Score goals · NBME plateaus · clerkship year
USMLE Step 2 CK Tutoring
One-on-one USMLE Step 2 CK tutoring over live video. Since Step 1 went pass/fail, Step 2 CK is the USMLE score residency programs see — we build your plan around your NBME scores, your rotations and the score you are aiming for.
From $50 per one-hour session3 sessions for $209.99100% money-back guarantee
4.9 Excellent477 reviews on Trustpilot
Prefer to talk first? Book a 20-minute call(opens in a new tab) — with a person, no form.
- TrustScore on Trustpilot, 477 reviews across every service
- 4.9/ 5
- of those reviews are five stars (445 of 477)
- 93%
- Public team members offering USMLE tutoring
- 13
- per one-hour Step 2 CK tutoring session, depending on package
- $50–70
Is this you?
When Step 2 CK tutoring helps
Step 2 CK tutoring is most useful when one of these describes where you are:
Your NBME practice scores have plateaued If your self-assessment scores have stalled despite steady question-bank work, a tutor helps you find the patterns behind the plateau and target the inefficiencies.
You are aiming for a competitive specialty Since Step 1 went pass/fail, Step 2 CK is the three-digit USMLE score residency programs see. If your specialty is competitive, a tutor helps you set a realistic goal score and a plan to reach it.
You know the medicine but lose points on the questions Step 2 CK asks for the next best step, the most likely diagnosis or the best management. Tutoring focuses on reading the vignette the way the question writer intended and choosing between two good answers.
Clerkships leave little time to study Balancing rotations, shelf exams and Step 2 CK is hard. A tutor helps you study efficiently around your schedule and make your shelf preparation count toward the boards.
Test anxiety on a nine-hour exam Sixteen blocks in one day tests stamina as much as knowledge. Tutors help you build a pacing and break routine and a way to reset after a hard block.
Retaking Step 2 CK after a failed attempt A failed attempt stays on your USMLE transcript, and attempts are limited. Your tutor works through your score report with you and rebuilds the plan around your weakest disciplines and systems.
Step 2 CK tutoring is not only for students who are struggling. Many students work with a tutor to push a good score higher, stay accountable through clerkships and walk into test day with a plan.
The roster
Meet our Step 2 CK tutors
Physicians, residents and medical students who have been through the Step exams. You are matched on your goals, your timeline and the tutor preferences you give us.

Andrew M. MD.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
University of California, Los Angeles
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Cassidy A., DO
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
Anesthesiology · University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
I’m a New Jersey native, and a current fourth-year medical student at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky, where I studied neuroscience and competed in collegiate horseback riding. I’ll be heading back to UK to complete my anesthesiology residency. Outside of medicine, you can usually find me golfing, playing pickleball, or experimenting with new recipes in my Ninja Creami.

Emily Lubas, MD
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
Neurology · Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/TJUH
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Hi all! My name is Emily, and I’m a board-certified Neurologist and current Movement Disorders Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.
I found my calling for a career in medicine after I had spinal surgery as a teenager. Through my experience as a patient, I was inspired by the healing power of medicine and wanted to pay that forward as a physician. I received my undergraduate degree in Biology from Lafayette College and was heavily involved in the Community Outreach program. I took a gap year before medical school and worked as an Emergency Room Scribe in New Jersey, which was a great way to gain exposure to numerous medical specialties in a day’s work. I matriculated at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University after being drawn to the school’s focus on community service and humanism in medicine. I matched in Neurology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and served as Chief Resident during my final year. Currently, I am a Fellow in Movement Disorders (Parkinson’s Disease, tremor, etc.) at the University of Pennsylvania.
During medical school, I worked as a peer tutor as well as a problem-based learning group leader for post-baccalaureate students. I also volunteered as a mentor for teens in Camden, NJ who were interested in pursuing careers in STEM. As a Neurology resident, I served as Chief Resident which gave me a front row seat to the other side of residency application and interviews. I am excited to use all of the knowledge I’ve gained about applying and interviewing to medical school and residency to helps others at Motivate MD!
I am a first-generation physician, and I want to be the mentor for others that I didn’t have during my application cycle. As a mentor, I aim to help applicants tell their unique story to find their perfect fit for medical school or residency. The application process can be daunting, so let me be your cheerleader to remind you why you already have the skills to be a great physician.

