Blog
Practical guides for Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3, from the team behind MedPrep Institute.
Study plans
How many NBME and UWSA practice exams to take before Step 2 CK, which are most predictive, when to take each, and how to use the weeks between them.
· 6 min read
Study plans
What the Free 120 is, where to get the official Step 2 CK sample test for free, when to take it, and where to practice next with free questions.
· 5 min read
Scoring
Current USMLE passing standards: Step 1 pass/fail, Step 2 CK 218 since July 2025, Step 3 200 since January 2024, with effective dates and what changed.
· 5 min read
Scoring
USMLE attempt limits explained: four attempts per Step, three in 12 months, the wait before a fourth attempt, what counts, and state board rules.
· 5 min read
Study plans
How long to study for Step 3 during intern year, how many questions and CCS cases to aim for, and a realistic 4-week plan around a resident schedule.
· 6 min read
Study plans
When to use tutor mode and when to switch to timed blocks for Step 1 and Step 2 CK, and how the new 30-minute, 20-question exam blocks change practice.
· 5 min read
Question banks
Is UWorld alone enough for Step 2 CK? What the evidence says, who can stop at one bank, when a second bank helps and what to add for weak areas.
· 6 min read
Study plans
What UWorld percentage correct means for Step 1 and Step 2 CK, typical first-pass averages, how well it predicts your score, and what to track instead.
· 6 min read
IMG guides
Step 2 CK scores reported for matched IMGs in internal medicine and family medicine, how they compare with unmatched applicants, and how to set a target.
· 6 min read
Study plans
How an AI tutor can help with USMLE questions, where it can mislead you, and how to use one safely inside a question bank, including MedPrep's AI Tutor.
· 6 min read
Question banks
Looking for a UWorld alternative? Compare AMBOSS, TrueLearn, BoardVitals, USMLE-Rx, Lecturio and MedPrep on price, question count and who each one suits.
· 7 min read
Question banks
UWorld vs AMBOSS compared with MedPrep Institute on price, questions, spaced repetition and free trials, with a clear pick for each type of student.
· 6 min read
Question banks
How MedPrep Institute compares with UWorld on price, how questions work, spaced repetition, self-assessments and who each one is best for.
· 6 min read
Question banks
What UWorld, AMBOSS, TrueLearn, BoardVitals, USMLE-Rx and MedPrep cost, converted to price per month so you can compare plans of different lengths.
· 6 min read
Question banks
Free USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 3 and ABIM practice questions with full explanations, no account required, plus every free trial worth using.
· 5 min read
Study plans
How many practice questions to do per day for Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3, with a table that turns bank size and timeline into a daily target.
· 5 min read
Study plans
Anki flashcards versus a USMLE question bank: what each does best, why spaced repetition matters, and how to combine them without burning out.
· 6 min read
Study plans
A simple process for reviewing wrong answers on USMLE practice questions: sort the error, log the concept, and schedule it to come back.
· 6 min read
IMG guides
Which USMLE exams international medical graduates need, how eligibility and registration work, what scores to aim for and how to prepare from abroad.
· 6 min read
Scoring
What to do after failing a USMLE Step: how the retake rules work, how to diagnose what went wrong, a retake plan and how a fail affects residency.
· 5 min read
Study plans
How long a Step 1 dedicated study period should be, what decides it, how to structure it and how pass/fail changes the plan.
· 5 min read
Study plans
Three Step 2 CK study schedules (4, 8 and 12 weeks) with daily question targets, assessment timing and tips for adjusting as you go.
· 7 min read
Scoring
Approximate Step 2 CK scores of matched applicants by specialty, how to read them, and how to set a realistic target for your own preparation.
· 5 min read
Scoring
Step 2 CK passing score, average, and an estimated score-to-percentile table, plus what counts as a good score and how to raise yours.
· 6 min read
Scoring
Step 1 is pass/fail. See the passing standard, what your score report shows, what happens if you fail, and how programs use Step 1 now.
· 6 min read
Question banks
A deep-dive comparison of every major ABIM Internal Medicine question bank: verified prices, strengths, drawbacks and exactly which plan to buy.
· 12 min read
Study strategy
The official USMLE Step 2 CK content outline broken down by content area, clinical science and physician task, with exact percentage ranges from USMLE.org.
· 9 min read
Study strategy
The official ABIM Internal Medicine Certification Exam blueprint broken down by all 18 medical content categories, with exact percentages from ABIM.org.
· 8 min read
Study strategy
The official USMLE Step 3 content outline broken down by system and physician task, plus where CCS fits in, with exact percentage ranges from USMLE.org.
· 8 min read
Study strategy
The official USMLE Step 1 content outline broken down by system, discipline and physician task, with exact percentage ranges from USMLE.org.
· 8 min read
Question banks
A deep-dive comparison of every major USMLE Step 3 question bank: verified prices, strengths, drawbacks and exactly which plan to buy.
· 11 min read
Question banks
A deep-dive comparison of every major USMLE Step 2 CK question bank: verified 2026 prices, strengths, drawbacks and exactly which plan to buy.
· 12 min read
Question banks
A deep-dive comparison of every major USMLE Step 1 question bank: verified 2026 prices, strengths, drawbacks and exactly which plan to buy.
· 12 min read
Exam logistics
Eight lesser-known facts about USMLE Step 1: pass/fail rules, retake limits, exam order, the 2026 format change and more.
· 8 min read
Exam logistics
Eligibility, registration, cost, scheduling and results for USMLE Step 3 in 2026, plus what changed: an updated two-day format effective March 10, 2026.
· 8 min read
Exam logistics
Eligibility, registration, cost, scheduling and results for USMLE Step 2 CK in 2026, plus what changed: a new registration process and a new block format.
· 8 min read
Exam logistics
Eligibility, registration, cost, scheduling and results for USMLE Step 1 in 2026, plus what changed: a new registration process and a new block format.
· 8 min read
Study strategy
A complete ABIM Internal Medicine exam study guide: the blueprint, when to register, a sample study plan for your final year, and how it differs from the USMLE Steps.
· 9 min read
Study strategy
A complete USMLE Step 3 study guide: the two-day format, when to take it during residency, a sample plan around shifts, and the content outline.
· 10 min read
Study strategy
A complete USMLE Step 2 CK study guide: when to start, a sample four-week schedule, the content outline, and how to read Step 2 CK vignettes.
· 10 min read
Study strategy
A complete USMLE Step 1 study guide: when to start, a sample six-week schedule, the content outline, and how to study now that Step 1 is pass/fail.
· 10 min read
Study strategy
A step-by-step plan for two passes through a USMLE question bank, with a daily question calculator, a review triage guide and a sample schedule.
· 9 min read
Question banks
Compare UWorld, AMBOSS, TrueLearn, BoardVitals, Lecturio, USMLE-Rx, Kaplan and MedPrep for Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3 with verified 2026 prices and free trials.
· 14 min read
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