The blog for Blueprint Medical, supporting your MedEd journey with our exam study planner, tutoring, residency consulting, and advanced boards.
If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you’re an IMG (international medical graduate). Maybe you’ve been in medical practice in the United Kingdom, or you’re a student enrolled in a five-year medical program in Pakistan. Perhaps you heard about medical practice…
The USMLEs (United States Medical Licensing Examinations) are a series of exams (referred to as “Steps”) that assess an aspiring physician’s ability to demonstrate fundamental medical knowledge by answering difficult multiple choice questions. For international medical graduates (IMGs) planning to…
For an international medical graduate (IMG) planning on practicing in the US, the USMLEs (United States Medical Licensing Examinations) are an integral part of any US residency application. The USMLE Step exams (or their COMLEX equivalents) are designed to assess…
Something I’ve come to appreciate during my journey as a medical student (and now a resident) is that having good guides and mentors to rely upon is very important. When I was a student, upperclassmen pointed me to study materials…
The Clinical Basic Science Self-Assessments (CBSSA), released by the NBME, should be integral to any USMLE Step 1 study plan. These tests are traditionally referred to as NBME practice tests. They consist of retired exam questions reformatted into practice assessments…
So, what should you look for in a high-quality USMLE Qbank for Step 1 or Step 2 CK? The moment you pull out your wallet to buy something at a store, you may feel overwhelmed with options, to the point…
While some med students may feel relief from Step 1 going pass/fail, others may still be wondering, “What happens if I fail Step 1? Without a score, how will I know how to improve when I retake the exam?” Whether…
In recent years, the role Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) plays in the residency application process has changed. When it transitioned from a scored assessment to a pass/fail test in January 2022, the change alleviated…
Wondering how to use the First Aid USMLE 2026 updates to study for your Step exam? If so, your head is in the right place. Any seasoned medical student today, similar to students from a decade ago, will tell you:…
If your Step 1 exam is scheduled in 2026, you may be wondering whether you need to be following conventional advice about Step 1 dedicated periods. Should you follow the detailed study calendars that abound online? Should you use the…