USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills Tips:

Step 2 CS exam evaluates examinee’s English proficiency, data gathering, patient note making, communication and interpersonal skills.

Each examinee has to interact, examine and write patient notes for 12 standardized patients on the test day.

STUDY MATERIAL:

IMGs usually read and practice the usmleworld CS material.
Some IMG’s use Kaplan CS test material for their preparation.
Take a look at the first aid for Step 2 CS where you can see how you are evaluated by the standardized patient. IMGs use first aid to practice patient note making.

TO PASS:

Practice, Practice and Practice is the mantra to pass CS.
Read one study material either usmleworld or Kaplan’s completely.
Prepare differential diagnoses for each complaint, investigations list, and therapeutic options and their side effects.
Find a partner to practice. Live partner is always a good idea.
When it is not possible to get a live partner, you can still practice online over internet.
Time management is a key to passing Step 2 CS.
Most of the IMGs practice all the patient encounters provided by the usmleworld for a minimum of three times before taking the test.
You will be in a better position to finish all the patient encounters if you can present each patient encounter in 13 minutes during your preparation period. It’s a good idea to split the time allotted to each section of the patient encounter-for example the first 8 minutes for complete history taking and the next 4 minutes for physical examination and the other 2minutes for counseling and closing the encounter.
Some physicians counsel at the end of the encounter while others try to counsel the patient on various issues like hypertension, alcoholism, smoking, illicit drugs, HIV and STD testing etc. whenever the situation arises while taking the History. Choose either one method and practice that method only. Don’t try to switch between methods and land in troubles.
Take your test when you are confident. Don’t be in a hurry with deadlines for Step 2 CS examination score reporting dates. If you have an attempt on USMLE exams, especially CS it’s going to affect you when you apply for the residency programs. For IMGs a pass on the first attempt in Clinical Skills test assures the program that you are competent at speaking English. Prepare well, take time, and plan your timing well before taking test.
Of note, in this hectic preparation some IMGs are not concentrating on making patient notes. Patient note making seems to be simple and easy, but you still need to practice making patient notes for all the encounters at least twice. Otherwise you will miss to make a note of the pertinent findings in your notes during the exam. So make a habit of making patient note after presenting each during your practice sessions.

DAY BEFORE EXAM:

Try to reach the city where you are going to take the test before 7 P.M. and take rest.
Make necessary arrangements to arrive at the test center 30 minutes before the scheduled time.
Also keep all the items together that are needed to be taken to the test center.

ON THE DAY OF EXAM:

Things to be carried to the test center

scheduling permit

confirmation notice

valid photo identity card

white coat and

stethoscope

During the orientation session listen carefully to the instructions of the proctors and observe the demonstration of the use of medical equipment in that test centre. Try to get well acquainted with the medical equipment before your exam begins. If you have any questions, ask the staff and clarify them.
Break time during Step 2 CS exam is scheduled at regular intervals. The exam usually is divided into three sessions .So, you need to be unperturbed if you get a difficult case in anyone session. Sometimes it’s not possible to close some patient encounters for different reasons. Don’t spoil your performance on the remaining encounters by worrying about the past encounters. There are quiet a good number of physicians who passed the CS exam without closing all the 12 patient encounters. If you perform well on the remaining encounters and unable to close one or two encounters you will pass most probably.