USMLE Step 2 CK – Clinical Knowledge
USMLE Step 2 CK tests your medical knowledge and its application to patient care. Step 2 CK predominantly assesses the clinical subjects, with the bulk of questions from Internal Medicine. Click here for USMLE Step 2 CK – Clinical Knowledge: Content outline and description. http://www.usmle.org/step2/intro.htm
Other areas tested include surgery, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Psychiatry, ENT, Ophthalmology, and medical ethics.
USMLE Step 2 CK exam is a one-day computer based test. It is given over nine hours and consists of 370 questions (MCQs), in total. These 370 questions are divided into eight blocks. The time given to complete each block of questions is 60 minutes.
Your total break time (including lunch) for the Step 2 CK exam is 60 minutes. You can split this break time as you wish and use them in between blocks to have lunch, use the restroom, or just get a breath of fresh air
USMLE Step 2 CK exam can be taken at Prometric centers in the U.S. and in several countries, around the world. Prometric USMLE Step 2 test center locations.http://www.2test.com/tcl/index.jsp
The test is given continuously, through out the year. U.S. medical students usually take the USMLE Step 2 CK in the final year of medical school. If you are a Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG), you should plan to take this test after your medical school, and preferably after you have completed your Internal medicine rotation. Most questions give clinical scenarios and ask for medical diagnosis and clinical decisions. Obtaining a good score is vital for matching to a good medical residency program. Download USMLE Step 2 CK Sample questions. http://www.usmle.org/Orientation/2006/2006menu.htm
USMLE Step 2 CK Brief Overview:
15%–20% Questions on Preventive medicine and health maintenance
20%–35% Questions on mechanisms of disease
25%–40% Questions on establishing a diagnosis
15%–25% Questions on applying principles of management
Fees: $ 695 (If taking the test outside the US and Canada, please add International test delivery surcharge)
Step 2 CK question formats:
The questions are usually of 2 types.
First format: Multiple Choice questions with one single best answer.
Second format: Matching Sets – Each matching set is usually related to one common topic. There will be a series of questions and between four and twenty six answer options. There is only one correct answer to each question.
An efficient approach to the matching sets is to read the question first and then look at the options, rather than the other way about.
Within each matching set, some options may be used several times, while other options may not be used at all.
USMLE Step 2 CK minimum pass scores:
The minimum score to pass the USMLE exams is 75 on the two-digit scale. To achieve a minimum score of 75, you must answer about 60 to 70 % of the questions correctly.
The two digit minimum pass score of 75 does not change. The two digit score is calculated so that a score of 75 will always correspond to the minimum passing score (even if the three digit score changes).
The two digit score is provided to fulfill the score reporting requirements of various state medical licensing boards. USMLE has recently clarified that the two digit score is NOT a percentile – contrary to popular belief for decades. Thanks for clearing that USMLE & ECFMG folks!
The three digit minimum passing score may change from time to time. You are advised to check the USMLE website periodically. The current three digit minimum pass score for USMLE Step 2 CK is 182.
The three digit score scale: Most scores on this scale fall between 140 and 260. First time exam takers (from US Medical schools), usually have a mean score of 200 to 220.
Follow this link to read more about the official USMLE explanation on percentiles http://www.usmle.org/Scores/percentiles.htm
Follow this link to read about USMLE Step 1, 2, 3 pass & fail data for US and IMG graduates for the year 2004 as well as for prior years. http://www.usmle.org/scores/2004perf.htm
It is in your interest to get a good USMLE score. This increases your chances of getting into a good residency program. A good USMLE score also helps you get a residency spot in the highly competitive specialties like Radiology, Orthopedics and Dermatology.
Related Tags : step 2, clinical knowledge
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