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 difference between simply passing and truly excelling and landing a coveted residency position.

As tutors who have worked with many DO students, we know how overwhelming it can be to choose among the avalanche of prep books, question banks, videos, and review courses. Unlike the USMLE, where resources have been standardized for years, COMLEX students often face a fragmented market. On top of that, you must integrate osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) into your board preparation, which is often underemphasized in mainstream resources (although this is changing!).

This guide curates the top resources for COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2, explains how they differ, and—importantly—shows you when to use them. Think of it as a roadmap: the what, the when, and the how of COMLEX prep.

Part 1: Understanding the Exams

COMLEX Level 1

• Timing: Taken after the preclinical years (often end of second year of medical school).
• Focus: Basic science foundations (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology) plus OMT.
• Style: Longer, sometimes challenging question stems with a unique emphasis on physiologic and pathologic mechanisms, not simply pattern recognition.

COMLEX Level 2-CE

• Timing: Often after clinical rotations (usually late third year or early fourth year).
• Focus: Clinical decision-making, diagnosis, management, and application of medical knowledge. OMT questions still appear, though sometimes less frequently than on Level 1.
• Style: Patient vignettes, differential-building, and next-step-in-management style questions.

Both exams require broad medical knowledge, stamina, and test-taking strategy. But your resource choices should evolve as you move from preclinical theory (Level 1) to clinical application (Level 2).

Part 2: Core Resources for Both Levels

 1. UWorld Question Bank

• Why it’s essential: UWorld remains the gold standard for board-style questions. Although originally written for USMLE, they now have COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2 specific question banks. Its clinical reasoning, pathophysiology focus, and high-quality explanations make it indispensable for both COMLEX Level 1 and 2, especially for students who are planning to take the USMLE examinations as well – in that situation, we recommend obtaining the USMLE question banks and supplementing these with OMT material.
• Some students are also using AMBOSS which we have discussed in other blog posts.
• When to use it:
  • Level 1: Start after you have built your basic foundations (~2nd year), using it as a learning tool alongside classes. Aim to complete at least one full pass at a minimum.
  • Level 2: Begin during your first day of third year and use actively alongside rotations. By exam time, you should have finished UWorld at least once, so during your dedicated period, you will go through your second pass.
• Tutor tip: Treat UWorld as a study tool, not just an assessment. Read every explanation thoroughly.

 2. COMBANK / COMQUEST Question Banks

• Why they’re essential: These are the highest recommended Qbanks written specifically for COMLEX (although UWorld does have COMLEX banks now). They mimic the COMLEX test’s style which can have longer stems and, most importantly, OMT integration.
  • Some students who plan to only take the COMLEX examinations will use these question banks and NOT UWorld – this is totally acceptable!
• When to use it:
  • Level 1: Use after you have gotten comfortable with UWorld (if using both). It is overkill to do both UWorld and COMBANK or COMQUEST, so, if doing both, use COMBANK/COMQUEST for the OMT material if you purchased the UWorld USMLE packs.
  • Level 2: Same idea—reserve it for the last 1–2 months, especially for OMT-specific practice.
• Tutor tip: Do not get discouraged by the different phrasing of questions between question banks. Instead, use these banks to familiarize yourself to different testing style – remember, the material is the same! Think of them as “test-day conditioning.”

3. First Aid for the USMLE (Step 1 and, less importantly, Step 2 CK editions)

• Why it’s essential: Even though it is a USMLE book, First Aid is still the most comprehensive outline of high-yield material for medical boards. For DO students, it remains a backbone resource. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 is significantly higher yield than First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CK; however, the latter is still helpful for a broad overview of the highest yield clinical concepts.
• When to use it:
  • Level 1: As a companion during preclinical years. Annotate it with insights from question banks and classes. Read it again during your dedicated period.
  • Level 2: Less central, but still useful for quick review of disease associations and pharmacology. Not necessary to reread during dedicated.
• Tutor tip: Don’t passively read it cover to cover. Pair each section with questions from UWorld or COMBANK/COMQUEST to anchor facts in clinical context.

