That’s an amazing score 🎉 Just had a question- on UWorld, there are 2 parts- shelf review questions and the CK review questions, each having around 4000 questions , both together would be over 8000 questions right? Did you do all 8000 questions? Were they helpful?

[@Awab_Hamid]

They are almost the same questions. He would have done just the 4000 CK questions only.

[@alrefaeiMD]

I only did the CK review questions. They share the majority of questions btw.

[@DoaaMashaly-n8l]

Congratulations

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you

[@abdulnoor768]

Congrats Doc! Anking consists of STEP1 Deck and STEP2 Deck, which one did you do? If you did STEP 2 Deck, how many total cards did it have? please elaborate...

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you for your words. I did STEP2 deck. It was around 9K to 10K cards.

[@studybuddy2663]

Congratulations Dr. Asim🎉🎉🎉 may i ask you what were your scores in nbme exam and UWAS? Were they predictable for your real deal?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you! My scores were in the 260-270 territory and I took them during my second read.

[@lightrain6211]

Hello Asem, I hope you're doing well. I have another question for you! 😊 I recently started preparing for Step 2 and began using UWorld from scratch, and I just can't retain information without using Anki. I've tried both a pre-made deck and creating my own deck (focusing on my wrong answers and things I don't know). I found making my own cards to be more effective, but it takes more time. Do you recommend continuing with this approach? Is it sustainable in the long term, or should I stick to the pre-made decks? Thank you so much Asem

[@alrefaeiMD]

Hi, Great question and study approach. You should try to not make Anki kill your UW time. Try using pre-made decks to get material on your mistakes. Like you made a mistake on tularemia, search it in the browse feature of anki, and transfer it from the pre-made deck to yours. I will published a detailed video tomorrow on my anki use.

[@lightrain6211]

@@alrefaeiMD Got it, that makes sense. Using the search and unsuspend method sounds like a smart move. One last question for the next video. Which deck would you recommend: Janki, Tzanki, Ankingv11, or Anking V12? Thanks a lot for your effort. I'll be eagerly awaiting your next video.

[@UltimateTopTens]

MashaAllah brother

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you!

[@capkrunch7029]

hello Dr Assem; i am a British IMG and have recently decided to ditch the PLABs to pursue the USMLE path for my medical career. I just took the step 1 and passed, currently going over my step 2 readthrough. I wanted to ask you if you think that only using u world is enough to get a 260+ or do I have to use another resource to get a high mark? I should also mention that I use U world extremely religiously and I go over the right and wrong answers very well.

[@alrefaeiMD]

As I mentioned in the video, I only used UW and anki to achieve this score and many people I know did the same and achieved +260 scores.

[@fernandafernandes3658]

Congratulations! 🎉Thank you so much for such a helpful video! 🙏🏼How did you time your self-assessments when your exam got pushed back? Did you repeat them?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you for your words! I did not repeat any assessments. I had made anki cards for the mistakes I made and these were repeated frequently before my exam. I made a video of anki, I think it might be helpful!

[@fernandafernandes3658]

@@alrefaeiMD I just watched it, thank you so much 😁

[@tanmayjape3758]

pls pls pls can you make a tutorial for anki it would be really helpful. For me it's so confusing the settings and everything pls

[@alrefaeiMD]

I will do that soon!

[@darkfire8529]

Doctor what about biostatistics questions and behavioral any tips

[@masumpatel6069]

Hello, its absolutely new to hear someone repeating UW 3-4 times. Would you mind sharing how didnyou make notes out of it ? And how did you revise them regularly ?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Hi, I did do that in a recent video.

[@arthurmorgan4215]

Congrats brother , that was great . Question is that is it really hard to do a +260 in step 2 ?

[@alrefaeiMD]

I don’t think it is hard. If you give it sufficient time consistently, you will be able to score it.

[@anthoniap5979]

Congrats. What were the resources/decks you used for anki please. Can you please share

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you! I used anking and cards for my incorrects.

[@MDJosephDahdouh]

I have a question. I am entering Med school next year. And as I was watching this, I realized that there are a few terms that I am not aware of such as: Blocks; CMS/NBME. Could you clarify? Also, a question: I studied for the MCAT in 2months and got a 509. Ik I have to work harder for the Step exams. So, I wanted to ask you: How long did you spend time studying for it every day? Tbh, I dislike Anki because I hate the making of cards. So, I might be using UWorld alone.

[@alrefaeiMD]

Congrats on going to med school and your on MCAT performance! Here are the terms defined: Blocks: Chunk of questions in a Qbank (40 is typical, you have 8 on exam day (hour for each)). CMS/NBMEs: assessment exams that are often used to assess your readiness, thus after the first read. For the second question, you can definitely take the exam without anki. Many of the things I said relate to style and what you are comfortable with. I studied 6-8 hours most days!

