What percentage correct is a 265 on step 2?

A 265 on USMLE Step 2 CK is an excellent score, generally falling around the 87th to 91st percentile, meaning you scored better than 87-91% of test-takers, placing it well above average (around 249) and competitive for most residency programs, often considered "Excellent". While it doesn't translate to a precise "percentage correct" due to curved scoring, it signifies strong performance, typically requiring around 60% correct answers to pass but much higher for this level of percentile.

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. 

What is 50% correct on step 2?

50th percentile is 250. I had taken a screenshot of the old percentiles (sorry did not capture below 245), if you want to compare.

What is 60% on step 2?

To pass the Step 2 CK exam, you must answer at least 60% of the questions correctly, giving you a minimum score of 214. If you want a good chance of securing your desired residency placement, you should aim for a score of at least 245.

Is 256 a good step 2 score?

Breaking down MD Step 2 scores

The five physician specialties that featured the top average Step 2 scores for matched applicants who trained at U.S. MD-granting medical schools were: Dermatology—257. Orthopaedic surgery—257. Diagnostic radiology—256.

How I Scored 265+ On USMLE STEP 2CK In 2026.

How predictive are NBMES step 2?

Those statistics are pretty remarkable, particularly for Step 2 CK. It implies that roughly 1 in 4 students will score at least 20 points higher on their actual test than predicted by the Step 2 CK NBME. (By comparison, many fewer Step 1 students will accomplish this feat).

Are UWorld self assessments accurate step 2?

Your score on UWorld questions may feel like a marker of your progress. However, your percentile on UWorld is not an accurate predictor of how you should expect to perform on Step 2 CK. As a reminder, UWorld is a learning resource, not a testing resource.

Is being in the 50th percentile good?

Parents are often given their child's parameters in percentiles. This means that a child at the 50th percentile is right in the middle with 50% of kids smaller and 50% bigger. Not all children are going to be right on the 50th line, so don't worry.

Is 260 a good step 2 score?

240–250 → Solidly within the average range; competitive for many core specialties. 255+ → Above average; strong candidate for competitive programs. 260+ → Exceptional; makes you stand out even in the toughest specialties.

Which NBME is hardest step 2?

NBME 9 and 12 are known to be the hardest, maybe not because of true difficulty but , especially for 9, there are some poorly written questions. People tend to score slightly lower on these forms.

What is a 75% correct score 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. 

What percent is correct to get a 250 on step 2?

Similarly, for Step 2 CK, a 250+ is above the 65%ile.

Is 268 a good step 2 score?

The average score hovers around 245, with the standard deviation around 15 points. That means most students fall between 230 and 260 — but what matters most is how that score translates into a percentile compared to other examinees.

Is 70% on UWorld bad?

No, 70% on UWorld is generally not bad; it's considered a solid, above-average score, especially on a first pass, indicating you're in good shape for exams like the NCLEX, where averages around this mark often predict high pass rates, though the key is learning from mistakes, not just the score itself.
 

Do shelf scores correlate with step 2?

Results. The mean Step 2 CK score among the respondents (n = 213) was 254 ± 13. There was a strong positive correlation between Step 2 CK score and composite shelf scores (rho = 0.80, p < 0.01).

What is a good baseline step 2 score?

The mean Step 2 CK score across all applicants hovers around 249. The minimum passing score is 218. Applicants who match tend to score higher than those who don't, regardless of whether they are U.S. MD seniors, DO seniors, or international medical graduates (IMGs).

Is 70% on free 120 good?

It seems the typical score to pass requires at least 60% of the questions answered correctly. Anecdotally, I can say that if a student gets a 70% or higher on the NBME Free 120 Step 1, they generally pass Step 1. That's from a small sample size of about 25-30 students/friends.

Which NBMEs are most important?

For Step 1, the most important NBMEs are the newer forms (28, 29, 30, 31), especially NBME 30, considered highly predictive, alongside the UWorld Self-Assessments (UWSAs), with UWSA 2 being strongly correlated with the actual score. For Step 2 CK, the newest NBME forms (9-11) and the CMS Forms (Clinical Mastery Series) are crucial for assessing specific clinical areas and predicting performance. 

What percentile is 270 on Step2?

A USMLE Step 2 CK score of 270 is generally around the 95th to 99th percentile, placing you in the top tier of test-takers, considered exceptional and highly competitive for nearly all residency specialties, including the most demanding fields like Dermatology and Orthopedic Surgery, especially with Step 1 being pass/fail.
 

What percentile is 256 step 2 score?

260-264 (75th-90th percentile) – Very strong score for most residency programs, making you a competitive applicant. 250-259 (50th-75th percentile) – Solid score, but you may need other strong application components for highly competitive specialties.

What is a 60% correct Step 2 score?

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 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.