NBMEcalc
NBME → Step conversion

NBME Score Converter and Conversion Chart

Convert current Step 2 CK CCSSA scores into an independent estimate, or use Step 1 CBSSA scores to estimate pass probability. Add multiple recent inputs for a more useful confidence interval.

Converting for Step 2 CK?

Choose Step 2 CK and enter the CCSSA form number shown on your NBME score report. Current supported forms are 9–15.

Checking Step 1 readiness?

Choose Step 1 and enter your CBSSA result. Step 1 is pass/fail, so the useful output is pass probability—not a predicted transcript score.

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Find the right NBME form family

NBME form numbers are not interchangeable across Step exams. Search queries like "NBME 32 score conversion" and "NBME 10 Step 2 score conversion" should be answered here as form-family guidance, not split into thin single-form pages.

Step 2 CK CCSSA forms 9-15

Use this family for Step 2 CK score conversion and readiness checks.

Common searches
  • NBME 10 Step 2 score conversion
  • NBME 11 score conversion
  • NBME 14 score conversion
  • NBME 15 Step 2 CK score conversion

These queries belong on the conversion hub because the user job is the same: enter a recent comprehensive Step 2 practice score and understand the range.

Open Step 2 predictor

Step 1 CBSSA forms 26-32

Use this family for Step 1 pass-readiness planning.

Common searches
  • NBME 28 score conversion
  • NBME 29 score conversion
  • NBME 30 score conversion
  • NBME 32 score calculator

Step 1 is pass/fail, so these searches should land on one clear explanation of pass probability rather than separate pages for each form.

Open Step 1 predictor

Step 3 CCMSA forms 5-7

Use this family for Step 3 planning, especially when paired with CCS practice.

Common searches
  • NBME 6 Step 3 score conversion
  • Step 3 NBME score conversion
  • NBME Step 3 score conversion

Step 3 search demand is smaller and should strengthen the Step 3 predictor, not become a separate conversion-page cluster.

Open Step 3 predictor
Independent model — assumptions published

NBME to Step 2 CK Conversion Chart

The single most-asked question on r/Step2: "What does my NBME score actually mean?" Below is our full lookup table with percentile ranking and a competitiveness label for residency match.

NBME scorePredicted Step 2 CKPercentileMatch competitiveness
2002184thBelow pass
2052227thBelow pass
21022612thMarginal
21523019thMarginal
22023428thPass
22523838thPass
23024249thAverage
23524660thAbove avg
24025071thStrong
24525380thStrong
25025687thCompetitive
25525992thCompetitive
26026296thTop tier
26526498thTop tier
27026699thElite
28027099thElite

* Independent estimates only. Timing, assessment family, and agreement with other recent inputs affect the useful range. This table does not replace the official NBME score report.

NBME to Step 1 (Pass / Fail) Conversion

Step 1 went pass/fail in January 2022, so we report the probability of passing instead of a numeric score. Use this table to triage whether you are ready to test.

NBME scorePass probabilityRecommendation
18055%High risk
19070%Borderline
19685%Likely pass
20092%Likely pass
21097%Strong pass
22099%Strong pass
23099%Strong pass
24099%Strong pass
Important: A 92% pass probability still means roughly 1 in 12 people in your bucket fail. We recommend testing only when at least 3 consecutive NBMEs are above 200, with the most recent one within 2 weeks of test day.

UWSA, Free 120, and other source adjustments

UWSA 1 / UWSA 2
Internal adjustment

UWSA inputs receive source-specific model treatment. No fixed subtraction is an official conversion.

Free 120 (% correct)
×2.4 + 110

Free 120 is a useful late-stage readiness signal. Use it alongside a recent NBME rather than treating any one input as definitive.

AMBOSS Self-Assessment
Internal adjustment

AMBOSS inputs receive an internal adjustment that has not been published as a validated conversion.

All adjustments are baked into our calculator. You only need to enter the raw score.

Related conversion calculators

A single NBME is useful, but the forecast improves when recent inputs agree. These related pages cover the other conversion searches that showed up in Search Console.

How we built these conversion tables

The current calculator uses piecewise score mappings, source-specific adjustments, and recency weighting. These are independent model assumptions, not official NBME or USMLE conversion rules.

A reproducible outcome dataset and holdout validation report are not currently published. For that reason, we do not claim a verified cohort size, median error, or form-specific accuracy ranking. The public methodology page records the current assumptions and material changes.

What this is not: a guarantee. Test-day performance, content domain shifts, and the NBME's own psychometric adjustments mean any single prediction has natural variance. Treat the confidence interval — not the point estimate — as your ground truth.

  • Official facts linked to primary sources
  • Assessment families kept separate
  • Uncertainty shown with every estimate
  • Public methodology and change log

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is NBME score conversion?+

Our conversion is based on published NBME-to-Step score-correlation data and aggregated user-submitted score reports. We do not currently claim a verified validation cohort — see our methodology page for status. Treat the range (typically about ±8 points for Step 2 CK), not the single point estimate, as your guide; accuracy improves the closer your test date is and the more recent the forms you have taken.

Which NBME forms are most predictive of my Step 2 CK score?+

Use a recent Comprehensive Clinical Science Self-Assessment (CCSSA) and read its official score report first. This independent converter is most useful when you combine more than one recent CCSSA result with UWSA or Free 120 rather than relying on a single form.

Is the NBME score the same as a USMLE Step score?+

No. NBME practice exams use a similar 200-280 scale but are not identical. NBMEs trend 3-8 points below your real Step 2 CK score on average. Our converter accounts for this offset.

How do I convert UWSA scores to a Step score?+

UWSA 1 and UWSA 2 trend about 3-5 points higher than NBMEs. Our calculator automatically subtracts 3 points before applying the conversion. UWSA 2 is more predictive than UWSA 1.

Does NBME conversion work for the new pass/fail Step 1?+

Yes. We report the probability of passing Step 1 instead of a numeric score. An NBME score above 200 corresponds to a >92% pass probability based on historical data.

Can I trust online NBME conversion charts?+

Be careful — many charts circulating on Reddit are 5+ years old and use outdated forms. Our table is updated quarterly with new submissions and excludes outliers more than 3 standard deviations from the regression.