[@healthandfly]

congratulations brother,I'll be following you for more info, please I also wonder how was your step 1 journey, your resources, and what was the period from your step 1 to the step 2 exam?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Hi there, I did not do Step1. I will soon share when I think this is the best approach.

[@nem3381]

Was your studying only through uworld? You didn't try studying materials, videos, etc. before jumping into doing blocks?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Only UWORLD and ANKI. Explanations are enough for the exam. However, if I didn’t understand something or felt a gap, I would google it.

[@dermskin-doc6969]

Please where can i get thr Anki

[@okk2101]

Thank you, please answer my question, I don't understand that how your main source is only uworld? It's only questions so how you read and know topics before you read it in main sources or textbooks?

[@alrefaeiMD]

The explanations in Uworld can make up a textbook. Study them as if they were a textbook. I will soon share a video on how to solve and study questions.

[@okk2101]

@@alrefaeiMD thank you very much, we will wait for your next vedio! thanks

[@MuhammadxShahzad]

Please make a video on step 1 too

[@alrefaeiMD]

Sure I will. Thank you!

[@Abdelrahman_here]

MashAllah bro, congrats keep it up 🎉🎉 How many hours were you studying daily? And how many Anki cards you were doing per day, average?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you so much! 6-8 hours typically. 200-300 cards per day.

[@3z-shorts213]

الف الف مبروك حكيم عاصم❤ حكيم عاصم هل استخدمت لابتوب ولا ايباد وهل كتبت نوتات ولا لا❤؟

[@alrefaeiMD]

اهلا حكيم، استخدمت اللابتوب والنوتات كانت اسئلة.. قريباً هشارك كيف عملت هيك بفيديو موضح.

[@3z-shorts213]

اتمنى والله ❤ وننتظر منك كل جديد

[@vikas-uo9no]

Where did you get the anking deck resources. Would be very helpful if you replied. Thank you for the advice!

[@alrefaeiMD]

There are available on Ankihub. I will post a detailed anki guide from A to Z tomorrow!

[@DeepDiveMystery]

Salam is there a way we can step up a 1 hr tutor session for advice/tips? Congrats on the score mA

[@alrefaeiMD]

Please email me at [e-mail]

[@nilayanand7252]

Congratulations from india

[@yahyasamady2308]

Congratulations Doc.. What about AMBOSS Qbank? How much have you solved from it?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you! I did not use AMBOSS.

[@ahmadmaaita4195]

Congratulations on such a fantastic score! I have question if you don’t mind, would you say these tips apply also to step 1 ? That is going for multiple reads of Uworld (not necessarily 3 or 4 times but more than one read? Also did you unsuspend Anking cards randomly or using a certain resource? If so what was it?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Hi Ahmad! Thank you for your kind words. I did not do the USMLE Step 1 but I think you should not go beyond a second read in it, and I used Anking cards in a random order.

[@AK-wr9ew]

Congratulations bro, How many hours did you study per day over 9 months ?? What is your daily routine during these months?

[@alrefaeiMD]

I will touch on the daily routine soon. The hours ranged from 6 to 8.

[@SameerKhan-bh6nj]

Hello sir Congrats 🎉 Can you please tell me that u answer step 2 before graduation or after?? graduation??

[@alrefaeiMD]

Hello, yes after graduation!

[@thatisme0011]

Hello Will you make a video about your step 1 experience?

[@alrefaeiMD]

I didn’t take it but will make about resources.

[@bugsbunny7168]

congrats brother ! so you did not use first aid or pathoma ?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you. Yes I did not.

[@Omar_12318]

Congrats Brother Assem, what an achievement Mashallah! I want to ask you about what specific cards were you unsuspending from Anking? Is by subject or you were searching them up by the Uworld Question ID ?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you for your words! I used cards with Step 2 tag.

[@user-rd1qo4cb2l]

One question Dr how do i have a strong clinical foundation for Usmle step 2Ck do you reccomend any book or literature ? I just finished and pass the Step 1 and I found this video

[@alrefaeiMD]

I had strong foundation from my school years. I recommend that you study Uworld explanations very well and google whatever you have difficulty with.

[@ritubhandari6927]

Congratulations🎉. So you would suggest doing a second pass of Uworld instead of Amboss?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Yes, definitely

[@ritubhandari6927]

@@alrefaeiMD thank you. just one more question. how to do 3-4 passes of uworld when there is option to reset only once? or one should just keep doing questions at random?

[@alrefaeiMD]

I had to purchase it twice.

[@marwajalalali2564]

Congratulations, dr Asem! Do u have step 1 experience?

[@alrefaeiMD]

Thank you. I did not take Step 1 and I will touch on soon on when I think Step2 is best taken first.

[@marwajalalali2564]

@@alrefaeiMD We look forward to hearing from you about this topic dr!