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The rapid advancement of AI, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, has introduced new possibilities for medical and premedical students looking to optimize their study strategies. AI is now widely...

As you prepare for the high-stakes USMLE Step 2 exam, practice exams are a crucial tool to gauge your progress and identify areas for improvement. While many students rely on...

If you are about to start your dedicated study period for the USMLE Step 2CK, you may be asking yourself, “what are the best study books I should use to prepare for this test?” Well, look no further! Here at EMP, we provide a comprehensive review of the best study books for Step 2CK!

Latest Blogs

The rapid advancement of AI, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, has introduced new possibilities for medical and premedical students looking to optimize their study strategies. AI is now widely...

The USMLE Step 1 is one of the most challenging milestones for medical students. With high stakes and a grueling preparation process, it often feels like an overwhelming task. Many...

This blog was originally published in 2023 by Dr. Alina Khil and updated for accuracy in February 2025 by Dr. Coco Stewart. The Hardest Medical Specialties to Match Into   Choosing...

USMLE STEP 1

Medical students studying in a library, using notebooks, laptops, and headphones—illustrating focused microlearning techniques for USMLE Step 1 preparation.

The USMLE Step 1 is one of the most challenging milestones for medical students. With high stakes and a grueling preparation process, it often feels like an overwhelming task. Many students rely on traditional study methods such as long lectures, hours of reading dense textbooks, and marathon review sessions, but...

A medical school student taking an NBME practice test for USMLE prep in a living room in front of a desktop computer.

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...

Medical student focused on studying for a USMLE Step 1 retake at a library desk with a laptop covered in sticky notes.

The USMLE Step exams are no joke. There are plenty of students who have struggled to pass their exam on the first, second, or even third try. If you find yourself in a position where you are asking, “How many times can I take USMLE Step 1?”, know that you...

USMLE STEP 2CK

Medical student preparing for the USMLE Step 2 exam, taking notes at a desk with a laptop and study materials, representing focused study and exam preparation.

As you prepare for the high-stakes USMLE Step 2 exam, practice exams are a crucial tool to gauge your progress and identify areas for improvement. While many students rely on NBME and UWorld self-assessments, the AMBOSS Step 2 CK self-assessment offers another valuable tool for gauging readiness and reviewing key...

A medical school student taking an NBME practice test for USMLE prep in a living room in front of a desktop computer.

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...

A medical student studies intently in a library, reviewing notes and resources, symbolizing the dedication and focused preparation needed to achieve a high score on the USMLE Step 2 CK.

Having scored above the 90th percentile on Step 2, students often ask “How do I get a 90th percentile score on Step 2?”, “How long should I study for Step 2 CK?”, and “What’s the best study plan for Step 2 CK?”   Mastering this exam is a combination of...

COMLEX LEVEL 1

A medical student studying on a laptop, preparing for COMLEX and USMLE exams.

This is a common question that my osteopathic medical students ask me. The answer is not so straightforward because they are different exams. As a DO student, an important decision that you have to make is whether or not you should take the USMLE exams in addition to the required...

A stethoscope resting on a thick medical book, symbolizing the study and preparation required for medical exams like USMLE and COMLEX.

Historically, DO students were recommended to take both the COMLEX and USMLE Step exams (specifically Step 1 and Step 2 CK) in order to be competitive for residency applications. However, now that both COMLEX Level 1 and Step 1 have become pass/fail, DO students wonder if they should still take...

Neatly organized desk with a water bottle, a smartphone, and a clear plastic bag of nuts, prepared for the COMLEX Level 1 exam.

Preparing for the morning of your first board exam is different for everyone. Some people wear their lucky socks, others come with nothing but their ID, and some will fill their bag with snacks. When it comes down to it, there are only a few “must haves” on test day,...

RESIDENCY ADVISING

A resident that has matched into one of the most difficult specialties to match into standing in a hospital, wearing scrubs.

This blog was originally published in 2023 by Dr. Alina Khil and updated for accuracy in February 2025 by Dr. Coco Stewart. The Hardest Medical Specialties to Match Into   Choosing a medical specialty is a challenging task, especially when it comes to many of the more competitive specialties. Is it...

Two medical residents reviewing a document on a clipboard.

The last thing on most students’ minds going through the SOAP is, “how do I match into a competitive program?” The truth is, most SOAPing medical students just hope they Match into a residency program at all. But, the best applicants make the most of this tough situation. Sometimes, these...

Female surgeon in scrubs and mask standing in an operating room, illuminated by surgical lights overhead.

I distinctly remember the day I first considered a career in orthopedics. Prior to medical school, I worked as a scribe in a small orthopedic clinic. While the other scribes grew tired of their days repeatedly evaluating arthritis, I was fascinated by the nuances and surgical options that orthopedics offered....

RESOURCE REVIEWS

Medical student preparing for the USMLE Step 2 exam, taking notes at a desk with a laptop and study materials, representing focused study and exam preparation.

As you prepare for the high-stakes USMLE Step 2 exam, practice exams are a crucial tool to gauge your progress and identify areas for improvement. While many students rely on NBME and UWorld self-assessments, the AMBOSS Step 2 CK self-assessment offers another valuable tool for gauging readiness and reviewing key...

A medical school student looking for Step 2 CK textbooks in the library.

If you are about to start your dedicated study period for the USMLE Step 2CK, you may be asking yourself, “what are the best study books I should use to prepare for this test?” Well, look no further! Here at EMP, we provide a comprehensive review of the best study books for Step 2CK!

A medical school student using UWorld to study for the USMLE Step 2 CK in a library in front of a laptop.

This blog was originally posted on January 17, 2023, and updated in December 2024.   Growing up, my studying always seemed to follow a natural sequence: learn new content, review that content, and then quiz yourself on that content with practice questions. The idea of beginning with the end, i.e.,...

HOW TO

Someone with open book studying for ABIM Exam

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.

How-to-Score-a-280-on-USMLE-Step-2-CK

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…

a student holding knees up with hand on forehead managing Step 1 test anxiety

Just like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, at times medical students can feel like they are living the same day over and over again (especially now in the midst of coronavirus test cancellations). Between learning new content, spending long hours studying, and anxiously taking exams, many students feel stuck in a perpetual cycle of anxiety

ABIM

Someone with open book studying for ABIM Exam

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.

Desk with Laptop, stethoscope and notes for ABIM QBank Review

Each year, as thousands of physicians begin studying for the internal medicine boards, an age-old question comes up: Which question bank (Qbank) should they choose? Today we are going to be reviewing the UWorld ABIM question bank to evaluate its quality as a study resource.

A family medicine doctor and her patients.

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.