Calculator
For educational purposes only. Not a substitute for clinical judgment.
What Is a Good Step 2 CK Score?
The mean USMLE Step 2 CK score is approximately 245 with a standard deviation of about 15, and the current passing score is 214. A score of 245 sits at roughly the 50th percentile; 250 is around the 65th percentile; 260 is near the 85th percentile; and 265+ places you above the 90th percentile of all examinees. Because Step 1 is now pass/fail, program directors weight Step 2 CK far more heavily than in previous cycles — for many competitive specialties it has become the primary screening metric.
Step 2 CK Scores by Specialty
Competitiveness is relative to the specialty. Family medicine, psychiatry, and internal medicine have mean matched scores in the 240s. Anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and general surgery cluster in the upper 240s to low 250s. The most competitive specialties — dermatology, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, ENT, and radiation oncology — have mean matched scores of roughly 255–260, and applicants below the mean often offset it with research, honors, and strong letters. Use your percentile as a screening estimate, not a guarantee.
How the Percentile Is Calculated
This tool models the Step 2 CK score distribution as a normal (bell) curve with a mean of 245 and a standard deviation of 15, then computes the cumulative probability below your score. That is the same statistical approach the USMLE program uses to report percentile ranks. Because the exact distribution shifts slightly year to year and is mildly skewed near the ceiling, treat the output as a close approximation rather than an official percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 250 a good Step 2 CK score?
Yes. A 250 is at roughly the 65th percentile and is at or above the mean matched score for most specialties, including internal medicine, pediatrics, anesthesiology, and emergency medicine. It keeps the majority of specialties open. For the most competitive fields (dermatology, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, ortho, ENT), 250 is slightly below the mean, so you would want to strengthen the rest of your application.
What Step 2 CK score do I need for a competitive specialty?
Mean matched Step 2 CK scores for the most competitive specialties (dermatology, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, ENT, radiation oncology) are approximately 255–260. Scoring at or above 255 makes you competitive on the numeric screen; below that, research output, AOA/honors, and letters carry more weight.
What is the average Step 2 CK score?
The mean USMLE Step 2 CK score is approximately 245 with a standard deviation of about 15. The current minimum passing score is 214.
Now that Step 1 is pass/fail, how much does Step 2 CK matter?
A great deal. With Step 1 reported only as pass/fail since 2022, Step 2 CK is the first and often only three-digit board score program directors see when screening applications. Surveys of program directors consistently rank it as one of the top factors in granting interviews, especially in competitive specialties.
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