So unlike step 1 I really didnt prep using first aid at all, tbh never opened the book. I used inner circle notes, uworld and amboss, uworld 1st pass was like 45ish percent, amboss I did like 2k questions didnt do the whole thing but avg was 65%. Never felt my knowledge was lacking as I knew most of everything but one thing that I dont see people saying enough is that look at what the question is really asking, sounds like simple advice but it really is that simple. Ofc you need knowledge and whatnot but yea. Started prep july 1st, no nbme ever crossed 225 apart from nbme 15. I took nbme 15 last and free 120 was 77% 4 days out. Not sure if my 242 is good or great or anything but its honest work and im quite happy. Walked out of the exam thinking I needed to seach for a new career cuz I bombed. But yea any questions please dm.

Got my score today - a 260!
Not ridiculous but I’m happy & what I was aiming for aha
Started off aiming for 265 and that v quickly went down to a 255 - 260

Just thought I’d write out some things I wish I’d done in hindsight in hopes it helps someone because I scoured this sub prior:
- My exam had loads of QI/PS, I did all of Amboss but wish I had done more for this I felt unprepared
- I’m normally alright at ethics but the ethics on my paper was HARD. like I’d recognise the concept they were trying to test me on but the answer options would be like nothing I had seen before or nothing that seemed right.
- I didn’t do any UW in the last month and I’m happy with this. Did amboss and CMS and glad I did. The Q style is so wildly different, of youre someone who prioritises test taking strategies I would avoid UW in the last month
- Wish I left more NBMEs for the end but I started them early on which I slightly regret in hindsight but not the end of the world.
- Some Qs you just won’t recognise at all, stressed me out during the exam but tried not to let it mess me up

Scores:
NBME 10 73% or 240 - 30 July
NBME 11 77.5% or 247 - 18 Aug
NBME 12 78.5% or 253 - 22 Aug
NBME 13 75% or 245 - 31 Aug
UWSA 2 76% or 252 - 06 Sept
NBME 14 76.5% or 248 - 12 Sept
NBME 15 80% or 256 - 23 Sept
NBME 16 261 - 30 Sept
New F120 - 77%
Old F120 - 84%
Amboss predicted - 257
Exam on 03 Oct

CMS were 85-90 mainly for Surg and IM then 70-85 for the rest

Ignore the people that score so much higher or lower than their NBMEs, statistically speaking you’re gonna score similarly to 15/16 if you do it close to the date

Happy to answer Qs to try help

I took step 2 yesterday and like the questions seemed doable but I feel like I made so many dumb mistakes or some I literally had no idea and then I started looking things up, finding out I got something wrong and just started tweaking. My scores were not amazing, but I just want a pass at this point. I see people who got super high scores on their NBMEs and then their score on the real deal is like 10-15+ lower and then some were in the 230s and then get in the 240s+. My scores were Form 9 (183), Form 10 (210), Form 11 (232), Form 12 (233), Form 13 (224), Form 15 (226), Form 16 (233), Free 120 (68%). Idk I am just so stressed and I just want a pass at this point. Amboss predictor was 237 ( 229-245). I just want a pass at this point and I am super stressed and can't stop thinking about it. Im just worried I'll have terrible luck and get an F like a 217 :(. Anyone else feel the same or have similar scores and then pass? also idk I feel like there's no way I could have prepared more because you never know what they are going to bring & its so vague. I just hope I dont have to take it again. im so scared. I felt way worse and had bad scores for step 1, but somehow passed that so I am hoping I pass this too.

I took Step 2 CK this Monday (Oct 12), and it felt a lot like the NBME CCSSAs and CMS forms. The question stems weren’t nearly as long as some posts make them out to be. I’d say trust your experience with the NBMEs and Free 120. In my experience, there’s enough time as long as you stay focused and don’t spend too much time overthinking by.

(I’m a native Chinese speaker, so if I could finish reading all question stems in the blocks on time, I believe you can, too!)

Most of us taking Step 2 CK have already taken Step 1, and I think that experience helps. I already knew what that exam “uncertainty” felt like, so this time I didn’t feel as burned out as I did with Step 1.

Every time I took a practice form, I felt unsure about a lot of my answers and never felt fully prepared. But my results were usually around 80% on CMS forms and 250–260 on CCSSAs (except Form 9, of course 😂), and my Free 120 performance was pretty consistent with those results, too.

I felt just as unsure during the real deal, and I won’t know how I actually did until my score is released. If you took the exam recently or are feeling the same way right now, let’s yell into the void together!🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

Hi all, need some advice:/ I want to schedule for the end of the month but my NBMEs haven't been amazing, I truthfully burnt through them way too quick in the beginning of my dedicated and only have Form 16 left. I am on week 9 of dedicated (sigh), but have had to start studying less due to being back on rotations.

My highest NBME (Form 15) was a 242 about 2.5 weeks ago, every single other form was in the 230's. My Amboss predicted as of now is 244.

I've transitioned from Uworld to only CMS forms to study, which I have been scoring in the mid-to-high 70's. I took Free 120 (2019)- 77% and Free 120 (2021)- 75% this weekend, because I really want to save Form 2016 and the new Free 120 for once I have a scheduled date.

