How to Study Pharmacology for USMLE Step 1: 7 Tips That Make Drugs Stick
Seven practical tips from Dr. Ray Makar to remember USMLE pharmacology: drug classes, side effects, classic toxicities, CYP450 interactions and antidotes.
Dr. Ray Makar
How to Read a USMLE Question Stem in Under 60 Seconds
On the USMLE, you have roughly 90 seconds per question. Many students know the material but run out of time because they read every stem slowly, word by word, and then read it again. Learning to read a question stem efficiently is one of the fastest ways to improve your performance. Here is a simple … Read more
Why Repeated USMLE Questions Matter: Patterns the Exam Keeps Testing
Every year, thousands of students sit for the USMLE, and every year the exam tests many of the same core ideas. The questions are never copied word for word, but the concepts behind them come back again and again. Students who learn to recognize these patterns have a real advantage. Why Does the USMLE Repeat … Read more
USMLE Step 2 CK Neurology Questions: Acute Ischemic Stroke, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Giant Cell Arteritis
Neurology emergencies on USMLE Step 2 CK test time-sensitive decisions: when to give thrombolytics, which test to order after a normal CT, and when to treat before the diagnosis is confirmed. Try these three questions. Question 1: Sudden weakness and trouble speaking A 67-year-old man is brought to the emergency department 2 hours after the … Read more
USMLE Step 1 Physiology Questions: Acid-Base Disorders – Vomiting, Aspirin Overdose and Diarrhea
Acid-base questions appear on every USMLE Step 1 exam. Use the same steps every time: pH, then the primary disorder, then expected compensation, then the anion gap. Try these three questions, then open the explanations. Question 1: Several days of vomiting A 34-year-old woman has had repeated vomiting for 4 days due to a viral … Read more
USMLE Step 2 CK Psychiatry Questions: Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, Serotonin Syndrome and Lithium Toxicity
Psychiatric medication emergencies are high-yield on USMLE Step 2 CK. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome and serotonin syndrome look similar, so the exam tests the features that separate them, plus drug interactions that cause lithium toxicity. Try these three questions. Question 1: Fever and “lead-pipe” rigidity after starting an antipsychotic A 28-year-old man with schizophrenia was started … Read more
Pathology USMLE Questions: Anemias – Beta-Thalassemia Minor, Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Hereditary Spherocytosis
Anemia questions on USMLE Step 1 start with the MCV (microcytic, normocytic or macrocytic) and then ask you to pick the right lab finding or underlying defect. Here are three practice questions. Pick your answer first, then open the explanation. Question 1: Very small red cells with normal iron studies A 24-year-old woman of Mediterranean … Read more
USMLE Step 2 CK Pediatrics Questions: Pyloric Stenosis, Intussusception and Midgut Volvulus
Vomiting in an infant is a common USMLE Step 2 CK scenario. The age, whether the vomit is bilious, and the stool findings point to the diagnosis, and the exam asks for the next best step. Try these three questions. Question 1: A 4-week-old with forceful vomiting after every feed A 4-week-old firstborn boy has … Read more
USMLE Step 1 Immunology Questions: Hypersensitivity Reactions – Types II, III and IV
Hypersensitivity reactions are one of the most reliable Immunology topics on USMLE Step 1. You need to match each clinical picture to its mechanism: IgE, antibody against cells, immune complexes or T cells. Pick your answer first, then open the explanation. Question 1: Dark urine and swelling two weeks after a sore throat An 8-year-old … Read more
Step 2 CK Study Plan: A 6-Week Schedule That Works
Now that Step 1 is pass/fail, Step 2 CK carries much more weight in residency applications. Your three-digit score matters. The good news is that Step 2 CK rewards clinical reasoning, and a focused six-week dedicated study period is enough for most students who have finished their core clerkships. Here is a practical week-by-week plan … Read more