With Step 1 transitioning to a pass/fail format, the significance of the Step 2 CK exam in medical school has heightened. For third-year medical students approaching the 2025 Residency Match, determining the timing for Step 2 CK is crucial. Unlike Step 1, scheduling Step 2 CK offers greater flexibility. Various...

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. In this post, we...

Having scored in the 270-280 range on Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 of the USMLE, I am often asked by students questions like “What’s your secret?”, “How can I plan my study schedule to…

The USMLE Step 2CK is the second written medical school board exam and it is typically taken after one year of clinical rotations. With USMLE Step 1 becoming a pass/fail exam this coming January, reaching your Step 2CK score goal may become more important than ever.

There has recently been a wave of change where some medical students are opting to take USMLE Step 1 after clinical rotations either simultaneously or back-to-back with Step 2CK. Here are the pros and cons of taking this route.

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!

With the recent change of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 transitioning to an entirely pass-fail examination, more emphasis will likely now be placed on the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (Step 2 CK) score in the residency selection process.   While your Step 2 score is...

Is it worth it to get UWorld’s most basic 30 day subscription? While we certainly don’t advise waiting until a month before your test date to start going through UWorld, it is actually possible to get through one full pass in only 30 days.

According to the USMLE, Step 2 CK asks test takers to "apply medical knowledge, skills, and understanding of clinical sciences essential for the provision of patient care under supervision". They are testing whether you are ready to move on to your next step of training, meaning residency! Placing high on...

Believe it or not, scoring greater than the 99th percentile on Step 2 CK is possible for a select few who prepare well, take care of themselves, and get a little lucky. In this brief article, I’ve included eight steps I personally used to score a 270+ on Step 2 CK.