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Designated testing dates arrive in 2029
The USMLE is moving from year-round testing to a limited set of dates. What is confirmed, what is still open, and why the date moved from 2028 to 2029.
Read the full guide →Straight answers about the exam itself
How the USMLE actually works and how to prepare for it: scoring, practice exams, question banks and study mechanics, written for students who want the reasoning rather than a ranked list of resources.
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news
Who you register with now
January 2026 moved USMLE registration between organisations. Which body handles your Step exams now depends on where you went to medical school.
- Step 1
- Step 2 CK
- Step 3
news
The new USMLE test software: more blocks, shorter blocks
The exam interface changed in 2026. Same content and same total length, but the day is now split into more, shorter blocks. What that means on test day.
- Step 1
- Step 2 CK
- Practice exams
comparison
AMBOSS vs QBankly: library-first or question-first?
AMBOSS pairs a question bank with a full medical reference library. QBankly does not. A look at when that difference matters and when it is simply more product.
- Question banks
- Step 1
A realistic six-week Step 1 study schedule
How to structure six weeks of dedicated Step 1 study, daily question volume, review time, practice exam placement and the mistakes that cost the most points.
- Step 1
- Study strategy
Why percent correct is the wrong thing to track
The number everyone watches measures what you knew before the block started. Three alternatives that actually tell you whether your preparation is working.
- Question banks
- Study strategy
- Step 1
How to actually use a review book
A condensed review book is a reference and an index, not a textbook. Reading it cover to cover is the most common and least effective way to use one.
- Content resources
- Step 1
- Study strategy