USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge

The USMLE (United States Medical Licensure Examination) is a three-step examination meant to assess the ability of a physician to apply clinical skills and knowledge in the management of a patient in line with the standards of the United States. This exam is required for licensure to practice medicine in the US. It can be taken by graduates in the US or foreign graduates.

While the exam has three steps, this article focuses on the second step only – the USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge).

The USMLE Step 2 takes nine hours, and it is the multiple-choice part of the USMLE. It assesses your ability to apply clinical knowledge in a clinical scenario. Your ability to combine and use  your medical knowledge, understanding, and skills to provide patient-centered care is in question here. However, note that this exam only tests your theoretical knowledge. It tests your readiness to enter the medical practice as a supervised practitioner and not an autonomous one. Also, it is typically written in the fourth year of medical school, but this exam can help you get the best residency once you graduate, so you must take it seriously.

What Is the Exam Format?

This exam is taken in one day and is divided into eight 1-hour sections and taken under 9 hours. Each section of the examination will not have more than forty questions. Also, the entire questions in the test will not be more than 318. This means that you will have approximately only one hour of break. Nevertheless, the break will be a 45-minute necessary break and an optional 15-minute tutorial. You could choose not to take this tutorial if you went through it before the examination. This will increase your break to 1 hour. Also, if you finish one section before the allotted time, you can take a break in the leftover time. Get very with the test formats by taking our prep course at CanadaQBank.

Suppose you have a physical or health condition and require additional break time; in that case, you should complete the request form and submit it with a letter issued by a qualified healthcare practitioner, stating your medical need. For instance, include lactation and diabetes. These requests should be made prior to the examination.

USMLE Exam Content

The questions for USMLE Step 2 assess your knowledge of patient safety, legal and ethical issues, and professionalism. The exam includes questions set from an outline created by the USMLE. Be sure to read it before you start studying to get an idea of what is expected of you. This outline is structured according to all the organ systems in the human body. The questions are generally taken from 18 categories. The questions that focus on the organs are further divided into normal and abnormal processes.

Nevertheless, you should remember that not all 18 categories will appear in your exam, but that does not mean that you should not read every part. The exam will cover the following aspects of medicine: Obstetrics &Gynecology, Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry.

Pediatrics, Behavioral Health, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Blood &Lymph System, Immune System, Gastrointestinal System, General Principles of Foundational Science, Multisystem Process & Disorders, Musculoskeletal System, Nervous System & Special Systems, Respiratory System, Renal & Urinary System, Legal/ Ethical Issues & Professionalism and Cardiovascular System.

The pass mark for USMLE Step 2 is 209. Remember that the higher your score, the better the residency programs you get.

How To Apply for USMLE Step 2

Taking and passing USMLE Step 1 is a prerequisite for Step 2. Step 2 is more significant and more difficult, so do not rush into it. So how then do you go about scheduling your exams?

If you are in the US or Canada. Go to the NBME Licensing website and follow the instructions. If you are in a foreign country, go to the ECFMG portal and sign up through the portal.

Before applying for the exam, you will need to select a particular eligibility period that you want to write your exam. You do this by visiting the Prometric Website to schedule a test date. Once you complete your registration, a scheduling permit will be sent to you. This usually takes about three weeks.

If you have any problems because of a disability, the NBME provides some simple steps to follow such as filling out a form and emailing it to them.

Furthermore, while the exam may not be easy, they make it simple to reschedule. If you realize that you need extra prep time more than 31 days before your exam date, you can reschedule free of charge as long as you are rescheduling within your three-month eligibility period.

You can still reschedule within less than a month before the exam date, so there is no need to stress. But there will be fees accordingly. If you missed the exam within your eligibility period, you would still be able to reschedule. You will have to contact the USMLE to inquire about a one-time eligibility period extension which requires another fee. The cost of the exam is currently $645.

If you still do not take the examination within your original or extended eligibility period after all these processes, you will reapply by submitting a new application. This means you will start from the first step and pay new fees. The former payment you made will be rendered void as they are non-refundable and non-transferable.

You can take the USMLE Step 2 CK in test centers worldwide in Australia, Africa, and Asia.

Preparing for Your Exam

While preparing for your USMLE, Part 2, remember that CanadaQBank is here for you. The USMLE exam is no joke, and here at CanadaQBank, we make sure we give you enough preparation.

We have 3,989 of the best MCQ question for you to choose from. The MCQ covers several areas to be tested on. The tests can be timed and untimed and have a detailed analysis of the tests taken. It is also accessible anywhere in the world. Thus, you could take the tests from the comfort of your room.

You can click here to check out our affordable rates that go from $95 per month to $335 for a year’s worth of access.