Average Step 2 CK Score: What's a 'Good' Score in 2026?
The 2026 average Step 2 CK score, what counts as a competitive score for each specialty, and how to benchmark your practice scores against residency targets.
After Step 1 went pass/fail, Step 2 CK became the highest-stakes numeric signal in residency applications. So what's a 'good' score? It depends on your specialty target. Here are the benchmarks.
The 2026 average Step 2 CK score
The current Step 2 CK national mean for US MD graduates sits around 244, with a standard deviation of ~16 points. The passing threshold is 214. IMGs trail US MDs by roughly 15-20 points on average, though top-quartile IMGs are competitive with US MD medians.
Competitive scores by specialty (matched applicants, 2026)
- Family Medicine: 230-240
- Internal Medicine: 240-250
- Pediatrics: 240-250
- Emergency Medicine: 245-255
- Anesthesiology: 245-255
- OB/GYN: 245-255
- Psychiatry: 240-250
- General Surgery: 250-260
- Ortho Surgery: 255-265
- Dermatology: 255-265
- Neurosurgery: 255-265
- Plastic Surgery (integrated): 260-270
Source: estimated from NRMP Charting Outcomes 2024 + AAMC Step 2 CK Score Summary 2026. Values are midpoints of published ranges.
These are medians for MATCHED applicants — not minimums to apply. Applying with scores 10 points below median is reasonable if you have strong research, away rotations, or geographic flexibility.
What 'good' means in context
A 240 is below average for derm or ortho but excellent for family medicine. A 260 is competitive everywhere but only differentiating in highly competitive surgical specialties. Step 2 CK score utility plateaus around 260 — above that, the marginal benefit per point shrinks dramatically.
How to benchmark your practice scores
Use your most recent NBME (within 2 weeks of intended test date) as your benchmark. If you're at or above the median for your specialty target, you're on track. If you're 5+ points below, you have two options: more dedicated prep time (typically +3-5 points per extra week up to a cap) or accept the risk and apply more broadly.
Run your NBME scores through our calculator to see your projected Step 2 CK with 95% CI, then compare against your specialty's competitive benchmark.
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