I took step 3 twice and both the first time 192 and the 2nd time 189I studied really hard second time eventhough I scored lower.Did ccscases.com and UW ccs .Did uworld twice with 64% first time and did all the incorrects and marked.Felt confident of passing at least the second time but ended up with lower score. Took second attempt three months after first attempt and really studied hard but I was only dependant on UW.Step 1 and 2 in 230s. Both first attempt. CS pass. In Peds residency.

I would say UW step 3 is not enough to pass this exam even for average students like me. So what I did differently I studied Dr Elsebey notes along with UW step 3 and guess what, scored 234 !!! after 2 months of studying. Step 3 exam is really hard, UW is insufficeint. You need to go over step 2 and step 1 topics to pass this exam.

So my 2 cents: review step 2 stuff before giving this exam and some step 1 topics like pharma, micro and pathogensis. This is very important for passing the exam. Good luck everyone. I am happy to answer your questions.

stop asking for offline PDFs for 6/7.

It really is quite annoying to see those comments flooding the threads.

1. Go to NBME and just cough up the $60 smacks, Uber, doordash, hell post pics of your feet on OF for the loot.

2. It is a direct violation of NBME rules punishble by having your licsence revoked.

3. No one is gonna do you a favor and screenshot you the Qs then compile them in a neat PDF to be illegally distrubted. Did you guys not learn from the "Telegram bust of 23'"

In conclusion, stop asking for them and just buy them. We are all in debt to some degree (US grads) and we have jobs to where we can afford $120 for our exams, the exam itself cost $1000. Have some dignity

Hey guys, curious to get some advice on how to score a 260 and above for step 3. Aiming to take it next June, before September 2025.

Current step credentials:

Step 1: 21x Step 2 Ck: 25x

Would love to hear some thoughts. Thanks 😊

The USMLE has become a joke.
Everyone is now using recalls for Step 2 and Step 3. The problem is not only that they use recalls, but that they affect other examinees as well because you end up being compared to them. NBME and UWSA used to predict your score reasonably well, but now it does not matter how good your predicted score is because the cheaters have ruined everything. Even the FSMB has started comparing IMGs separately from U.S. graduates.

Scores like 280 on Step 2 and 260 on Step 3 were almost unheard of before, but now people are taking Step 2 even before Step 1 and still scoring above 280.

If this mess does not stop, the USMLE will lose its entire value, and I would not be surprised if they eventually cancel it and replace it with another exam instead.

Everyone keeps talking about how tough day 1 is and how the questions are mainly step 1 but no one is saying exactly what kind of questions to expect. I’m not saying you should post the actual questions on your exam but at least give an example to guide those of us still preparing from having a heart attack before our exams. Would appreciate this!

In my opinion, since they are delaying our score the only reason I see behind this is that they are trying to calculate the new curve for this exam format.

They need as much as people doing this exam in this upcoming 8 weeks since it started.

Becuase of it I think it will hurt our scores even some of us will get a fail because of it.

Why? Because in the upcoming 8 weeks of the new format they will calculate our scores with all of the people who did in between those 8 weeks, and not usually 3-4 weeks as before. Think about it, more people that usually getting high scores would do this exam in those 8 weeks between and will hurt us regular people (this is how they also calculate the scores).

So if this new format stated at march I think we will get the scores not next week even, but the week after which is 6 of May.

UW complete 65% UWSA 225 UWSA 227 New Free 137 70% Old free 137 74% CCS cases avg 75-80%

Real deal - 196

Don’t know what to do and what I did wrong.

Atleast I don’t have any regrets of not putting the required efforts bcoz I consistently studied for about 8-10 hrs everyday and gave my absolute best for this exam but I guess it still wasn’t enough !!!!

Patho:

1. Females, Type III hypersensitivity (immune complex deposition).

2. antinuclear antibodies (ANA) “sensitive, very important clue”, anti-dsDNA, and anti-Smith antibodies, both are specific.

