Could ChatGPT Replace QBanks for USMLE Practice Questions?
If you are a medical student preparing for USMLE Step 1, 2 CK or 3, you may be wondering if there are alternative resources for USMLE-style practice questions beyond traditional question banks. One potential option that has gained attention recently is ChatGPT, a variant of the language generation model GPT-3....
MELS 2022 Anxiety Tips
Click here to download the MELS 2022 poster, "Top Tips for Battling Test Anxiety: Recommendations from Experienced USMLE (Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 3) & COMLEX Tutors (.pdf, 0.921 mb)
10 Steps to Creating Your Perfect Step 2 CK Study Plan
Your dedicated Step 2 CK study time is approaching, and you need an effective study plan to keep yourself on track. It can be difficult to adjust to a premade schedule, especially when it does not account for your weaker subjects or the amount of study time that you have...
Tackling Drug Ad and Research Abstract Questions on the USMLE
Throughout your medical career journey, you may find yourself asking what sort of questions you can expect to see on the USMLE Step 1, Step 2CK, and Step 3. A relatively new pair of similar question styles on the USMLE Step exams have increasingly become among the series’ most feared...
Step 2 CK Minimum Score is Increasing
As of July 1, 2022 the minimum score required to pass the USMLE Step 2 CK exam has increased by 5 points from 209 to 214. Anytime a USMLE exam, including USMLE Step 2 CK, receives a minimum score increase it sends a wave of anxiety out into the medical...
How Will the USMLE Step 1 Pass Fail System Affect Your Step 2 Score?
It used to be that USMLE Step 1 was “the big one”, but with it becoming pass/fail, attention has shifted to Step 2. The first thing my brain went to was: “Step 2 scores will be lower in the coming years”. I say this because Step 1 and Step 2...
Standing Out in Residency Applications With a Pass/Fail USMLE Step 1
Although the recent USMLE switch to pass/fail scoring for Step 1 has been regarded as a largely positive change for most students, some of you may be wondering how this change will affect the overall appearance of your residency application. There are several key components to building a stand-out application...
AMBOSS vs. UWorld: Which is a Better USMLE Resource?
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 those sessions, I always ask students which resources they’re planning to use to study for their specific board exam. Most of the time, my students...
How Doing Well on Shelf Exams Will Improve Your Step 2 CK Score
At most medical schools, your grades during your first clinical year of training are primarily determined by evaluations from your preceptors, and your performance on a shelf examination (family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, neurology, pediatrics, OB/GYN, and psychiatry). These grades will be a significant component of your residency application, in...
Applying for US Residency as an IMG: Does Step 2CS Still Exist for IMGs?
Did you know that if you are an IMG applying for residency in the United States, you still have to satisfy a clinical and communications skills (CCS) requirement through the ECFMG? This may come as surprise considering the USMLE broadcasted suspension of the CCS during the COVID-19 pandemic.