 4. OMT-Specific Resources

OMT is the Achilles’ heel for many DO students. It’s not emphasized in UWorld or First Aid, yet it makes up a critical portion of COMLEX. Many students save this material for the very end, which is appropriate for some students, but inappropriate for others. Skipping it can sink your score – assess your skills with OMT early so you can decide how much time you require.

Best OMT Resources:

• Savarese OMT Review: Concise, bullet-pointed, portable. Perfect for daily review.
• OMT Review Flashcards: Great for quick drilling of viscerosomatic reflexes, Chapman’s points, and cranial mechanics.
• OMA/OMT YouTube videos: Free and excellent for visualizing techniques, especially when you have specific questions.

When to use OMT resources:

• Level 1: Begin integrating Savarese in second year. Make it a regular habit; however, less important than practice questions.
• Level 2: Review during dedicated and just before exam day. OMT questions may feel like “free points” if you stay sharp – the material tends to be easier than the other clinical material, but you still need to know it!

 Tutor tip: Build OMT into your schedule just like biochemistry or pharm. Treat it as a high-yield mini-subject, not an afterthought.

 5. Pathoma

• Why it’s essential: Dr. Sattar’s lectures and textbook distill pathology into digestible concepts. Pathology is the foundation for both Level 1 and Level 2, and Pathoma remains the most efficient way to master it.
• When to use it:
  • Level 1: Start in first or second year. Use it as your core pathology text to supplement your course work
  • Level 2: Not necessary to review unless you struggle with specific sections.
• Tutor tip: Don’t just watch passively. Pause, write notes in First Aid, and integrate with questions!

 6. Sketchy (Micro and Pharm)

• Why it’s essential: Sketchy’s visual mnemonics for microbiology, pharmacology, and pathology are unmatched for retention.
• When to use it:
  • Level 1: Start early (first or second year). Watch consistently alongside coursework and during your dedicated period.
  • Level 2: Use selectively for antimicrobial therapy and tricky pharmacology – it is not necessary to rewatch all of the videos.
• Tutor tip: Repetition is everything. Watching once is often not enough—review images or flashcards to keep the memory palaces alive.

 7. Boards & Beyond

• Why it’s essential (for some): If you want a comprehensive video library covering physiology, pathology, and clinical reasoning – this is a great program for you. Especially useful for filling in conceptual gaps and this resource could replace First Aid, Pathoma, and Sketchy as above.
• When to use it:
  • Level 1: Early in preclinical years when a topic feels weak, ideally you finish this before your dedicated period.
  • Level 2: Use sparingly—better to focus on question banks—but can help if you need structured review.
• Tutor tip: Don’t binge the entire library. Use it strategically when you are lost on a concept and work through this over time.

 8. OnlineMedEd (OME)

• Why it’s essential: Excellent for clinical reasoning, diagnostic workups, and management algorithms. Especially high-yield for Level 2 more than Level 1.
• When to use it:
  • Level 1: Minimal use—focus on foundations and the other resources listed above.
  • Level 2: Core resource during third-year clerkships. Watch OME videos alongside rotations, then reinforce with question banks. These videos will help frame your clinical thinking for both real patient encounters and the COMLEX examinations.
• Tutor tip: Use the videos to set a framework, then test that knowledge in question banks.

9. Anki (Spaced Repetition)

• Why it’s essential: Spaced repetition is proven to enhance long-term retention for specific subjects (pharmacology, microbiology, etc.). Anki decks cover nearly every high-yield fact tested on boards; and many are premade!
• When to use it:
  • Level 1: Start early, ideally day one of med school IF you like flashcards (many students do NOT!). By exam time, you will have thousands of facts locked in.
  • Level 2: Focus more on clinical decks (pharm, diagnostic algorithms) – Anki is NOT a good resource to understand WHY things happen, which is extremely important during your clinical training and on Level 2.
• Tutor tip: Anki only works if you keep up daily reviews. Ten minutes a day beats a three-hour catch-up marathon.

