How to Simultaneously Study for Step 2 CK and Your Shelf Exams

This blog was originally published on November 14th, 2020, and was updated in June 2024 by Dr. Alina Khil.

One of the biggest challenges for medical students in their clinical years is balancing study with work. The days of lounging in a coffee shop and listening to lo-fi hip-hop beats while doing UWorld questions are over. Now, you spend 8-12 hours a day running around the hospital or clinic, trying to keep up. You might even accidentally follow your resident into the bathroom. Then, after that exhausting day, you’re expected to go home, read up on your patients, and study for your upcoming shelf exam. And if that weren’t enough to keep you stressed out, there’s the looming, dreadful thought of USMLE Step 2 CK.

So how can you handle all the competing demands on your time? Here are a few tips I used myself, along with some new tools I wish I had during clinical years.

Create a Reasonable Study Schedule

At the start of each rotation, create a reasonable study schedule. Remember, you won’t be able to study all day long. Review the number of questions you’ll need to complete and ensure you have time for the NBME practice exams. Having a reasonable study schedule will allow you to get through the required material in a timely manner. Strong preparation for shelf exams will set you up to be well prepared for Step 2. Once you reach your Step 2 dedicated, take a look at our Step 2 study schedule to set you up for success.

Squeeze in Study Time at the Hospital or Clinic

If you think about it, there’s actually a ton of downtime during hospital rotations. The time between finishing rounds and getting home feels like a black hole where free time disappears. So how can you fit in some valuable moments of studying while not appearing nonchalant?

First of all, study primarily on your tablet or laptop rather than on your phone. This prevents people from thinking that you’re just browsing on your phone.

Second, nobody will look twice if you’re reading UpToDate during the day, especially if you’re looking up topics related to your patients. You can study for your shelf and Step 2 CK exams by quizzing yourself on your patient’s problem list. Focus on clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and treatments for each condition. Then, reference the relevant sections of UpToDate to check your accuracy and fill in any knowledge gaps. Using this method will keep you engaged and honed in on the most critical, testable aspects of each condition. 

Reading about your patients and their conditions in UpToDate during the day frees up evening time for other resources. This includes practice questions for shelf and Step 2 CK exams.

Pick the Proper Resources

Studying for Step 2 CK is wondrous compared to Step 1 in the sense that your resource utilization is vastly simplified. Occasionally referencing Sketchy can help remind you of some knowledge gaps, but gone are the days of having to juggle First Aid, Pathoma, Boards & Beyond, Robbins, etc. For a more in-depth review, check out my previous blog post on the best resources for Step 2 CK. Here’s the summary: UWorld and your flashcards are your two keys to success. 

If you use flashcards on your phone, you can study a few cards throughout the day to lighten your workload at home. Just furrow your brow and look like you’re concentrating so your resident doesn’t think you’re on Twitter. I highly recommend making your own Anki cards for UWorld incorrects.

As for UWorld, the biggest challenge (besides the questions themselves) and the most frequently asked question is this: How do I know which questions to do during my rotations, especially in comprehensive rotations like family medicine and emergency medicine? This question leads me to my last point.

Use the UWorld Shelf Review Feature

UWorld added a feature called Shelf Review a while ago, and it’s now included standard with every subscription. This feature takes the already existing UWorld questions and categorizes them more intuitively so that students can complete blocks of questions based on their current rotation.

The Shelf Review feature is immensely useful, especially for students on rotations such as Family Medicine, where they are expected to understand a wide breadth of knowledge that spans internal medicine, pediatrics, OBGYN, surgery, etc. With so many concepts, finding relevant practice questions for the shelf can seem impossible. That’s why the questions are categorized to prepare students well for their shelf exams, with high-level conceptual questions and intricate detail-oriented questions tailored for each shelf. Of course, the high-level conceptual questions are also a head start to studying for Step 2 CK.

All in all, by consolidating your resources and being strategic with your precious few moments of studying each day, you can simultaneously complete your rotations, study for your shelf exams, and prepare for Step 2 CK!

Some FAQs about the Shelf Review feature:

When I complete questions in Shelf Review mode, are they also marked as complete in Step 2 CK Review mode?

 Yes, many Shelf Review questions are from the same pool as Step 2 CK Review but are organized by shelf exam for your convenience. If you complete these questions in one mode, they will also be marked as complete in the other mode. However, completed questions will always be accessible for study in either mode if you use “All Questions” when creating a practice test. You will also be resetting your question bank after completing rotations and starting dedicated. During this time, you can switch over to the Step 2 CK (rather than shelf exam) mode. 

Are the Shelf Review questions new or different in any way from the Step 2 CK questions?

Yes, in keeping with what is tested on the shelf exams, some of the Shelf Review questions test at a higher level of detail than what you would see in Step 2 CK review (although the questions and explanations still follow UWorld’s classic style). UWorld continues to add new questions almost daily, so you can expect more shelf-oriented questions with the debut of this feature.

Does the feature increase the cost of my subscription?

No, the feature is part of the UWorld Step 2 CK subscription package and is provided at no extra cost.

Initially guest posted on the UWorld Blog