The Bottom Line
- Step 2 CK is a one-day exam with eight 60-minute blocks in a single testing session; total items are capped (officially).
- The highest-yield approach is “systems + tasks”: learn common presentations, then practice decision-making and management in timed blocks.
- Your goal is performance under constraint. Build your plan around timed questions, review systems, and exam-day ergonomics.
Exam structure (what you are actually training for)
Step 2 CK is divided into eight 60-minute blocks in one testing day/session. Treat “block stamina” as a trainable skill, not an afterthought.
Use the official content outline (then design your study system)
The USMLE provides Step 2 CK content outline/specifications and a broader USMLE content outline across steps. Use these to ensure your revision is correctly scoped—then build execution: question volume, review cadence, weak-area loops, and timed blocks.
The 12–16 week Step 2 CK plan (IMG-friendly)
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Phase 1 (Weeks 1–4): Foundation + diagnostic baseline
Do a baseline timed block to identify your weak systems and task domains (diagnosis, management, counselling). Start daily question blocks early—do not “read first, then practice.”
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Phase 2 (Weeks 5–10): Volume + deliberate review
This is the core. You should be doing consistent timed blocks, then reviewing: why the right option is right, why yours was wrong, what you missed (knowledge vs framing vs time). Build a “mistake taxonomy.”
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Phase 3 (Weeks 11–14): Exam simulation + stamina
Start simulating multiple blocks in a row with exam-day rules: breaks, hydration, food, and timing. Your goal is to remove surprises.
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Phase 4 (Weeks 15–16): Polish + risk management
Stop chasing exotic facts. Reinforce common presentations, algorithms, and your error patterns. Stabilise sleep and routine.
Step 2 CK “performance hygiene” checklist
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Practice
Test your knowledge
Apply this concept immediately with a high-yield question block from the iatroX Q-Bank.