Part 3: Resource Strategy by Exam 

COMLEX Level 1 Strategy

• Early years (MS1–MS2):
  • Foundation: Boards & Beyond, Pathoma, Sketchy, Anki
  • OMT: Begin Savarese integration (if you need more assistance ontop of your course work)
• Dedicated study (6–8 weeks):
  • Core Qbank: UWorld vs. COMBANK vs. COMQUEST
  • Review: First Aid + Pathoma + Skethy + Anki + OMT specific material
• Final stretch (2 weeks):
  • Heavy Core Qbank practice to simulate test day.
  • Daily OMT review (Savarese)
  • Prioritize weak areas, not re-learning everything.

COMLEX Level 2 Strategy

• During rotations (MS3):
  • Core: QBank + OnlineMedEd.
  • Reinforce: Anki for pharmacology/microbiology review if needed
  • OMT: Maintain very light weekly review.
• Dedicated study (4–6 weeks):
  • Question banks: Repeat your QBank and ensure you have OMT specific content if you have not been doing this previously.
  • Resources: OnlineMedEd videos for specific diagnoses
• Final stretch (2 weeks):
  • COMLEX-style blocks daily
  • Rapid-fire OMT flashcards/questions

Part 4: Integrating OMT Into Your Plan

Why OMT Matters

OMT questions are not optional. They consistently show up, and they’re often “easy points” if you prepare. Yet many students treat them as an afterthought.

How to Integrate OMT

1. Make OMT a habit. Dedicate 15–20 minutes a week during MS1/MS2, then increase during dedicated.
2. Use Savarese. Don’t just read—test yourself with the end-of-chapter questions and this will prepare you for your QBank questions.
3. Draw or review diagrams. Cranial mechanics, Chapman’s points, and viscerosomatic reflexes stick better with visuals.
4. Simulate exam conditions. COMBANK/COMQUEST OMT questions train you to parse through clinical vignettes with osteopathic reasoning.

Tutor tip: On test day, OMT questions should feel like a breather, not a stressor. The only way to get there is regular, spaced review—not last-minute cramming.

Part 5: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Pitfall 1: Overloading resources. Many students try to use everything (UWorld, Amboss, Boards and Beyond, Lecturio, etc.). More is NOT better. Stick to the essentials.
• Pitfall 2: Ignoring OMT. Treating OMT as an afterthought is the easiest way to miss some of the easiest points.
• Pitfall 3: Passive studying. Reading First Aid without active recall leads to false confidence (i.e. did you really understand what you just read?). Always pair with questions or flashcards.
• Pitfall 4: Skipping COMLEX-style questions. UWorld is gold, but COMLEX has a specific style to it that UWorld does not perfectly capture. If you do not expose yourself to them, test day may feel alien.
• Pitfall 5: Neglecting clinical judgment for Level 2. Level 2 is not about memorization alone. Prioritize reasoning through management decisions (which you will learn from your time in the hospital and clinic, as well as through QBanks).

Final Thoughts

The COMLEX exams can feel daunting, but with the right resources—and a clear strategy—you can walk into test day confident. For Level 1, build your foundations with Pathoma, Sketchy, Boards & Beyond, UWorld, and First Aid, then layer in COMLEX-style questions and OMT review. For Level 2, let clinical experience and UWorld shape your knowledge, supported by OnlineMedEd, COMBANK/COMQUEST, and steady OMT practice.

The key is not to use every resource—it is to use the right ones, at the right time, in the right way. Prioritize active learning, integrate OMT throughout, and remember: success on COMLEX comes from consistency, not cramming.

With a disciplined approach, you will not only pass these exams, but position yourself for a strong residency application and a confident start to your medical career!