Match Your Dream Residency with Expert USMLE Step 2 CK Tutoring

Step 2 CK is a 9-hour computer-based exam with 318 multiple-choice questions that tests your ability to diagnose, treat, and manage patients across clinical disciplines. The content breakdown based on official USMLE specifications is:

• Medicine: 55-65% (largest component, including internal medicine and its subspecialties)
• Surgery: 20-30% (general surgery and surgical subspecialties)
• Pediatrics: 17-27%
• Obstetrics/Gynecology: 10-20%
• Psychiatry: 10-15%

Questions focus on clinical scenarios requiring you to interpret symptoms, order appropriate tests, make diagnoses, and select optimal treatments. The exam emphasizes practical decision-making skills you'll use in residency, with heavy emphasis on diagnostic reasoning (34-46% of questions) and patient management rather than memorization of facts.

The exam is administered year-round at Prometric testing centers across the United States and internationally. You'll have 9 hours to complete 318 questions divided into eight 60-minute blocks, with optional break time between blocks. The computer interface allows you to mark questions for review and navigate within each block.

Step 2 CK uses a three-digit scoring scale from 1-300. The current passing score is 218 (increased from 214 in July 2025). Most students score between 200-270, with the mean around 249. Competitive specialty programs typically require scores of 250+ for US students and 260+ for international medical graduates.

Most students benefit from 15-30 hours of personalized tutoring, but this varies based on your starting score, target goals, and timeline. Students taking the exam for the first time typically need 15-20 hours, while those retaking or targeting very high scores may need 30-50 hours. We'll assess your specific situation during your free consultation and create a customized plan.

Most students need 4-12 weeks of dedicated preparation, but the ideal timeline depends on your clinical rotation performance, target score, and study efficiency.

Students with strong shelf exam scores typically require 4-6 weeks, while those needing significant improvement may need 10-12 weeks or more. If you're retaking the exam, plan for at least 8-10 weeks to address knowledge gaps and rebuild confidence. Students targeting competitive specialty scores (250+) often benefit from 10-12 weeks of intensive preparation.

With personalized Step 2 tutoring, many students can achieve their goals more efficiently, often reducing preparation time by 25-30% through focused, high-yield strategies.

A "good" score depends on your specialty goals. For competitive specialties like dermatology or orthopedic surgery, aim for 255+. Most other specialties are competitive with scores of 245+. Family medicine and internal medicine programs typically accept students with Step 2 scores in this range. International medical graduates generally need scores 10-15 points higher than US students for equivalent competitiveness. Our USMLE Step 2 tutoring helps you achieve your specific target score.

We can still help you. You can retake Step 2 CK up to four times total (three retakes after initial failure). However, there are important timing restrictions: you cannot take the exam more than three times within any 12-month period. If you need a fourth attempt, it must occur at least 12 months after your initial attempt and at least six months following your most recent try. There's also a mandatory 60-day waiting period between attempts, and you must wait for your official score report before reapplying.

Each retake requires paying the exam registration fee — for 2025, students at LCME/COCA-accredited U.S./Canadian schools pay $680 per Step 2 CK registration, while international applicants register through ECFMG and pay $1,020 (an additional $230 international test-delivery surcharge may apply if testing outside the U.S./Canada).

Each attempt appears on your transcript, so it's crucial to be fully prepared before retaking.