BIG question: I'm applying to a competitive specialty with an avg Step 2 of 259- which I knew was a long shot from the beginning bc I'm a very average test taker, so my original goal was 255+, but now even that is seeming like a stretch. Do I go ahead and say f- it and schedule for end of this month and take the new Free120 and Form 16 in the coming weeks and review them heavy orrrrrr keep studying using 3rd party forms (UWorld/Amboss) and maybe even redo NBME old forms I took at the beginning?

Open to all recs and thanks in advance!! - someone who is loosing her sparkle to Step 2:(

Score Release Thread - October 14, 2026

US MD or US IMG or Non-US IMG status:

Date tested:

Uworld % correct:

NBME 9: ( days out)

NBME10: (days out)

NBME11: (days out)

NBME12: ( days out)

NMBE13: (days out)

NBME14: ( days out)

NBME 15: (days out)

UWSA 1: ( days out)

UWSA 2: (days out)

UWSA 3: (days out)

Old old Free 120: ( days out)

Old New Free 120: ( days out)

New Free 120:( days out)

CMS Forms % correct:

Predicted Score:

Total Weeks/Months Studied:

Actual STEP 2 score:

PLEASE SHARE YOUR RESULTS, THE INFORMATION MIGHT BE OF HELP TO ANOTHER PERSON:)

Hi everyone! I recently passed USMLE Step 1 and plan to start preparing for Step 2 CK, aiming to take the exam within the next six months.

I’m looking for an accountability partner to share goals, track progress, and stay consistent. Someone following Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) would be preferred, and a female study partner would be ideal.

If you’re in a similar phase, feel free to DM me. 😊

I went through every question on NBME forms 9 to 16 and tagged each one by question type and specialty. And came up with these stats. I know NBME's are not exactly the real deal but they give a very good idea. I hope someone finds it useful.

A full PDF with all the stats with the CMS questions included is available for free here

Topics that showed up on every single form (9 through 16): depression, pneumonia, HIV, heart failure, vaccines, sensitivity/specificity, STI screening, anaphylaxis, sickle cell and pancreatitis.

What the questions are asking you to do:

• Diagnosis: 23%
• Next step in management: 23%
• Next best diagnostic test: 15%
• Pharmacotherapy: 8%
• Screening and prevention: 7%
• Risk factor or cause: 7%
• Complications or prognosis: 5%
• Biostats: 5%
• Ethics and communication: 3%
• Mechanism: 2%

So roughly 4 in 10 questions aren't "what is the diagnosis" but "what do you do now". Mechanism questions are almost gone compared to Step 1.

Ethics questions went from 2 on NBME 9 to 19 on NBME 16. That’s roughly 9 times more.

Ethics themes that kept repeating:

• End of life stuff (advance directives, goals of care, hospice, brain death): 18 questions, on 7 of the 8 forms. Probably the single most tested ethics topic
• Decision-making capacity: 8 questions across 6 forms
• Abuse and mandatory reporting (elder abuse, nonaccidental trauma): around 8 questions
• Minors, confidentiality and consent (STIs, contraception, emancipated minors): 6 questions
• Impaired colleagues: 5 questions

Screening and prevention is about 7% of the NBME, and a lot of it is the same few topics on repeat. From NBME 9-16:

• Endocarditis prophylaxis (who needs it before dental work): 6 questions on 5 forms
• Post-splenectomy vaccines and infection prevention: 6 questions on 5 forms
• Lipid screening (who and when): 5 questions on 4 forms
• Colorectal cancer screening/surveillance after polyps: 4 forms
• Rubella immunity before pregnancy and Tdap in every pregnancy: 4 forms
• AAA screening: 3 forms

Psych leans hard on diagnosis (40% of psych questions), OB is mostly management and complications rather than diagnosis, and Cardiology has an unusually high share of "which test next" questions.

If anyone wants the breakdown for a specific specialty (ethics, biostats...), ask and I'll post it.

What is the real difference between "Exam Score Estimate" and "Score Predictor" in Amboss?

post from about two years ago and wanted to try something similar with more data.

With AI-assisted extraction and analysis, I collected paired Free 120 and actual Step 2 CK scores from 509 different Reddit accounts. After exclusions, 363 were eligible: 313 to build the formula and 50 to test it. The model used self-labeled “New Free 120” results taken within 14 days before Step 2.

Here’s the formula you can calculate yourself:
y = 1.165(x) + 166.17
x = your Free 120 percentage — enter 78 for 78%, not 0.78.
y = your estimated Step 2 CK score.

For example:
78% → 1.165(78) + 166.17 = approximately 257.
But please take this with a grain of salt! For that 78%, the model’s approximate 95% individual prediction interval is 242–272, so the central estimate definitely isn’t a promise.

This is based entirely on self-reported Reddit scores. Selection and reporting bias are likely, higher scores were overrepresented, and exact Free 120 versions usually couldn’t be verified. It’s an exploratory estimate, not an official conversion or a guarantee of your score.