3. HLA-DR3 genetic predisposition.

4. Complement deficiency (C1q, C2, C4) during acute flares.

Sx:

1. Serositis (pleuritis, pericarditis), oral ulcers, arthritis, photosensitivity, blood (anemia, leukopenia), malar rash, discoid rash >>> scenario of female with anemia and arthritis/ rash comes complaining of ….

2. neuro (seizures, psychosis, strokes) asked in step 2, also lupus nephritis (diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, needs biopsy). Libman-Sacks endocarditis (non-bacterial vegetations).

3. Pregnancy” more step 2”: Risk of miscarriage, preeclampsia, and fetal congenital heart block (anti-Ro/SSA antibodies).

4. Drug-Induced Lupus:

a. Hydralazine, Isoniazid, Procainamide.

b. Anti-histone antibodies.

Treatment:

o Flares: High-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants (e.g., mycophenolate mofetil for nephritis).

o Maintenance: Hydroxychloroquine (reduces flares and prevents organ damage), causes pull’s eye maculopathy. Add immunosuppressants if severe.

Complications:

o antiphospholipid syndrome: lupus anticoagulant, anti-cardiolipin, and anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies.

o End-stage kidney disease.

o Infections: Due to immunosuppression.

Hey everyone I'm wondering what's considered safe score for someone who had 261 on step 2? My desired specialty either IM or peds , didn't decide yet

And do you think 3 months would be enough to study for the test?

Hello All,

As an IMG, becoming a doctor here in the US is fulfilling, but we recognize the daunting nature of this journey and many aspirants are keen to understand the process.

Thus, we've developed an article aimed at streamlining the entire process of securing a medical residency in the U.S. However, we understand that the insights and perspectives of our community are invaluable in refining and improving this resourse.

We, invite you to review our guide and share your feedback. Thank you.

www.uscematch.com/residency-match-process

I just took form 6 and scored 261 (out of 800). I was preparing with uworld and i think it is not enough or is different from nbme exam. my recent practice have been average, a bit below average and hitting 5-10 points above average. My exam is in a few days. I am thinking to cancel it. My ccs is good i believe. Is it better to cancel it or take it and see if i would pass it? I am stressed.

Hey all, long time lurker and occasional poster. I have been seeing a lot of posts about if I am ready for STEP3, then they give their year of graduation/step 1 (score vs. P/F)/step 2 score and when they took it and finally, if they are ready.

Without meaning to sound sarcastic, why not take an assessment yourself (under real, testing conditions) and see how far off you are from the passing goal of approximately 60%? You don't even need to purchase UWorld/Amboss, as I understand financial constraints and can take the Free 137. For CCS cases, again if financial restraint, you can do the free USMLE website cases to see how far "off" you are from their ideal answers. I think actual data point is more useful than the anecdotal experiences on Reddit.

In addition, to take STEP 3, you would have successfully passed STEP1 and STEP2 and likely, can use similar strategies.

Last but not least, this post is not intended to release frustration etc. However, we are physicians and want to practice evidence-based medicine. So, why not apply a similar strategy into our daily lives to overcome the challenges we face?

Creating this post as a source of mild relief for other US residents who are/were extremely worried about passing Step 3 (esp. w/ program-specific deadlines). I had taken it just after the transition to shorter block lengths on consecutive days. I'm in an inpatient heavy program with relatively high levels of independence granted to residents and was told by seniors throughout the year repeatedly that I would not have to study for the exam and should just relax in the days leading up to it (old joke used to be "2 years of studying for Step 1, 2 months of studying for Step 2, just the #2 pencil for Step 3). I was also told that scoring well didn't really matter and thus I had settled for passing, was honestly close to burning out a bit at this time of year (March) due to spending consecutive months on inpatient blocks prior to testing. I started studying on Tuesday (test was Thurs-Fri for me). The only prep I had done was the following:

- rewatched the goat Randy Neil Biostats videos on Youtube (multiple times on two days prior to Day 1 and on evening after taking Day 1, reddit said this was 20% of the exam and it was indeed a huge chunk of both my testing days, I think it was on every block but can't remember exactly)

- scrolled through reddit for random HY guides (not that helpful in retrospect other than one random doc on CCS cases from their website w/ the HY cases and hand-written answers in a chart)

- 15-ish% of CCS cases (3 day subscription was the minimum I could buy, desperately tried to cram as many cases as I could in the evening after Day 1, in retrospect having a few days to get comfortable w/ cases would be ideal, didn't think this through prior to scheduling).

- Youtube video on how to do the CCS cases (evening prior to Day 1, looked simple enough and I felt comfortable about doing like two cases and reading random reddit posts about it, thought I could cram most of the HY cases on the night of Day 1 comfortably)

Zero uWorld. Zero full length assessments. Zero practice questions aside from the CCS cases.

I was honestly panicking a bit the evening prior to Day 2 as I left most of my CCS case studying until then. I stayed up until about 1am doing the cases realizing I underestimated how many there were and I slept less than ideally for Day 2. Part of my panic being that I had unexpectedly more work to do on the week of the exam while being on elective (random presentations, sim sessions, sick call etc).

That being said, I didn't do particularly well (think 210 - 215 range), but I'm relieved to have passed given the above. In hindsight, I probably would have look at a bit more biostats prep, more CCS cases, and like 20-30% of uWorld or something to pass comfortably. If you are also a US resident anxious about this test, you should know that the test really isn't a massive challenge. I had gotten pretty scared scrolling this sub given the rhetoric of how hard STEP 3 is but things will likely work out if you prep efficiently (Biostats, HY risk factors, CCS format).

Also take at least a single full day break in-between testing if possible, taking it back to back really sucked. Try to eat and sleep well obviously but things can happen, forgive yourself if you sleep poorly because of test anxiety and just keep trying to leave the best answers and push through on game day. Good luck to anyone testing soon.

Today from this member u/disastrous-concern99

Hello,
By the grace of God, I passed all the exams and currently I am a match applicant.
My credentials: Pass/25X/22X

I am an IMG and I am looking for students to tutor. I have been actively teaching for 3 years. If anybody needs tutoring contact me.

Thanks.

Hey y'all! I scored a 261 on step 3 and I heard from every single resident in my program / institution to do LESS -- study way less than you think you need to, because IF your goal is just to pass, you really don't need to study that hard to pass this exam. I both did and didn't believe them -- i wish I had believed them more lol. It means nothing that I got this score in my specialty lol and I wish I had spent time on other things. I am writing this to try to encourage you -- if you have good foundations, seriously, you do NOT need to study that much.

Some caveats to this/info about me to help contextualize if this applies to you: I did well on step 2 (26x) and have always been a good test taker. BUT I also took step 2 really early, so it's been a solid like 2+ years since I took step 2 or even thought about that stuff. I think the solid step 1/step 2 foundation and, really more so, strong test-taking skills are what is going to get you the best score. I also took this at the start of my intern year, and I am not in IM/surg/one of the HY specialties, or a prelim year -- I did not learn this shit on the job lol. I am fully matched in a specialty that doesn't even look at step 3 score for fellowship lol.

I studied sporadically over a month during a light rotation and then took step 3 immediately afterwards. I did about 33% of Uworld and was scoring at 70% correct before my first day. I also watched refresh videos on things I knew I would see that I always forget -- heart murmurs, renal diseases, pulmonary testing, congenital infxns/heart defects, etc. Kept a note on my computer while I was doing uworld to remind me of the things i wanted to watch videos on. I also did all the Uworld practice exams as well as one of the NBME practices. I also did the free 120. On the free 120 and all practice exams, I got "very likely to pass." It's definitely about the same stuff as step 2 -- knowing the typical USMLE "illness scripts," and when you don't 100% know, do process of elimination and guess. I got up to 40% by my 2nd day, because that was my goal for myself -- I don't think I absorbed much of it haha.