Erin B., MD
Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
Psychiatry · University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center
University of Minnesota Medical School
For me, becoming a doctor was never about a single ‘aha’ moment, but about a series of experiences that kept leading me to medicine and about steps that revealed that becoming a doctor was even possible. I started by wanting to understand people—why they behave the way they do, what drives them, what holds them back. That curiosity led me into psychology and years of work on an eating disorder helpline. But over time, I felt limited in how much I could help. I wanted to be able to not only listen and understand, but also diagnose, treat, and walk with patients through their recovery. Working in diverse environments—whether it was mentoring teens, supporting people in crisis, or even my odd jobs outside of healthcare—taught me resilience and adaptability. Medicine felt like the way to bring all of those threads together: the curiosity, the service, and the ability to make a tangible difference in someone’s life. And completing prerequisites for a dietetics degree showed me how close I was to medicine and showed me that it was even a possibility for me. So I became a doctor because I wanted to bring both science and humanity together in caring for people. Psychiatry, in particular, is where I can do that most fully—combining my background in psychology with the tools and training of medicine to support patients through some of their most challenging moments.

Jaelen K.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
I am a current fourth year MD Student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Charlotte, NC. I love helping students figure out the strategies that work best for them as well as finding their voice within their essays. I can't wait to work with you!

Liv S.
Tutor
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Nancy Y.
Advisor · Interview Coach · Tutor
Internal Medicine · Baylor College of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Sarah B., MD
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
Pediatrics · Phoenix Children's Hospital
Creighton University School of Medicine
Hi there! My name is Sarah Batt, and I am a pediatrics resident at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. I’m originally from rural Pennsylvania and attended Canisius University in Buffalo, NY, where I majored in both Biology and Psychology with minors in Neuroscience and Neuropsychology. I then moved to Phoenix, AZ to attend Creighton University School of Medicine, where I graduated summa cum laude in 2025. During my time at Creighton, I also had the valuable experience of serving on the Admissions Committee, reviewing applications and conducting interviews of applicants just like yourself!
Throughout my journey in medicine, I have developed a strong passion for mentoring, advising, and teaching. From serving as president of the Pre-Health Club at Canisius to tutoring and mentoring medical students at Creighton through their coursework, clinical rotations, and USMLE Step exams, I have had the privilege of supporting students at every stage of their pre-medical and medical school journey. I have also had the opportunity to guide students pursuing other pre-health fields, including those pursuing dental, veterinary, and physician assistant programs.
As the first person in my family to graduate from college and one of only a few from my small rural town to pursue medicine, I understand firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate this path. I joined Motivate MD to help make the journey to a career in healthcare more accessible by providing individualized support, honest insight, and encouragement, so you can confidently put your best foot forward. I look forward to working with you!

Shreya A.
Advisor · Interview Coach · Tutor
University of Minnesota Medical School

Sydney Love C., MD
Tutor
Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) · UMass Chan Medical School
Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine

Ramneet C.
Interview Coach · Tutor
Wayne State University School of Medicine

Adrian O.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
I am originally from Miami, Fl but came "further" South for medical school at UNC where I am currently pursuing my MD/PhD. My hobbies include cooking Cuban food (*I come from a Cuban family), going to the gym, finding good restaurants, and traveling!

