Is the TrueLearn Question Bank good for USMLE step 2?
The True Learn Question Banks are known to be extremely comprehensive when it comes to providing quality information for M.D. and D.O. Medical students. The question banks come equipped with a variety of unique feature such as Smart Cards, data comparison charts to show you how you stack up against other people who have taken the same questions as you, as well as references to other quality materials such as Picmonic. However is the question bank a good option for those studying for the USMLE Step 2 exam? In this article I will be going going over whether True Learn Question Banks is good for those getting ready to take the USMLE step 2 exam.
TrueLearn and Step 2 Question Types
The USMLE step 2 questions are are centered around more clinical knowledge and knowing what next to do in a diagnostic work up. For the most part the questions include the following
- Most Likely Diagnosis
- Most appropriate Next Step
- Most appropriate treatment strategy
Similar to the Step 2 exam, The True Learn Question Banks also include mostly these types of questions in their step 2 question bank.
- Criteria questions: TrueLearn tests includes a lot of questions which test knowledge of various criteria such as LIght’s criteria as well as the CURB criteria. This is seen in the pulm questions. These criteria are well summarized in useful charts which are included in the explanations for certain questions. This can be seen below.
These quick chart summaries are not only helpful from a content stand point but it also reduces the amount of study time substantially!
TrueLearn Question Difficulty
From my experience using the True Learn Smart Bank, the averages of the exams in the step 2 banks are hover around 40-50% range. For some of the individual sessions the averages were even in the 30s. I would say that if you can consistently pull above the 60% range consistently then you are in good shape going into the step 2 exam given that these questions are on the harder side.
Having done most of the questions, one of the things I have noticed is that I tend to score lower on the questions in the step 2 question bank as compared to the step 1 question bank.
What is the best way to use the TrueLearn Question Bank to prepare for step 2?
Improve your test taking strategies by reading the explanations which not only provide you with accurate and quality content to help fill you rknowledge gaps but also give you insight into how certain topics are asked on the exam. An example of this can be seen in the image below. THe exaplantions tell you what to focus on for step 2 as far as management steps go and tell you what you can least expect on the exam as well as what is likely to be expected on the exam.
Detailed TrueLearn Management Charts
- The True Learn learning platform contains very in depth, and clear flow charts which show the sequential diagnostic and treatment steps for diseases. This is very helpful if you are a visual learner.
Detailed TrueLearn Overview Charts
The question bank also includes charts that go in depth into specific pathologies. These charts do not just include only the pathophysiology of the diseases but also include clinical aspects of the diseases with info such as clinical features, as well as diagnostics.
Specific TrueLearn step 2 pearls
True Learn provides very helpful insights that are specific to the USMLE step 2 exam. This includes things such as what to remember and what not to remember. This ends up saving you a lot of time and energy that you would have serpent trying to study information not relevant for the USMLE step 2 exam.
TrueLearn Study Tips and Insights
The True Learn Step 2 bank includes very helpful study tips that are not only detailed and accurate but also extremely insightful and save you loads of time.
For example if you look at the study tips below that talk about shock, they tell you to what extent you have to know the parameters of this condition. They tell you where it is okay to simply memorize certain information, as well as the likelihood of being tested on a certain topic.
This is very different from other step 2 question banks which may test you on very unrelated minutia or super detailed and low yield information.
In Conclusion
As you can see the True Learn Question Banks have many great features and will help you achieve your dream score for the Step 2 exam. Everything from the helpful overview charts, question types, interface, and study tips make this one of the best study resources out there!
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