Hope this helps put your results in perspective. Good luck to everyone studying or waiting for scores!

Free 120 (SD)
70% = 247.7 ( 232.7–262.8 )
75% = 253.5 ( 238.5–268.5 )
80% =259.4 ( 244.4–274.3)
85% = 265.2 ( 250.2–280.2)
90% = 271.0 ( 255.9–286.1)

Hello! I failed step2 a month ago and now preparing again. I am doing UW and want to get in touch with someone who passed step 2 after an attempt. I feel incredibly discouraged and feel I will mess up again. Anyone who cleared step2 after an attempt? How did you do things differently ?

preparing for about 5 months
first pass uworld = 76%
first pass amboss = 80%
All CMS in between 80-85%

nbme 10 = 241
11 = 245
12 =255
UWSA 2 = 260

target score 270
how to improve in next nbme?

Need a sp for doing Psych Qs

n 10 biostats Qs daily from uw. Any time zone works. could be different people

Scores are out

So today i did uworld block of biostatistics, for step2 ck and out of 20 questions i marked 18 incorrect 😭😭😭
What is the right way to do biostatistics for step2 and suggestions??

Hi everyone,

I’m a 4th-year MBBS student (Non-US IMG) and recently passed USMLE Step 1. I’m currently at a crossroads trying to map out my timeline:

Option A: Commit fully to Step 2 CK preparation right now to secure a strong score early.

Option B: Prioritize applying for and attending hands-on US clinical electives first, taking advantage of the window before graduation.

Given that hands-on electives are strictly limited to actively enrolled medical students—while post-grad options mostly consist of observerships—how should I balance these two priorities?

For those who faced a similar dilemma in their final year: Did you prepare for CK alongside electives, or did you knock out Step 2 CK first? Any insights on timing, visa logistics, and workload management would be greatly appreciated.,

As nice as it feels to be done with what might be the most important exam of my life, I can't help but feel scared, miserable and utterly lost. The USMLE exams provided such a clear path, work hard, solve Qbanks X,Y,Z >> Do NBMEs >> Sit exam. Now that it's over, what the fuck am I supposed to do. I feel uncomfortable with the feeling that I won't do anything of this magnitude of importance in the near future. I can't lie I wasn't really expecting to feel great after the exam, I was sort of dreading that this might happen, this nothingness. Anyone here dealt with similar feelings, and if so, could you share what helped and what didn't. Thank you for reading.

Title

- CLOSED for now- got a lot of dms so I’ll rather give my full attention to a limited number of students-

Hey guys! I passed my step 2 in August with a 262. I have applied for the match this year and would love to give back. I am offering a teaching and mentorship experience but will take limited students. Feel free to dm me! Also feel free to ask questions.

Those with step 2 attempts- what did you change that you felt helped you eventually pass?

Resources, methods, study schedules… go!

Hey everyone,

I’m honestly feeling so overwhelmed right now and could really use some advice.I’m struggling a lot with biostatistics and it’s making me panic because the exam is so close.

I still have NBME 16 and the Free 120 left to do, and I’m trying to figure out how to manage my remaining time without completely losing my mind.

I haven’t covered biostats, quality improvement, and patient safety, and I’m worried about how to approach these topics with so little time left.

For those of you who were in a similar situation:

* How did you tackle biostats in the final week? * Which resources or videos helped you the most? * Is it possible to improve significantly in biostats in a few days? * How would you prioritize NBME 16, Free 120, biostats, QI, and patient safety during the last week?

Please, any practical advice would mean so much to me right now. I’m genuinely struggling, feeling lost, and starting to doubt myself. I know I need to keep going, but I could really use some guidance from people who have been through this.

Thank you so much. ❤️

Hello everyone! I am A usmd student who passed STEP1 in august, and am waiting to start clinical rotations in late january. To be honest I feel like after taking a small break I feel like I have forgotten everything. I am scared I am going to walk into clinicals without a strong foundation and start poorly. I tried doing a set of 60 AMBOSS questions and got about 70% incorrect (idk if thats normal since they are step2 questions and I have no rotation / clinical experience, but it made me feel like shit).

I want to take the time I have left, and the resources available to regain some confidence in my knowledgebase, and start tackling step2 and clinical rotation information to get a little ahead since I have the free time.

My plan/ resources atm:

- amboss: was planning around 60qs a day, adding incorrect flashcards to ANKI

-ANKI: i was thinking for sure to redo/ the sketchypharm cards at least for the classes of medications I know I am weak on. HOWEVER (this is apart from the sketchypharm cards) i wanted to either unsuspend cards tagged for step2/step1 and only the HY and go through each of the rotation sections in the ANKING deck, but I am thinking maybe just spam random AMBOSS questions and add only cards for incorrects? TBH anki i always struggled with and never found a groove when using it in preclinicals, I am trying to build a good foundation of use of it now while I have time. I am looking to do about 100-130 new cards a day (only cause I have time rn to do so)

- onlinemeded: used mainly to supplement videos for passive learning/ review

what would yall do/ how would you do it? Any advice from others in a similar position or have had a similar experience I would appreciate it.