Aishwarya P., MD
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
Internal Medicine · Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester)
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Our top priority is ensuring you receive the support you need. If you feel that your tutor isn’t the right fit, let us know as soon as possible, and we’ll match you with someone else.
How it works
How Step 2 CK tutoring sessions work
Your plan depends on your test date, your rotation schedule and your target score, but a typical Step 2 CK tutoring package runs like this:
First session: your baseline and your target
You and your tutor review your shelf exam results, any NBME or UWorld self-assessments and your question-bank performance, agree a realistic target score, and build a study plan around your rotations and test date.
Early sessions: strategy
How to read next-best-step and management questions, pace a 30-minute block, and review a block of questions so that every miss becomes something you revisit.
Middle sessions: content and practice
Targeted review of the disciplines and systems where you lose the most points, questions worked through together, and a look at each new self-assessment so the plan follows your scores.
Final sessions: readiness
Comparing your most recent practice scores with your target, rehearsing test-day logistics and breaks, and planning how to stay sharp through sixteen blocks and nine hours.
After Step 2 CK
Our support does not end on test day. Motivate MD also helps with residency personal statements, ERAS applications and interview preparation.
The exam
What Step 2 CK tutoring covers
Step 2 CK tests whether you can apply clinical knowledge to patient care — diagnosis, next steps and management. It is scored, and since Step 1 went pass/fail it is the three-digit USMLE score residency programs see.
A target score and a plan to reach it
A realistic goal set from your baseline self-assessment and your specialty plans, then a week-by-week schedule that fits around your rotations.
NBME and UWorld self-assessments
When to take each practice exam, how to read the results by discipline and system, and why the trend matters more than any single score.
Question-bank strategy
Getting the most from UWorld, AMBOSS or another bank: reviewing each block, tracking the mistakes you repeat and knowing when to move to mixed, timed blocks.
Clinical reasoning
Next-best-step, most-likely-diagnosis and best-management questions — the reasoning Step 2 CK rewards and the traps it sets.
Clerkships and shelf exams
Turning what you study for medicine, surgery, pediatrics, OB/GYN, psychiatry and neurology shelves into Step 2 CK preparation rather than a separate job.
Stamina and test-day pacing
A pacing and break plan for sixteen 30-minute blocks across a nine-hour day, rehearsed on full-length practice.
USMLE Step 2 CK at a glance
- Scoring
- A three-digit score reported on a scale of 1 to 300. The minimum passing score is 218 for exams taken on or after July 1, 2025.
- Average score
- A mean of 251, with a standard deviation of 15, for first-time takers from LCME-accredited medical schools in 2025–2026.
- Percentiles
- Among recent first-time takers from LCME-accredited schools, 240 is the 23rd percentile, 250 the 44th, 260 the 71st and 270 the 93rd.
- Format
- One day: sixteen 30-minute blocks in a single 9-hour testing session, for exams on or after May 7, 2026.
- Questions
- No more than 20 per block and no more than 318 in total.
- Breaks
- At least 55 minutes of break time, plus a 5-minute optional tutorial.
- Attempts
- No more than three attempts at the same Step in 12 months. Four unsuccessful attempts, incomplete ones included, end eligibility for the entire USMLE sequence.
- First-time pass rate, 2024–2025
- 98% for US MD students, 96% for US DO students and 90% for students from schools outside the US.
Source: the USMLE’s Step 2 CK overview(opens in a new tab), scoring policy(opens in a new tab), score interpretation guidelines(opens in a new tab), eligibility rules(opens in a new tab) and performance data(opens in a new tab), checked September 23, 2026.
Three reasons
Why students choose Motivate MD for Step 2 CK
One-on-one, built around your score goal
Every session is live and private, and planned around your target score, your practice exams and your rotation schedule — not a fixed curriculum.
Tutors who have been through it
Our USMLE tutors are physicians, residents and medical students who have successfully navigated the Step exams, and they bring the strategies that worked for them.
Priced for students
Step 2 CK tutoring for about $50 to $70 an hour, depending on package, with a 100% money-back guarantee. We remember what it is like to be a student.
Find out if we are a good fit for your Step 2 CK prep.
Tell us your test date, your target score and your latest practice scores, and we will suggest a package — or text or call 917-994-0765.
A few minutes to tell us where you are, then a free call with a tutor.
In their words
What students say about our USMLE tutoring
“Highly recommend this tutoring service! They are super affordable and have the best tutors! Sydney was amazing and so helpful throughout my process. Super grateful for her!!”
TuteeUSVerified
Three sizes
Step 2 CK tutoring packages and pricing
Every session is one hour, one-on-one, over live video. Bigger packages cost less per session and carry a stronger guarantee.
3 Sessions
$70 per session$209.99 total
Add to Cart- Most Popular
10 Sessions
$60 per session$599.99 totalSave $100
Add to Cart - Best Value
20 Sessions
$50 per session$999.99 totalSave $400
Add to Cart
Every package includes
- 100% Money Back Guarantee
- 1 Session = One Hour
- Supportive and Experienced Tutor
- Customized and Adaptable Study Plan and Tracker
- 1-on-1 Live Video Sessions
- Flexible Scheduling
- Accountability Check-Ins
- Test Day Anxiety Coaching
You’ll complete an intake form with a series of questions, including an option to set preferences for the tutor(s) you’d like to work with. Based on your responses and availability, we’ll handle the matchmaking, and a tutor will be in touch.
