What is the average step score for general surgery?

For General Surgery, the average USMLE Step 2 CK score for matched applicants typically falls in the mid-to-high 240s, with recent figures showing averages around 247-250, though some sources place it slightly higher at 253 when including other surgical specialties, with competitiveness being medium to high and scores above 250 often giving an advantage. For Step 1, matched U.S. seniors average around 235-236, with scores below 220 often hindering matches.

What is considered a good step score?

A good USMLE Step 2 CK score is between 240 and 260. However, what qualifies as a “good” score ultimately depends on the residency program you are applying to. If you want to match to your first-choice program, you should aim for a score at or above 260.

What is the average step 2 score for anesthesia?

The highest average Step 2 CK score among those specialties was 246, in both general surgery and anesthesiology. Across the five qualifying specialties, the range of average Step 2 scores for applicants who matched was 231–246.

Is 242 a good step 2 score?

In terms of Step 2 CK percentiles and average test scores, the average scores usually fall within the range of 245 to 247. For Step 3, students often receive mean scores between 227 and 228. These variations in mean scores also translate to differences in percentiles.

What is an elite step 2 score?

While a score of 245 generally places you at the 37th percentile, and is enough for some specialties, aiming for a score closer to the 75th percentile (around 260) is recommended.

What is the Average USMLE Score for General Surgery Residents? (IMGs, MD vs. DO, # of Pubs, etc.)

How hard is it to score 240 on Step 2?

An examinee with a Step 2 CK score of 240 is at the 24th percentile. The 24th percentile means that 24% of the Step 2 CK first-takers from LCME-accredited US/Canadian medical schools in the three-year cohort described previously scored lower than 240.

What score is 75% correct on step 2?

Getting 75% correct on Step 2, especially on practice tests like NBMEs or UWorld, usually translates to a strong score in the mid-to-high 240s or even into the mid-250s, placing you well above average and competitive for many specialties, though top-tier competitive fields might require even higher scores (around 255-270+). A 75th percentile score means you scored better than 75% of test-takers, indicating solid performance and often helping balance a weaker Step 1 or improving residency options. 

How important is step 2 for anesthesia?

The Step 2 score was the top factor with a mean importance rating of 4.2 on a scale of 1 (not important) to 5 (very important). 6. Many programs will not consider your application unless you have a Step 2 score available at the time of application submission.

Is 240 on Step 3 good?

Yes, a 240 is an excellent USMLE Step 3 score, placing you well above the average (around 230) and in the top percentiles, making it a very strong result for fellowship applications and general licensure purposes, though most programs focus more on passing and Step 2 scores.
 

What is a passing step score?

For more information about scores, view Scores Common Questions. * USMLE Step 1 score reporting is reported as pass/fail only for exams taken on or after January 26, 2022. On the three-digit score scale, the passing standard is 196.

Can you match general surgery if you fail Step 1?

When general surgery residency program directors. Only 1% of programs often consider applicants who have failed. As you can see, the road to match success is difficult for those who have failed the Step 1 exam.

How hard is general surgery?

Life as a general surgery resident is demanding, with long hours, high stress, and a steep learning curve. Residents balance operating room responsibilities, patient care, and academic duties.

Does Step 3 matter for surgery?

If you already matched into residency, your score doesn't matter, but it does matter that you pass the exam for both licensing and potentially fellowship applications. However, if you have only matched into a prelim or transitional year, Step 3 can help bolster your application for a categorical spot.

What is the average Step 2 score for general surgery?

General Surgery: ~247. Emergency Medicine: ~246. OB/GYN: ~245. Internal Medicine: ~245.

How many questions can I get wrong on step 2?

How many can I get wrong on Step 2? The exact number of questions you can get wrong on Step 2 CK depends on the test's difficulty and scoring algorithm. The test comprises about 310 multiple-choice questions, and achieving a passing score of 218 usually means answering approximately 60-65% of the questions correctly.

What score is 50% on step 2?

A 50% score on USMLE Step 2 (CK) usually translates to a score around 250, placing you at the 50th percentile, which is considered an average-to-good score but may be limiting for highly competitive specialties, though it's a passing score and often sufficient for many programs with strong applications. The actual percentile can vary slightly as more people take the test, but a score in the mid-240s to low-250s generally puts you around the 50th percentile. 

What specialty has the lowest Step 2 score?

First up with the lowest average Step 2 score is family medicine at 244. Family medicine is a specialty that continuously has the lowest Step 2 score of all specialties. That said, note that the current 244, based on 2024 data, is an increase from 241 in 2022 and 238 in 2020.

What percent of people fail step 2?

With Step 1 being pass/fail, Step 2 CK has become the primary USMLE score that residency programs use to evaluate applicants. In 2023-2024, approximately 2,835 students failed Step 2 CK on their first attempt—2% of US MD students, 4% of DO students, and 11% of IMGs.

What score is 60% correct on step 2?

A 60% correct on USMLE Step 2 CK, which equals a score of around 218 (the new passing score as of July 2025), means you've met the minimum competency requirement, but to be competitive for residency, you generally need a much higher score, with averages often in the mid-240s to 250s, depending on the specialty, with higher scores like 245 (around 37th percentile) or 255 (around 60th percentile) being good targets for competitiveness, as residency programs look for scores well above the passing threshold.
 

What is an excellent score on Step 2?

According to the NBME's performance data, most students fall between 240–250 on Step 2 CK. While that's considered a strong performance, the average score depends on the year and the competitiveness of applicants.

Can I fail step 2?

But if you fail, USMLE policy allows up to four total attempts to pass any of the Step exams. As far as the impact of that failure on your residency prospects, a Step 2 fail is not a deal-breaker. But it's likely going to require some explanation from an applicant during the selection process.