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Almost all students preparing for the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 will take at least one (hopefully more!) practice test leading up to test day. While various practice tests are available to assess your performance, many students will turn directly to the NBME practice tests to estimate their chances...

This blog was originally published on March 21, 2023, and was updated in September 2025 with new information.   There are innumerable resources available for Step 1 preparation. No one study approach will work for everyone or guarantee success. Whatever plan or resources you decide to use, everyone will need to...

As many have said before, preparing for the USMLE Step 1 can feel like trying to drink from a firehose. And while some topics may come easily, others feel like they were designed in a secret lab just to test your sanity. As a tutor, I’ve worked with dozens of...

Almost all students preparing for the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 will take at least one (hopefully more!) practice test leading up to test day. While various practice tests are available to assess your performance, many students will turn directly to the NBME practice tests to estimate their chances...

USMLE Step 2 is often compared to running a marathon. While I would argue that one could run two marathons (and perhaps even start a third) in the time it takes to sit for Step 2, the analogy nonetheless starts to capture the endurance required to sit for such an...

Congratulations! You did it! You took USMLE Step 1, the test you spent months studying for, and now you’re anxiously awaiting that email notification telling you that your Step 1 score is available. So now what? 

Congratulations! You did it! You took USMLE Step 1, the test you spent months studying for, and now you’re anxiously awaiting that email notification telling you that your Step 1 score is available. So now what? 

Residency application is fast approaching and students need to decide which programs they want to apply to and ultimately interview at. When compiling a list of these programs, there are several key factors that ought to be kept in mind.

With the change of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 transitioning to an entirely pass-fail examination, more emphasis has been placed on the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (Step 2 CK) score in the residency selection process. While your Step 2 score is not the only factor that programs use...

This blog was originally published on March 21, 2023, and was updated in September 2025 with new information.   There are innumerable resources available for Step 1 preparation. No one study approach will work for everyone or guarantee success. Whatever plan or resources you decide to use, everyone will need to...

Move over UWorld! There’s a new qbank in town! Is there a new contender for the qbank throne? Here’s our honest reviewal of the TrueLearn question bank and how it stacks up next to UWorld.

This blog was originally written by Dr. Chris Bassil in May 2022, and was updated for accuracy by Dr. Ria Patel on August 7, 2025. As a board exam tutor, the first meeting I have with almost any new student involves a discussion of their study schedule and resources. During...

UWorld flashcards have several unique features that make them particularly well suited to USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 prep. The flashcard feature utilizes spaced repetition systems and is completely integrated with the UWorld question bank which makes creating flashcards very simple. Here’s our guide to creating UWorld cards!

The ABIM tests your knowledge on common and rare diagnoses expected from a board-certified internist according to American Board of Internal Medicine standards. To set yourself up for success, it is important to start early and practice often.

Having scored in the 270-280 range on Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 of the USMLE, I am often asked by students questions like “What’s your secret?”, “How can I plan my study schedule to…