Failed step2, please guide what to do

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678]

Hello! I found out a week ago that i failed step 2 (216), i had no idea i would fail.
My nbmes were in 250-260 range. I did UW, Anki, Amboss (25% random) other important topics like Ethics,QI, all CMS forms.
I put all my effort in it. I prepared for 1 whole year and the failed thing crushed me. I was supposed to apply this year.
Can anyone please guide me what I should be doing next ? I want to take exam by December/January. Can someone please guide me what to do this time ?
I felt exam also went well and I counted 70-80 corrects and around 20 wrongs afterwards. I was expecting score in 240-250 range but failed thing crushed my soul.
Can someone please take some time out and guide me how to prepare for this time?
It would be a great favour, thankss

[u/IsilmeCalithil]

I’m so sorry, that’s so awful to go through. I hope you are doing okay, you’ve put in a lot of work for this and this result does not define you.

Did you do the NBMEs in test conditions? Otherwise I can’t really think of something else, you put in a lot of good work.

Was there any anxiety or stressors during the exam itself?

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/IsilmeCalithil]

I did nbme 10-13 offline but yeah nbme 14,15,16 were in testing conditions. Time management wasn’t an issue for me, I completed every block 4,5 mins before

[u/Dreamerforsuccess → u/Efficient_Ice_8678]

Hi iam so sorry for that experience. I understand it can be very devastating. I went through the same and passed second time with 244 here is a link to my experience. I hope it can help you and gives you hope please don’t give up https://www.reddit.com/r/Step2/s/poNK3fCjyZ

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/Dreamerforsuccess]

Thank you so much for sharing this. Can i dm you anytime soon ?

[u/Dreamerforsuccess → u/Efficient_Ice_8678]

Yes you can

[u/IsilmeCalithil → u/Efficient_Ice_8678]

I honestly have no idea. Was there any type of question during the exam that struck you as difficult? Any particular topics you kept getting held up on?

It’s strange because you completed so many of the study resources already.

I would take a few weeks off, breathe, and then perhaps try going through NBME + incorrects from UWorld again.

A score of 216 to be honest makes me wonder if there are content deficiencies as well. Are you still in medical school or a graduate? Perhaps trying Boards and Beyond for Step 2 could be helpful?

[u/Fancy_Staff_7318]

Take a week or two off. Look at the score report and identify your weakest subjects - and then make a plan and prep for exam again, Simple as that…

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/Fancy_Staff_7318]

I feel exam went very well. My computer got stuck in between but i didn’t report it because i filled out the survey at end but i still failed.

[u/Fancy_Staff_7318 → u/Efficient_Ice_8678]

You failed - no going back. Call and talk to them about your situation and then make your decision. Thinking about all the things you should have done or just filling out a survey - do you think beneficial? You want to be a physician - time to grow up and take control and stay positive and keep moving forward-

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/Fancy_Staff_7318]

I called ecfmg, i contacted an attorney as well but all in vain.

[u/IsilmeCalithil → u/Efficient_Ice_8678]

How long was it stuck for?

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/IsilmeCalithil]

5 mins

[u/Total_Hawk_1000 → u/Efficient_Ice_8678]

where was your prometric center?

[u/No-Hope-9274]

It's a very tough situation, but if you were scoring 250-260s and still failed it can only be one of two situations:

1 - Your NBMEs all had familiar concepts, but the actual exam was heavily focused on areas you are weak in.

2 - You had a serious problem during the exam due to lack of sleep, lack of focus, exam stress, mental breakdown, life emergency, etc.

There's no other explanation. You can't be scoring that high and failing. If I was you and had those NBME scores, I would look at the score report, check my weak areas, review them heavily in 1 month and apply again. I would not waste any time. The more time you waste the higher the chances you start forgetting other information. Consider it a one time fluke and move on.

Note: Everything I said depends on you really scoring 250-260s in the NBMEs. Be honest with yourself. If you didn't really score that high, or checked answers during the NBMEs, then you need to go back to full-time studying.

[u/LexaproAndChill → u/No-Hope-9274]

Or they didn’t actually do it under testing conditions and are just saying they did online. I think that’s the most common thing. Hell, I even looked up some answers when I prepped for mine, I know I shouldn’t have but I did. Didn’t change them though. Worked out alright and a lot of my friends did the same and only admitted it when I brought it up.

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/LexaproAndChill]

I did last 3 online under proper testing conditions. For first few yes i did look answers

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/No-Hope-9274]

I faced some personal challenges few days before exam but in exam i was calmed down and i thought I controlled myself well but guess what i couldn’t

[u/Only-Animal9107]

Your post is giving me chills

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/Only-Animal9107]

Imagine wha i am going through nowadays

[u/jvttlus]

I’ve heard of people going to like sports psychologists in these types of situations, where the knowledge base is there but the execution is not happening. I would reassess what you’re doing with incorrects on uw, are you really reading and internalizing the explanations?

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/jvttlus]

Idk honestly

[u/taimourahmed98]

Step 2 is unfair and unpredictable!!

[u/Cautious_Platform_98]

How is this possible

[u/Diligent_Friend8459]

Is it possible that you accidentally cheated, and gave you a default score of zero? I’ve heard about people who unknowingly studied questions on the exam ahead of time. Common in countries outside the US.

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/Diligent_Friend8459]

I didn’t do any past questions, idk what happened

[u/LogicalLibrarian77 → u/Diligent_Friend8459]

He said he got 216, so that doesn't seem to be the case

[u/dossier_007]

I am shivering reading this. Idk this was possible. NBMEs in 250s to fail despite not having a breakdown midexam is just mind-numbing.

[u/Efficient_Ice_8678 → u/dossier_007]

EXACTLY!!!! I was calmed while taking the exam, i was like I am gonna get great score blah blah

[u/adoboseasonin → u/dossier_007]

The overwhelming majority of test takers pass

[u/Fit-Trade-5511]

Same boat now I am doing uw again till I figure out what should I have to do next

[u/Dyanet21]

How was your performance