I just took Step 2 CS and I am not sure how I did. To be honest, this test has nothing to do with one's ability to perform a physical exam, diagnose, or treat patients. You have 15 minutes to get a history and do a physical exam (some patients have multiple complaints involving every organ system). Some of the SP's are not the least bit helpful either. One guy I had would only answer with one word answers and if you asked him an open-ended question, he would ask "what do you mean?" You have to get in there, get to the point, and perform your exam quickly, and counsel the patient if needed. As far as the note goes, if you type, each section only allows for a certain number of characters. Hopefully, your patient doesn't have a lot of complaints. If so, you don't have room to type it all and time tends to run out quickly. If you decide to write your note, you had better not write large or you won't have the room to finish it. This exam definitely favors the fast typist and the person who is the most concise (not necessarily the most thorough) at performing a physical exam. I can see why even the best students would fail it. I have had multiple SP exams during med school and have been observed working with real patients on multiple occasions and have always been told that I did an excellent job. However, I walked out of that center the other day, wondering if I passed. I am sorry for your friend. Hopefully, he will be able to get several interviews and do well in the Match.
