USMLE - The Pass Machine

How to Study for USMLE Step 3

June 2, 2023 by Nicole A. Colwell, MD Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: How to prepare for USMLE step 3, How to study for USMLE Step 3, USMLE prep courses, USMLE Step 3, USMLE Step 3 prep course

If you are currently wondering how to prepare for USMLE Step 3, by now you have probably heard the adage in medical school: “Two months to study for Step 1; two weeks to study for Step 2; and for Step 3: all you need is a #2 pencil.” Clearly, the reality of studying for Step 3 is more complex (especially considering that pencils are now obsolete due to a fully computerized examination process!) While your overall preparation will (fortunately) be… READ MORE

USMLE Step 1: What’s on It?

May 26, 2023 by Simon Padanilam Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: USMLE, usmle qbank, USMLE step 1

Taking Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination Any medical student hoping to become a doctor in the United States must take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) as part of their medical education requirements, starting with USMLE Step 1. This rigorous exam consists of three “steps” designed to test a student’s knowledge and determine if they are ready to become a physician in the United States. This licensing exam is also required for physicians who are… READ MORE

USMLE Step 3 Exam: How to Optimize Your Performance on Test Day

May 19, 2023 by Nicole A. Colwell, MD Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: USMLE, USMLE Step 3, USMLE Step 3 exam

USMLE Step 3 is the final assessment first-year residents take before they can practice medicine independently. The exam assesses a physician’s knowledge of advanced clinical medicine and is different from the other two USMLE examinations taken in medical school. The experience of sitting for Step 3 of the USMLE will be distinct from that of Steps 1 and 2. The most striking difference is that the exam is administered over the course of two separate days. Each day has its… READ MORE

USMLE Step 3: What’s on It?

May 12, 2023 by Shaun Kink, MD Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: passing the USMLE, Step 3 Content, USMLE Step 3, USMLE Step 3 examples

The USMLE Step 3 is the final examination first-year residents need to pass to practice medicine independently. Step 3 assesses a practitioner’s knowledge of advanced clinical medicine and is vastly different from the other two USMLE examinations, so interns should know what to expect and how to prepare to face examination committees. How Is USMLE Step 3 Different? The biggest difference between the Step 3 exam and the other two USMLE exams taken in medical school is that it is… READ MORE

The USMLE Step 2 CK Score

May 5, 2023 by Shaun Kink, MD Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: understanding USMLE score, USMLE Score, USMLE Step 2 CK

Each United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step exam is scored differently. Understanding what your score means and how it is calculated can help you prepare in a more focused way. Understanding your USMLE Step 2 CK score Scores for the USMLE Step 2 exam range from 1 to 300. However, a 300 has never been achieved. Although scores across steps (such as between Step 1 and Step 2 CK) are not comparable, each step’s exam scores are statistically adjusted… READ MORE

USMLE vs. COMLEX: What’s the Difference?

April 27, 2023 by Nicole A. Colwell, MD Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: complex, medical licensing exams, USMLE, usmle vs complex

USMLE vs COMLEX: Is one exam for MD students and the other for DO students? It’s not that simple. Traditionally speaking, osteopathic medical students have been required to take the COMLEX (Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination) to be eligible for licensure, whereas allopathic medical students are required to take the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Exam) in order to obtain their medical license. However, the situation is more complex. As a medical student, taking board examinations serves a dual purpose… READ MORE

What is “Irregular Behavior” on the USMLE? How do I avoid it?

April 21, 2023 by Simon Padanilam Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: board exam prep, how to pass the USMLE, how to study for the boards, USMLE, USMLE exam prep, USMLE Step 2CK

What is “irregular behavior?” The USMLE examinations are tightly regulated and have a high level of security in place to maintain the integrity of their content and ensure their value in assessing candidates for medical licensing. As a result, there are certain actions of examinees that can be flagged as “irregular1” and may be sent for review by the NBME’s Committee for Individualized Review (CIR). If the committee determines that the action in question compromises the examination’s integrity, a temporary… READ MORE

How to Study for USMLE Step 2: 6 Tips for Success

April 13, 2023 by Shaun Kink, MD Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: exam prep, study tips, USMLE Step 2, USMLE Step 2CK

Now that USMLE Step 1 is a pass/fail exam, many residency programs will put greater importance on your USMLE Step 2 CK score. Earning a high score on this national board exam will help set you apart from other students and applicants. This article will focus on six tips on how to study for Step 2. Tip #1: Start Your Study Preparations at the Start of Clinical Rotations Many medical students often wonder how to prepare for the Step 2… READ MORE

What you need to know about the November 2020 update to the Step 2 CK exam

April 6, 2023 by Shaun Kink, MD Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: HIPAA, USMLE exam, USMLE Physician Tasks/Competencies outline, USMLE Step 2 CK, USMLE topics

As of November 11, 2020, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 clinical knowledge (CK) exam will increase the percentage of questions assessing the social sciences of examinees. What questions are included in the social sciences? The social sciences, or “soft skills,” will test an applicant’s knowledge of legal and ethical issues, professionalism, systems-based practices, and patient safety. These questions will consist of a particular concept, such as professionalism, rooted in a clinical situation. Such questioning aims to… READ MORE

USMLE Step 2 CK Content Tests Clinical Knowledge Base

March 31, 2023 by Michael Sapko, MD Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: board exam, career options, clinical knowledge, how to pass the USMLE, residency options, Step 2 CK, USMLE, USMLE Content, USMLE Step 2, USMLE Step 2CK

Learn More About USMLE Step 2 Content Now that Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) has become a pass/fail exam, your USMLE Step 2 CK score is more important than ever in deciding your medical residency and career options. In this article, we will review the content on Step 2 of the USMLE clinical science and knowledge examination. USMLE Step 2 CK Content Outline The main goal of the USMLE Step 2 CK examination is to… READ MORE

10 USMLE Tips to Ace the Exams

March 30, 2023 by Simon Padanilam Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, Board Exam, USMLE Tags: USMLE exam, USMLE prep, USMLE prep courses, USMLE step 1, USMLE Step 2, USMLE Step 3, USMLE tips?

The USMLE Step exams can be difficult not just in content but in terms of USMLE preparation and learning how to effectively use the resources at your disposal. In this article, we break down the top 10 tips to most effectively help medical students achieve their goals and find USMLE success. Tip 1: Create a study schedule and plan at least six months before your test date The most common issue we encounter is students who do not create an… READ MORE

The World’s Biggest USMLE Step 2CK QBank Now Available

June 4, 2021 by Jack Krasuski, MD Leave a Comment Categories: All Posts, USMLE Tags: USMLE

Our QBank team has been hard at work over the last several months developing, compiling, and vetting our new USMLE Step 2 CK QBank for medical students. It’s not just any old QBank, though – it’s the world’s largest medical education QBank for the USMLE Step 2 CK exam. It includes 4,200+ multiple-choice questions written specifically for the USMLE Step 2. Because of the quality of these exam-reflective MCQs with explanations, we guarantee that users of The Pass Machine USMLE… READ MORE