Starting in early August, 2012, the number of items on the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) examination will change. Although the change will occur quickly at many test centers, there may be some locations where this takes longer to complete.
The overall transition period should last approximately 6 weeks.
- The length of the testing day will not change. The test day will continue to be divided into eight 60-minute blocks, administered in one nine-hour testing session. The number of items per block on a given examination form will vary but will not exceed 45 items. Examinees should check the number of items that will be displayed at the beginning of each block. The total number of items on the overall examination form will not exceed 355 items.
- Scores on examination forms taken before and after the change – as well as scores on forms with different numbers of items – will be comparable; the possible variation in the number of items per form will be accounted for in scoring the examination results.
- Score reports for Step 2 CK are usually available within four weeks of testing. However, because of the change described above, as well as routine modifications to the test item pool, score reporting for most Step 2 CK examinations administered in August will take longer.
The target date for reporting Step 2 CK scores for most examinees testing in August is Wednesday, September 26, 2012.