A new version of the software used to deliver the USMLE Step examinations is scheduled to be introduced in mid-August 2008. Migration to the new version will occur first in the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) examination, and will be phased in over several weeks. If you plan to take the Step 2 CK examination in August 2008 or later, you should familiarize yourself with both the current test delivery software and the new version.
The sample test materials using both the current test delivery software and the new version are available on the USMLE website at
http://www.usmle.org/Orientation/2008/menu.html.
The change to the test delivery software will be accounted for in scoring the examination results, so that scores will be comparable to those of exams using the older software. Because of this change, it will be necessary to delay the reporting of scores for some examinees. The normal turnaround time for reporting scores to Step 2 CK examinees is 3 to 4 weeks. However, during this transition, turnaround time may be as long as 6 to 8 weeks.