“They are super affordable and have the best tutors!”
In writing
Our guarantees
Our guarantees reflect what matters most: your confidence, your progress, and your results. We’ll be with you every step of the way.
100% Money-Back Guarantee
Every packageIf you’re not satisfied and we can’t find a solution that gives you the support you need, we’ll provide a full refund.
Confidence Guarantee
With 3 sessionsIf you don’t feel more confident after completing your three sessions, we’ll add one free session to help you strengthen your strategy.
Readiness Guarantee
With 10 sessionsIf, after 5 sessions, you don’t feel your strategy or understanding has noticeably improved, we’ll add 2 free sessions to refine your plan and build momentum.
Results Guarantee
With 20 sessionsStudents who engage consistently in USMLE tutoring often see meaningful improvement on practice exams, commonly in the range of 5–10 points on Step 2 CK practice tests, along with increased confidence, efficiency, and test-day readiness.
If you complete your full tutoring package and do not feel that your preparation or performance on practice exams has meaningfully improved, we will work with you to adjust your study plan, match you with a different tutor, or provide additional follow-up sessions at no extra cost.
Not sure which package is best for you?
Text/Call: 917-994-0765 or Email: [email protected]
Before you book
Step 2 CK tutoring FAQs
Straight answers to what students ask before they book Step 2 CK tutoring.
Should I get a tutor for Step 2 CK?
A Step 2 CK tutor is usually worth it if your practice scores have plateaued, you are aiming for a competitive specialty, you are short on time during clerkships or you are retaking the exam. If your NBME scores are climbing steadily toward your goal, a few sessions for strategy and accountability may be all you need.
How much does a Step 2 CK tutor cost?
Step 2 CK tutoring at Motivate MD costs about $50 to $70 per one-hour session, depending on the package. Our packages are 3 sessions for $209.99 (about $70 each), 10 sessions for $599.99 (about $60 each) and 20 sessions for $999.99 (about $50 each). The 10- and 20-session packages can also be split into 3 monthly payments. Every package carries a 100% money-back guarantee.
How much can a tutor raise my Step 2 CK score?
No one can honestly promise a number, and a single practice test can move several points on its own — the USMLE puts the measurement error of a Step 2 CK score at about 6 points. What our Results Guarantee says is this: Students who engage consistently in USMLE tutoring often see meaningful improvement on practice exams, commonly in the range of 5–10 points on Step 2 CK practice tests, along with increased confidence, efficiency, and test-day readiness. That is why your tutor tracks the trend across several self-assessments rather than any one score.
What is a good Step 2 CK score?
It depends on your specialty and your goals. For reference, the mean among first-time takers from LCME-accredited schools was 251, with a standard deviation of 15, in 2025–2026; a 250 sits at the 44th percentile and a 260 at the 71st. Competitive specialties generally look for scores above the mean, and your tutor can help you set a realistic target from your baseline self-assessment.
Is Step 2 tutoring the same as Step 2 CK tutoring?
Yes. The USMLE discontinued Step 2 CS(opens in a new tab), the clinical skills exam, in January 2021, so Step 2 CK is now the only Step 2 exam. USMLE Step 2 tutoring and Step 2 CK tutoring mean the same thing: preparation for the one-day, scored clinical knowledge exam that residency programs see.
When should I start Step 2 CK tutoring?
Ideally a few weeks before your dedicated study period, so your first session can set a baseline and a plan. Starting during clerkships works well too, because shelf exam preparation doubles as Step 2 CK preparation when it is planned that way.
How many Step 2 CK tutoring sessions do I need?
It depends on your timeline, your baseline and your target. Three sessions suit a student who wants a plan, a strategy review and a check-in before test day. Ten give regular accountability through a dedicated period. Twenty suit a student with a large gap to a target score or who is retaking Step 2 CK. Your tutor can recommend a package after a free consultation.
Can a tutor help if I failed Step 2 CK?
Yes. Your tutor reviews your score report’s performance feedback, identifies the disciplines and test-taking habits that cost you, and rebuilds your plan with regular check-ins. The USMLE limits attempts, so the aim is to sit again only when your practice exams show you are ready.
Do you offer Step 1 tutoring too?
Yes. The same tutors and packages cover Step 1, which is scored pass/fail. See our Step 1 tutoring page for how we approach it, or our USMLE tutoring overview for both exams.
How am I matched with a tutor?
You’ll complete an intake form with a series of questions, including an option to set preferences for the tutor(s) you’d like to work with. Based on your responses and availability, we’ll handle the matchmaking, and a tutor will be in touch.
Our top priority is ensuring you receive the support you need. If you feel that your tutor isn’t the right fit, let us know as soon as possible, and we’ll match you with someone else.
How are the sessions structured and scheduled?
Every package follows the same arc, from a first-session review of your practice scores to test-day readiness — see how Step 2 CK tutoring sessions work above.
Tutoring is scheduled based on your availability. We work with busy medical students and residents and aim to offer flexible scheduling whenever possible.
What if I have other questions?
Reach us at 917-994-0765 or [email protected] — we’re happy to help you work out whether Step 2 CK tutoring is right for you.
You are also welcome to schedule a free consultation call here(opens in a new tab).
Ready when you are
Plan your Step 2 CK score, from three sessions to twenty.
One-hour Step 2 CK sessions, a tutor matched from your intake form, and a money-back guarantee on every package.
Where to next
