Scoring well on USMLE Step 2 CK bolsters your residency application, especially if your Step 1 score wasn't ideal. Even if you did do well on Step 1, a strong performance on Step 2 CK demonstrates consistency and clinical excellence.
USMLE Step 2 CK and CS
Step 2 is taken during the third or fourth year of medical school. It consists of two parts: Step 2 CK, Clinical Knowledge and Step 2 CS, Clinical Skills. Step 2 CS is a one-day, 8-hour clinical skills exam that consists of a series of patient encounters in which you see standardized patients (actors) and investigate their medical complaint. You will have 12 patient encounters, and 15 minutes for each. Step 2 CS is graded on a pass/fail metric.
Unlike Step 2 CS, Step 2 CK is graded on a competitive numerical scale. Step 2 CK is a one-day exam administered in one 9-hour testing session. The exam is divided into eight 60-minute blocks, with each block having a maximum of 40 questions. The total number of items on the overall exam will not exceed 318. In contrast to Step 1, Step 2 CK is a more clinically-oriented exam, and covers medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and psychiatry. Step 2 CK tests your ability to apply medical knowledge, skills and understanding of clinical sciences to deliver patient care, health maintenance, disease prevention, diagnosis and management. Beginning in June 2020, Step 2 CK will include an increased number of questions that test systems-based practice, patient safety, legal/ethical issues and professionalism.
A strong performance on Step 2 CK bolsters your residency application significantly, making you a more competitive candidate for prestigious residency programs, especially if your Step 1 score wasn't ideal. Even if you did do well on Step 1, a strong performance on Step 2 CK demonstrates consistency and clinical excellence.
The minimum passing score for Step 2 CK is 209, and the national average is a 243, with a standard deviation of 16. Competitive specialties such as dermatology, neurosurgery and plastic surgery expect residency applicants to perform well on Step 2 CK. In 2022, the USMLE Step 1 is scheduled to transition to a pass/fail metric -- when that change takes place, your Step 2 CK score, which will still be a numerical score, will be even more important.
Why You Should Choose MED LEARNITY
Personalized Learning
We invest the time to assess your personal needs and pair you with the tutor who will be a perfect fit. All tutoring sessions are customized for you: lesson plans, study schedules, test-taking drills, and homework. All sessions are emailed to you to maximize your learning and retention.
Real Doctors
Our team is made up of actual, practicing physicians who have trained at the top hospitals in the country. Our team is unrivaled because our daily practice of medicine allows us to understand the current state of medicine, residency, and admissions -- and use our expertise to help you excel.
Proven Results
We have helped over 500+ aspiring doctors achieve their goals on high-stakes exams. Many of our students return for tutoring for subsequent exams as they realize the value of our services. We are confident that your performance will significantly improve after working with us.
What to Expect
At Medlearnity, Students Come First. We understand preparing for a high-stakes exam or career prospect can be intimidating and deeply personal (to say the least). Therefore, we approach every student's situation with our utmost attention to detail to see how we can best assist you. Whether you are having challenges meeting your performance goals, or simply want to make sure you are on a path to success, our team is available to share our perspective. We know you will feel the 'Students First' mentality at Medlearnity from the quality of your sessions and expertise of our team.
What to Expect
How to Get Started with Step 2 Tutoring
You'll receive an email introducing you to your new tutor, and instructions on how to join your first trial session and reserve your session time. During this first trial session, your tutor will review content and discuss study strategy. You can email your tutor beforehand if there is any particular content you want to cover or if you have any questions you'd like to address.
After your trial session, we'll send you a feedback report with next steps, our recommendations and a recording of your session so you can review any material you went over with your tutor. If you decide you'd like to continue working with us to achieve your goals, we'll set you up with a tutoring package that works best for you.
Book Your Free One-Hour Tutoring Session
The trial session is completely free, so that you can experience the high-quality tutoring we provide. We know that the high-caliber of our services is truly unmatched, and we want you to experience it yourself without any obligation.
USMLE Step 2 CK Student
USMLE Step 2 CK Student
USMLE Step 2 CK Student
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