How to Use the Step 2 CK Clinical Reasoning Framework to Excel on Clinical Rotations and the Exam
Clinical reasoning is the skill that connects your clerkship experiences with Step 2 CK performance. Whether you are interpreting a long exam vignette or assessing a new patient on rounds, you must be able to identify what matters, filter out noise, and make safe, efficient decisions. We have worked...
What’s a “Good” MCAT Score for You? A Strategic Breakdown by Goals
Question Quick Answer Why It Matters What’s the MCAT score range? 472–528 (4 sections, each 118–132). Knowing the scale helps you set realistic goals. Average is ~500 (50th percentile). What do accepted students actually score? MD: ~511–512DO: ~504–505 Top-tier (Harvard, Hopkins, Stanford): 517+ These benchmarks give you a sense...
COMLEX Level 1 Tutoring: Enhancing Your Understanding and Performance
Preparing for the COMLEX Level 1 is one of the biggest milestones in the journey of becoming a physician of osteopathic medicine. For many students, this exam represents the culmination of two years of intensive didactic medical school coursework, and it serves as the foundation for residency applications and future...
Top Resources for COMLEX Level 1 and 2: What to Use and When
Preparing for the COMLEX exams is one of the defining challenges of osteopathic medical school. Whether you’re gearing up for Level 1 at the end of your preclinical years or tackling Level 2 CE during clinical rotations, the right resources—and a clear plan for how to use them—can make the...
How to Prep for USMLE Step 1: 5 Study Tips That Work
Deciding how to study for Step 1 can be a daunting task. There are so many educational resources to choose from, and so much conflicting advice on the internet and from other…
TrueLearn Review: SmartBanks for COMLEX Level 1 and 2 CE
One of the hardest decisions that all medical students face involves picking the resources to help them succeed on their board exams. To provide you the best and most accurate advice, we have our tutors personally utilize the services we review. In this blog post, we will share our impressions of TrueLearn’s SmartBanks for COMLEX Level 1 and COMLEX Level 2 CE.
NBME Form 33 Review: Step 1’s New Emphasis on Experimental Thinking and Real-World Logic
TL;DR Form 33 feels less like a content exam and more like a reasoning challenge. Expect experiments, mechanisms, and figure interpretation woven into nearly every block. The question style now mirrors real-world medical reasoning - integrating physiology, pharmacology, and behavior rather than isolating them. Use Form 33 as your final...
Step 2 CK Form 16: What’s New, Why It Matters, and How to Adapt
“The Gist” Summary: Step 2 CK Form 16 introduces a new question format that changes how students process information. Learn what makes this form different from earlier NBMEs, what trends it reveals, and how to adapt your strategy to stay ahead. Introduction Each time the NBME releases a new...
Adapt Your Step 1 Prep: NBME New Form 32
TL;DR - My Quick Take Form 32 is longer and more figure-heavy than most prior recent forms, signaling Step 1’s continued tilt toward applied reasoning, multi-step interpretation, and research/biostats skills. Expect fewer “buzzword” giveaways and more integration across systems (e.g., pathophysiology → mechanism → data → best next step in...
Best Resources for ABSITE Studying and How to Use Them
This blog was updated in 2025 to reflect the latest ABSITE study strategies and resources. Preparing for the ABSITE in 2025 comes with new challenges and opportunities. Unlike for other standardized tests, it can be difficult to find comprehensive resources for ABSITE studying. Surgery requires a lot of knowledge,...