A Look at the AMBOSS Step 2 Self Assessment

As you prepare for the high-stakes USMLE Step 2 exam, practice exams are a crucial tool to gauge your progress and identify areas for improvement. While many students rely on NBME and UWorld self-assessments, the Amboss Step 2 self-assessment is another option worth considering. In this post, we’ll cover the details of Amboss’s offering, exploring its features, benefits, and limitations to help you make an informed decision about incorporating it into your study plan. Let’s start by taking a closer look at Amboss itself.

About Amboss

Amboss is an online medical learning platform that assists medical trainees and professionals in their educational journey. Amboss offers a subscription-based service that provides access to a library of board exam-relevant medical information and an Anki flashcard app integration. It also has an extensive question bank, which requires a separate subscription and is significantly more expensive than the basic subscription. 

Exam format: (4) 1-hour, 40-question blocks.

Scoring

In 2023, the average Amboss Step 2 Self-Assessment score was 230 with a standard deviation of 19.4. For those within 2-weeks of their exam date, the average score was 239 with a standard deviation of 20. For reference, the average USMLE Step 2 exam score in 2023 was 248, with a standard deviation of 15. 

Pros of the AMBOSS Step 2 Self-Assessment

• Free to take and review with Amboss.
• You can split the exam up into sections depending on your schedule. 
• You will receive a 3-digit score with analytics it the same style the NBME exam report. 
• You will get a personalized recommendation for topics to study using the Amboss platform and Qbank.

Cons of the AMBOSS Step 2 Self-Assessment

• The assessment is only offered annually during a 7-day period, usually in May.
• If you’ve been using the Amboss Qbank to prepare for Step 2, you may notice something familiar. The questions on the assessment come from retired Qbank questions, so you may recognize some of them. Additionally, many of these questions have been used on prior self-assessments. This means that if you take the Amboss self-assessment more than once, you may see some repeated questions.
• You may have to wait a few days before you get your score report. It will come via email 2-3 days after the last day to complete the assessment. 
• You will only have access to your exam and score report for 1 month after the end of assessment week. 
• The score report is based on the cohort who takes the self-assessment. While this cohort is typically very close to the cohort that is taking the official Step 2 exam for a given year, there may be variation. Click here for more information about how the exam is scored.

Comparison to NBME CCSSAs

Amboss and NBME practice exams share similarities in content and question format, but there are key differences to consider when choosing which practice exams to take. NBME practice exams consist of 4 blocks with 50 questions each, allowing 75 minutes per section. In contrast, the Amboss self-assessment has a format closer to the actual Step 2 exam, but with fewer questions (160 vs. 200). Amboss exams provide detailed answer explanations for every question, including links to relevant Amboss articles. NBME explanations, on the other hand, may not be as thorough.

As the creator of the Step 2 exam, NBME exams are a must-take for test readiness and score estimation. It’s recommended to take at least 3 practice NBME exams before taking the actual Step 2 exam. However, the Amboss Step 2 Self-Assessment can be a valuable addition to your study plan. It can be used to establish a baseline and identify weak points.

In my personal experience, the Amboss Step 2 self-assessment was a useful tool to set a baseline for my dedicated study period. I was still in clinical rotations when the exam was available and took the exam asynchronously over 4 days with 1 block daily. I did not review my answers until the end to best simulate a practice test experience. Using the Amboss platform after completing the assessment, I reviewed my answers and created custom question bank sessions on recommended topics. I do believe this method of studying was helpful and effective in beginning my dedicated study period for Step 2 and would recommend the Amboss Step 2 self-assessment as an initial assessment to identify and review weak points.

Take Aways

• • The Amboss Step 2 self-assessment is worth your time to take as a practice exam and receive customized information about your strengths, and challenges, as well as use practice material specifically to improve on weaker areas. 
  • While the self-assessment is a helpful and free resource, it should not be your only practice exam or resource to score well on Step 2. You should incorporate other practice exams (NBMEs) and resources (Uworld). 

• Plan ahead for the self-assessment and give yourself time to take and review the exam during the allotted window. To sign up for notifications on upcoming assessments, sign up here. 

For more information about the Amboss Step 2 self-assessment, click here.

As you continue to prepare for the USMLE Step 2 exam, consider seeking personalized guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals. Our Step 2 tutors are available to provide 1-on-1 online tutoring sessions, tailored to your specific needs and goals. They can help you reinforce your knowledge and address areas where you need improvement.

If you’re interested in learning more about how our services can support your Step 2 prep, schedule a free consultation to learn more!