The following question was submitted to our Academic Advising Team by a third year medical student.

Question: I'm trying to decide which Step 2 CK NBME (CCSSA) to take first to determine my baseline and make a study plan. I see there are a total of 4 Step 2 CK assessments currently available, forms 3, 4, 6 and 7. Which one would you recommend to start with and in what order I should take them?

Answer: We recommend students take the NBME Assessments from oldest to newest. The newest ones will have the most up-to-date information. We recommend starting with NBME Assessment CCSSA form 3, then 4, 6 and finally 7.ng to decide which Step 2 CK NBME (CCSSA) to take first to determine my baseline and make a study plan. I see there are a total of 4 Step 2 CK assessments currently available, forms 3, 4, 6 and 7. Which one would you recommend to start with and in what order I should take them?

Extra NBME tidbits:
The Step 2 CK NBME (CCSSA) forms cost $50 each. The Step 2 CK NBME (CCSSA) expanded version with expanded feedback cost $60 each. According to the NBME website, the expanded version allows students to see the number of items they answered incorrectly by the content category, the average amount of time spent on each incorrect item, and the percent of incorrect items marked during the assessment. They may also review the text of the items they answered incorrectly. Expanded versions are only available for 4, 6 and 7. Click here to view a sample profile from the NBME website with expanded feedback.

NBME Assessment form 2 has been retired and NBME Assessment form 7 has been added. We recommend you take as many assessments and work on as many QBank questions as you can prior to your USMLE Step 2 CK exam.

NBME self-assessment website

https://nsas.nbme.org/nsasweb/servlet/mesa_main

For additional information about the NBME self-assessments (CBSSA)

http://www.nbme.org/Students/sas/sas.html