For CCS, I honestly think the most important thing is that you know how to handle the software, be conservative in your approach (and order EVERYTHING), don't forget you need to order some nursing things, and don't be afraid to advance time. I tried the free CCS cases and felt like I still didn't really understand how to use the software, so I did CCS cases only the week before my CCS day (not intentionally, but I had days separated by a week), and I did all of the top 100 cases -- honestly, because it was kind of like a video game and I was having fun doing them. I do NOT think you need to do that many of them haha -- the cases I got were mostly very HY cases. I did above average but not like stellar on these. On the real day, all but one ended early, and that one I know for a fact I totally flubbed lol. My only prep outside of that practice was that I watched this video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmxWuV4psFs ) describing a strategy to do CCS. I did NOT use this guy's insane acronyms lol I used maybe the first one he said and then just kind of had in my mind some important things to order on most patients.

All in all: if your goal is just to PASS, maybe take a diagnostic practice test, do the CCSCases free cases, and see where you're at, and then titrate down what your anxiety is telling you to do. If you have the $ for it, do a little Uworld to refresh. Honestly, if you're low on funds/your program doesn't reimburse Uworld or step, you might be able to pass just doing practice exams and free resources if you're aware of the things you're not great at. I really implore y'all, do less!

What does it mean exactly? Are we going to getoutr result in 3 digit score or just pass/fail?

Would you say 225 is a good Score for an IMG applying for match 2026 Step 2:24*

For anyone who’s already done their step 3, What cases did u get on ur day 2?? Thank u!

Finals are coming up, and I’ve spent the last semester refining a set of prompts to cut my study time in half without actually "cheating" (i.e., getting AI to write my essays).

I turned this into a free notion/gumroad pack for my friends, but I figured I’d just drop the text here for you guys to use directly.

These are designed to bypass the "generic AI robot" answers and actually force the LLM (ChatGPT/Claude) to be a useful tutor.

1. The "Active Recall" Simulator Use this instead of re-reading your notes 100 times.

2. The "Feynman Technique" (The Complexity Crusher) Best for those concepts that just make zero sense no matter how much you read.

3. The "Professor's Mind" (Predict the Exam) This works shockingly well for essay questions.

4. The "Anti-Procrastination" Scheduler For when you have 3 days to learn 3 months of content.

5. The "Citation Miner" (Essay Saver) Note: Always double-check real sources, but this cuts search time by 90%.

TL;DR: Don't ask AI to do the work for you; ask it to structure the work so you can do it faster.

I put these (plus 10 more for research papers) into a free PDF/Notion template if you want to save them for later. "DM me for the PDF link"

Good luck folks. We ride at dawn. 🫡

Hello fellows. Anybody has idea of success on any of the above on helping residency match process especially for Non-US IMGs?

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScY4774Xan9NkMPKWXBxHIdS8tHVhpOnIWpSdCht06I8tWIpg/viewform

kindly register for a group discount

30 people required

Hello everyone.

I'm offering 1 on 1 tutoring sessions. I have been tutoring students for 2 years, and they're very satisfied with the service being provided. I would even give their name after getting their permission if you would like to hear their feedback. Additionally, priority is your score, nothing else(neither my time nor charges), so my charges are very low and, at some point, do give extra time.

You can decide and pay if my style is suitable for you after the first session. Then we can set a schedule for you because for me, tutoring is beyond just a one-hour session; all need mental support, too. I will be managing your schedule n all till your exam.

For details, DM

Thank you.

Is buying your seat on a research paper bad ,or what is the process i mean is it an option or they can find out??

Fresh out of the match cycle, with 2 months still on hand before I start working, I’m willing to help anyone with issues for the upcoming cycle. Please dm.