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What to Do If You Fail Step 2 CK: A Recovery Plan

11 min

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Stressed medical student sitting at a desk, holding glasses and looking at a laptop screen, processing Step 2 CK failure.

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So You Failed Step 2 CK—Now What?   Alright, take a deep breath. Failing Step 2 CK is not the end of your medical career. It’s a setback, sure, but setbacks happen. We all have them. The important thing is how you bounce back. Let’s go step by step to...

USMLE Step 2 CK 2025 Exam Dates and Costs

8 min

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A focused medical school student taking her USMLE Step 2 CK exam in a computer room.

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What is the USMLE Step 2 CK Exam?   USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) is an examination conducted by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) in the United States. It is one of the steps required for medical licensure in...

AMBOSS Self Assessment Step 2 for USMLE Success

10 min

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Medical student preparing for the USMLE Step 2 exam, taking notes at a desk with a laptop and study materials, representing focused study and exam preparation.

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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 CK self-assessment offers another valuable tool for gauging readiness and reviewing key...

2025 Guide to Interpreting NBME Practice Exams for Step 1 and Step 2

A medical school student taking an NBME practice test for USMLE prep in a living room in front of a desktop computer.

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Almost all students preparing for the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 will take at least one (hopefully more!) practice test leading up to test day. While various practice tests are available to assess your performance, many students will turn directly to the NBME practice tests to estimate their chances...

Proven Strategies to Ace USMLE Step 2 CK with a 90th Percentile Score

18 min

2355 Views

A medical student studies intently in a library, reviewing notes and resources, symbolizing the dedication and focused preparation needed to achieve a high score on the USMLE Step 2 CK.

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Having scored above the 90th percentile on Step 2, students often ask “How do I get a 90th percentile score on Step 2?”, “How long should I study for Step 2 CK?”, and “What’s the best study plan for Step 2 CK?”   Mastering this exam is a combination of...

Step 2 CK Percentiles: What You Need to Know

19 min

33346 Views

Two medical school students on their clinical rotations studying for Step 2 CK in front of a laptop, wearing scrubs.

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The USMLE Step 2 CK percentiles provide a benchmark to evaluate your performance compared to other test-takers. With Step 1 now pass/fail, Step 2 CK scores play an increasingly important role in residency applications, making a high percentile score critical for competitive specialties. This guide breaks down the latest percentile...

How Long Is USMLE Step 2 and What to Expect

7 min

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Desk with USMLE Step 2 study materials, including textbooks, notes, and three people collaborating on exam prep.

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USMLE Step 2 is often compared to running a marathon. While I would argue that one could run two marathons (and perhaps even start a third) in the time it takes to sit for Step 2, the analogy nonetheless starts to capture the endurance required to sit for such an...

Best Study Books for the Step 2 CK 2025

A medical school student looking for Step 2 CK textbooks in the library.

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If you are about to start your dedicated study period for the USMLE Step 2CK, you may be asking yourself, “what are the best study books I should use to prepare for this test?” Well, look no further! Here at EMP, we provide a comprehensive review of the best study books for Step 2CK!

Guide to Using UWorld For Step 2 CK

18 min

26422 Views

A medical school student using UWorld to study for the USMLE Step 2 CK in a library in front of a laptop.

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This blog was originally posted on January 17, 2023, and updated in December 2024.   Growing up, my studying always seemed to follow a natural sequence: learn new content, review that content, and then quiz yourself on that content with practice questions. The idea of beginning with the end, i.e.,...

USMLE Step 2 CK Clinical Knowledge Study Strategies

A medical instructor demonstrating a clinical procedure to two medical students on clinical rotations.

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Your journey through medical school is characterized by rigorous academic challenges coupled with hands-on learning. Arguably, one of the most significant hurdles for medical students to overcome is the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK). The USMLE Step 2 assesses students' ability to apply clinical...

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