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UWorld vs. TrueLearn

13 min

19583 Views

Medical school student studying for USMLE exams in front of a laptop using TrueLearn and UWorld.

19583 Views

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.

AMBOSS vs. UWorld: Which is a Better USMLE Resource?

14 min

43300 Views

Student studying for USMLE exam in front of her laptop.

43300 Views

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...

AMBOSS Self Assessment Step 2 for USMLE Success

10 min

4367 Views

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.

4367 Views

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...

Best Study Books for the Step 2 CK 2025

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

19869 Views

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!

Guide to Using UWorld For Step 2 CK

18 min

28823 Views

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

28823 Views

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.,...

Pros and Cons: Is the AMBOSS Step 1 Self Assessment Worth Your Time?

8 min

4081 Views

A smiling woman with curly hair and glasses, reviewing study materials at her desk, representing a medical student preparing for the USMLE Step 1 exam using various resources like the AMBOSS Step 1 Self-Assessment.

4081 Views

When it comes to acing USMLE Step 1, practice exams are essential. You've likely heard of NBME and UWorld self-assessments, but have you considered Amboss Step 1 Self-Assessment? In this post, we'll put it to the test: how does it stack up against the competition, and is it worth your...

8 Tips on How to Use Anki USMLE Flashcards

17 min

25088 Views

Student on laptop using Anki USMLE Flashcards

25088 Views

When it comes to studying for the USMLE, it’s worth learning how to make proper flashcards up front. While there are many different USMLE..

Exploring Lesser-Known Resources for Step 2 CK

17 min

2180 Views

A student sitting in front of a laptop with earbuds in, listening to a Step 2 podcast while taking notes.

2180 Views

Intro to the USMLE Step 2 CK   You've conquered USMLE Step 1 and are now navigating the challenges of medical school clerkships and shelf exams. Next on the horizon is the USMLE Step 2, a critical exam for medical professionals seeking licensure in the US. As you balance excelling...

Anki USMLE Step 1 & Step 2 – Tips for Effective Studying

14 min

7170 Views

A medical school student studying for his USMLE exams in a library using Anki.

7170 Views

What is Anki   If you are a new medical student, you have undoubtedly been bombarded with Anki since starting. Its application has spread like wildfire among medical students countrywide and with good reason. Anki is a spaced repetition flashcard program that works on both mobile devices and your computer....

How to Use OnlineMedEd to Study for Shelf Exams and Step 2

13 min

4476 Views

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

4476 Views

In my first clerkship, I quickly learned that the information medical students were expected to know was suddenly very different from the knowledge that got me through my pre-clerkship curriculum. Instead of the emphasis on basic science and foundations, the clerkship year and shelf exams required much more focus on...

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