USMLE Step 2 CK
Test Overview
The Step 2 CK exam contains 370 questions and spans 9 hours of
testing (including an hour of break time). It is administered as
eight, 1-hour "blocks" of 46 questions each. You will be able to
skip back and forth between test questions, but only within a
particular block. Once you leave a block (or time expires for
that block), you will not be able to return to the questions of
that block.
Step 2 CK questions are NOT grouped by subject within a block.
For example, you won't find a section devoted to pediatrics. This
random ordering of items presents you with a unique challenge.
You must switch from thinking about one subject, such as surgery,
to another, such as obstetrics, without skipping a beat.
In total, you will have 45-60 minutes of "break" time depending
on whether you choose to complete the 15- minute tutorial at the
start. You can "add" to your break time by finishing a block
early. Please note, however, that finishing blocks early does not
add to your total "test time," which remains constant at 8 hours.
That means that you can't add time to one block by finishing
another block ahead of time. You should take breaks only BETWEEN
blocks; leaving the testing area DURING a block will be noted as
a testing irregularity.
Question Formats
There are two multiple-choice formats used on Step 2
CK:
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single best answer |
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single answer matching
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For both formats, there are 3 to 26
answer choices (for the one best answer format, there are
typically 5). Most items describe a patient and ask you to
identify the underlying mechanism of the disease, propose a
diagnosis, order diagnostic studies, or initiate treatment.
Questions that incorporate graphic, tabular, and pictorial
material are also included.
Related topics:
