AMBOSS Step 2 CK Self-Assessment Week has come and gone for another year — a big congratulations to everyone who participated.
Taking place from May 5-15, 2022, the self-assessment had thousands of participants in the US and around the world. Those in the US had huge representation with students from >99% of US medical schools participating. And you were all hard at work! Collectively, you answered millions of USMLE®-style Step 2 CK questions.
The Step 2 CK Self-Assessment format
The Step 2 CK Self-Assessment was a mock version of the USMLE® Step 2 CK exam. It was comprised of four question blocks containing 40 questions each and was presented in the official timed format of the USMLE, meaning you had one hour to complete each block.
This year’s self-assessment was updated to reflect the recent content distribution changes.
The results
Following the self-assessment, students who completed all four blocks received their results in the form of a score report, designed to look similar to the USMLE’s. The score report also included the most high-yield topics to focus on based on the student’s performance and their relative strengths and weaknesses. If you took part in the self-assessment, you can view your score report here.
The mean score of the entire cohort of AMBOSS USMLE® Step 2 CK Self-Assessment-takers was 229 with a standard deviation of 24. The mean score of the reference cohort was 244 with a standard deviation of 17.
The highest score anyone got on the self-assessment was an eye-watering 280 and this was achieved by 3 superstars: 1 in the US and 2 IMG students.
For more information on how the score is calculated, check out this post.
The question that students answered correctly most often required test-takers to recognize the signs and symptoms of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) deficiency (peripheral neuropathy, cheilitis, microcytic anemia) in a patient on anti-tuberculosis (isoniazid) therapy. Pyridoxine deficiency is quite rare in the general population, and its association with isoniazid use in antituberculosis treatment is quite a commonly-tested high-yield concept. So, great job to the majority of this year's self-assessment participants for not missing out on such "gimme" questions!
The question that students answered incorrectly most often required test-takers to recognize the classical presentation of CSOM (chronic suppurative otitis media) in a pediatric patient and to know the preferred first-line therapy for it. Most students that got this wrong mixed up the first line antibiotic choice for CSOM with that of AOM (acute otitis media). Although ENT makes up a relatively small chunk of the questions you're likely to face in the actual exam, we recommend taking the time to solidify these two topics (CSOM, AOM), to ensure you don't miss out on some easy points.
The top 5 most recommended articles from the Step 2 CK Self-Assessment were:
- Principles of medical law and ethics
- Substance-related and addictive disorders
- Childbirth
- Quality and safety
- Acid-base disorders
How to use your report to improve your Step 2 score
The ultimate goal of the AMBOSS Step 2 CK Self-Assessment is to identify your strengths and weaknesses so you can shape the remainder of your Step 2 prep. The score report contains personalized study recommendations that help students identify where they need to focus their attention most.
When reviewing these topics, you can avail of the powerful AMBOSS study tools such as the high-yield library, extensive Qbank, and our popular Study Mode features. With these tools, students can deep dive into the areas they struggled with the most. This will close any knowledge gaps and help you get the Step 2 score you’re aiming for.
If you’re in the final stretch before Step 2, the 30-Day High-Yield Step 2 CK Study Plan will make all the difference. The plan consists of one article and a corresponding question session every day for 30 days. Bit by bit, you’ll reinforce your knowledge and feel confident on exam day. Keep up the great work — you’re nearly there!
