Step2

USMLE ECFMG FAQ

 

Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills)

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Practice Materials

  1. I noticed some behaviors in the videos depicting reenactments by actors of actual examinee performances that I would not consider to be good communication skills. Why were these behaviors included in the video?

  2. Why are the videos depicting reenactments by actors of actual examinee performances excerpts and not an entire encounter?

Rationale

  1. Why does the USMLE include a clinical skills component?

  2. What studies support this need?

  3. If assessment of clinical skills is so important, why was it absent from the USMLE until 2004?

  4. Why isn't my passing grade on clinical skills exams in medical school sufficient for the licensing board?

Exam Design

  1. How are licensing boards involved in the USMLE and Step 2 CS?

  2. How does the USMLE program decide what cases will be presented in Step 2 CS and what skills will be assessed?

  3. What evidence is there that the design of Step 2 CS is sound?

Pass Rate and Impact

  1. How many people pass Step 2 CS?

  2. Will I be able to learn how I performed on specific areas of the exam?

Number of Testing Sites

  1. Why are there so few testing sites for Step 2 CS?

  2. Why doesn't the USMLE program use some of the excellent clinical skills facilities at universities to expand testing sites?

Registration and Scheduling

  1. How far in advance do I need to register and schedule to find available appointments at the test center of my choice?

  2. Why are there so few test centers?

Patient Notes

  1. Who rates the patient notes?

  2. Examinees are required to type patient notes on a computer. Should I also be prepared to handwrite a patient note?

  3. How much text will I be able to type in the patient note fields?

Scoring

  1. How is the exam scored?

  2. How do I interpret the performance profile on my score report?

  3. I did not pass the Communications and Interpersonal Skills (CIS) subcomponent. How do you ensure that the standardized patient provided you with accurate feedback upon which to base my score?

  4. I did not pass the Spoken English Proficiency (SEP) subcomponent of the exam, and yet I passed the Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS) subcomponent. How is this possible?

  5. Why does it take so long to score Step 2 CS?

  6. How does the CS score recheck process work? Are videos used in the process?

  7. Why aren’t the test day videos reviewed to score the exam or during the score recheck process?

 

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