If you are a medical student deep in your clinical rotations, there’s a good chance you have heard whispers (or outright panic) about Shelf Exams. Often, these exams can be the make or break between obtaining Honors or High Pass – a big deal for students applying into highly competitive...

*The Internal Medicine (IM) Shelf exam is one of the most challenging shelf exams you will take in medical school, primarily because it tests such a broad range of knowledge and clinical reasoning skills. Scoring in the 90th percentile or higher requires a combination of strategic studying, understanding high-yield topics,...

At first glance, the psychiatry shelf exam may seem more manageable than other clinical shelf exams. For example, compared with Internal Medicine or Pediatrics, it covers a narrower range of material. However, success still depends on mastering DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, treatment guidelines, and first-line pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, as well...

The pediatrics shelf exam is one of the more challenging examinations given its breadth of topics, covering everything from neonatology to adolescent medicine. To achieve a 90th percentile score, you will need a targeted study strategy that leverages high-yield topics, effective study methods, and the best available resources. This guide...

NBME shelf exams can be a major source of stress during medical school. You’re trying to adjust to your 3rd year of medical school, which is basically working a full-time job, and you have to study for these exams in your nearly non-existent free time! If you’ve found yourself struggling...

Many medical students take NBME Clinical Science Subject Exams, or “shelf” exams after completing core clinical rotations in Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, Surgery, OBGYN, Family Medicine, Neurology, and Pediatrics. While passing and honors scores for these exams differ between medical schools, it is important to do your best on...

So you’ve got the internal medicine shelf exam ahead of you huh? Well, don’t stress! While shelf exams may seem stressful or intimidating at first, with proper preparation and planning, you’ll do just fine. Here are our tips on how to study for the IM shelf exam.

If you’re a medical student deep in clinical rotations, you’ve probably heard the constant chatter about shelf exams and USMLE Step 2 CK. Maybe you’ve even asked yourself: Are shelf exams harder than Step 2 CK? Does Step 2 feel like a bunch of shelf exams stitched together? Can I...

In medical education, shelf exams evaluate students' knowledge and clinical reasoning during core clinical clerkships. Administered by medical schools, often written by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), these pivotal exams determine students' readiness for clinical rotations and overall performance. Questions often arise about the correlation between NBME practice...

Clinical rotations are a very important part of your medical school experience; the hands-on learning that you are exposed to is pivotal to creating a well-rounded approach to your clinical practice. However, rotations bring a unique challenge: balancing shelf exam preparation with the long hours required at the hospital or...