Should I delay Step 2 CK?

[centrigeugle]

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Since I'm having trouble hearing back from my school's administration and my adviser isn't replying to email, I turn to your wisdom, SDN.

My step 1 score is 227. I am schedueled to take step 2 CK next week, but my recent NBME and UWorld Self-Assessment scores have me getting the same to slightly lower scores, generally in the 220 range.

Is it worth taking Step 2 CK at this point, given the risk of having a slightly lower score? I had planned to study longer to get a much stronger Step 2, but that clearly did not happen. My feelings are to delay, but I worry I may have to explain my lack of step score to interviewers, and it seems more and more rads programs require Step 2 for interviews...

 

[colbgw02]

I would say...yes. Delay.

My understanding is that these practice tests tend to yield higher scores than the real thing will. Assuming that's true, you won't do yourself any favors by having a step II score that's near or below your step I one. Your step I score is good enough to match, assuming decent-to-good grades and no red flags, so I say hold what you got. It sounds like you're more likely to close doors with step II than the converse.

 

[CorneliaSt]

Delay. the UWSA is quite accurate at predicting your actual score and you need to improve on CK (shoot for 240s+). You will still get plenty of interviews at mid tier programs without CK with that Step 1 score assuming the rest of your app is solid. Nobody asked me once about not having my CK score in early (took the test in October).