About the Author

Elite Medical Prep

The Elite Medical Prep team consists of MD and MD candidate tutors from the top medical schools and residency programs, our founders, Dr. Brus-Ramer and Dr. Rubin, and an administrative team dedicated to our students' success. All blog posts are written directly by our tutors or founders to serve as a great resource for students.

Best USMLE Preparation Resources: A Step-by-Step Guide

2 min

1222 Views

Preparing for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) can feel overwhelming, not because there is a shortage of study materials, but because there are so many options. Question banks, review books, videos, flashcards, practice exams, and study schedules all compete for your attention.   The challenge is deciding which...

Free 120 Step 2 CK: How to Use the Official Sample Test

25 min

1378 Views

Free 120 Step 2 CK: How to Use the Official Sample Test

The Free 120 Step 2 is a set of official sample questions provided by the USMLE program. Its official name is the Step 2 CK Sample Test Questions, but students commonly refer to it as the “Free 120.”   Unlike a commercial question bank, the Free 120 gives students direct...

How to Use UWorld for Step 2 CK: A Practical Study Strategy

33 min

1223 Views

How to Use UWorld for Step 2 CK: A Practical Study Strategy

UWorld Step 2 is one of the most widely used question banks for USMLE Step 2 CK preparation. It gives students access to thousands of clinical questions covering the major disciplines tested on Step 2 CK and the NBME shelf examinations.   Having access to a large question bank, however,...

USMLE Step 1: Exam Format, Subjects, Scoring, and How to Prepare

31 min

1675 Views

USMLE Step 1: Exam Format, Subjects, Scoring, and How to Prepare

USMLE Step 1 is the first examination in the United States Medical Licensing Examination sequence. It assesses whether students can understand and apply the foundational sciences needed for the safe and effective practice of medicine.   Although Step 1 is reported as pass/fail, it remains an important milestone. Passing requires...

USMLE Step 1 Sample Questions: Examples, Answers, and Explanations

28 min

827 Views

USMLE Step 1 Sample Questions: Examples, Answers, and Explanations

827 Views

USMLE Step 1 sample questions provide an early look at how foundational science is tested through clinical scenarios. They can help you become familiar with question structure, practice identifying relevant clues, and evaluate whether you can apply what you have learned.   However, answering Step 1 questions requires more than...

How to Use USMLE Step 1 Practice Questions Effectively

23 min

803 Views

How to Use USMLE Step 1 Practice Questions Effectively

803 Views

USMLE Step 1 practice questions should not be reserved for the final weeks before your exam. Used correctly, they can help you learn foundational science, develop clinical reasoning, identify weaknesses, and determine whether you are ready to test.   However, completing a large number of questions is not automatically an...

USMLE Practice Questions: How to Use Them to Improve Your Score

14 min

659 Views

USMLE Practice Questions: How to Use Them to Improve Your Score

659 Views

If one study tool often separates top scorers from those who struggle on exam day, it is USMLE practice questions.   Many students spend months reading review books, watching video lectures, and making flashcards. They do this before they ever open a question bank. Others rush through thousands of questions...

The Ultimate 4-Week COMLEX Level 2 Study Plan

18 min

12694 Views

A preview of Elite Medical Prep's 4 week COMLEX Level 2 study planner.

With only 4 weeks left until your upcoming COMLEX Level 2 exam, it’s time to get organized and crack down on studying. We’ve got you covered with our ultimate COMLEX Level 2 Study Plan! We provide a recommended week-by-week plan to review the content that will be tested on the...

USMLE Test Accommodations Process Changes in 2026: What Medical Students and IMGs Need to Know

7 min

1713 Views

USMLE Test Accommodations Process Changes in 2026: What Medical Students and IMGs Need to Know

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) has announced an important update to its test accommodations request process that will affect all Step exam candidates, including international medical graduates (IMGs), beginning June 1, 2026.   If you plan to request testing accommodations for USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, or...

How to Create a Study Schedule You Can Maintain Long-Term

14 min

1443 Views

A medical school student studying for his shelf exams using OnlineMedEd, sitting at a desk in front of a laptop.

Many students begin a new semester or exam prep period with the same plan: open a calendar, block out long hours of studying, and promise themselves they will follow it perfectly. A week later, the schedule is gone.   This happens because most study schedules look good on paper but...

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