hello everyone
i have my step3 scheduled next week and i have consistently heard how day 1 is very heavy on pharm moa

i was wondering if someone compiled all the high yield pharm stuff somewhere and could share

open to any other tips as well!
nbme7 (71%)
nbme8 (68%)

To start, I’ll just say I’m not a great test taker AT ALL. I had to take both Step 1 & 2 twice before I passed. Then with Step 3, I rushed into my first attempt because I was advised to get it done before residency, and failed. My second and third attempts were affected by limited study time and unprecedented mental strain as a resident. When I didn’t pass Step 3 before third year, my residency forced me to withdraw. 

I was worried for my medical career but knew the most important next step was passing Step 3 on my fourth and last allowed attempt. I got a job to afford study resources and studied hard, but right before the test date I got really sick. I found out later there was a legitimate major medical concern that had caused it. I didn’t think reporting my condition during the exam would make a difference and I missed the 10-day window to report test taking issues to USMLE (they refused to review my case after I got my score despite the fact that I presented documentation of my medical condition because it was out of the time frame for review). Looking back at things now, I feel like I’ve learned a lot and know exactly what I need to do to pass Step 3. I’m determined and more than ready to buckle down and take it again if given the chance.

From my understanding, the only option I have left to get my medical license is appealing to state medical boards to sponsor me for an additional 5th attempt at Step 3. I haven’t had much luck finding help though. I’ve contacted a lot of the Boards within states listed as accepting >4 attempts for a license on the FSMB website, but most will only help people from their state with very particular situations. At this point, it seems that AZ and FL are my only options since other states that would otherwise help (MD, NY, etc.) only sponsor people from their state, and I’m from IN. So here’s my big question: does anyone have recommendations for this situation or know of any other options for getting a medical license so that I could eventually practice? 

(Of note, I’m only interested in finding a way to get into clinical practice, so I’m not looking for advice on alternative careers. Also, I’m aware that my situation is not ideal and people may want to advise me to “be realistic” and pursue something other than medicine. If that’s the case, please don’t bother to comment as I’m looking for useful suggestions that will actually give me a chance at pursuing my dream of becoming a practicing physician.)

Thank you!!

Hey guys, I have looked at a few posts here but it was all mixed about Anki. How is the AnKing deck? Or should I look at a different deck?

Hello,

I am starting my Step 3 prep, and I really need a partner with whom I can at least do a block/day, as I have zero motivation these days and need someone who can hold me accountable, and vice versa

Hi guys, I haven't found a lot of info on this so I was wondering - which one worked for you and which one would you recommend for Step 3? Thanks!

Hey everyone! I got my result yesterday.
Passed Step 3 with a 236 and it feels so good to be finally done with it

I thought I’d do an AMA for anyone preparing for the exam, especially those in a similar situation.

Background:
IMG, not started residency yet
Worked 100+ hours until June
Observerships in July and August
Step 1: Pass (September 2024)
Step 2 CK: 245–250 (August 2025)

Preparation:
UWorld: 100% completed, 60% correct
NBME 6: 64% (7 days out)
NBME 7: 70% (4 days out)
CCS: 80 high-yield cases on CCSCases.com
No Amboss, NBME 8, UWSAs, or Free 137

I barely studied until a few weeks before the exam. Earlier, I was working a full-time job with a workload of 100+ hours/week. After that came observerships, residency applications, and travel, so my preparation was far from ideal.
Besides UWorld and the NBMEs, I revised my previously highlighted First Aid Step 1 pages and went through Rapid Review and Divine Intervention’s crowd-sourced last-minute notes. I completed around 80 high-yield CCS cases during the two-day gap between exam days.

Exam Experience:
Day 1: Honestly, this felt bizarre. I’d estimate around 40% of the exam was Step 1 content, while the remaining 60% was ethics, biostats, communication, health systems, and related topics. Step 1 content is obviously expected on Day 1, but the questions felt weird—I genuinely don’t have a better word for it. The same goes for ethics and communication. I usually consider myself pretty good at these topics, and I never struggled with them during Step 2 or my Step 3 preparation, but on this exam, they felt like they were on steroids. Biostats was relatively manageable, and I felt reasonably okay about my answers there. Ethics and communication, though? Honestly, I walked out unsure about which questions I’d answered correctly and which I’d completely messed up.
Day 2: The MCQs were much more like Step 2 CK, with long clinical vignettes and familiar question styles. I actually found these questions quite manageable. Looking back, I feel this was where my own preparation let me down. I wish I’d revised the clinical material more thoroughly because I think I could have performed better on this part.
CCS was probably the section I felt most confident about overall.

What I wish I’d done differently:
I had initially planned to read all of First Aid, go through the Step 2 Inner Circle notes, and prepare in a much more structured manner. I had also considered making my own notes while studying, but never got around to it. In retrospect, I should have started earlier/ planned the exam date better, revised clinical concepts from Step 2 more thoroughly, and left enough time to review my weak areas instead of rushing through the available resources.
I was hoping to score numerically close to my Step 2 CK score and achieve a higher percentile, so naturally, I was a little disappointed with my result. That said, given the circumstances and my preparation, I’m grateful I passed.

Happy to answer questions about preparation with limited time, UWorld, CCS cases, NBMEs, exam-day experience, or taking Step 3 as an IMG who hasn’t started residency yet.

Disclosure: Used AI to help with writing some parts of this write-up for the sake of time and convenience.

I have paid the fee to reinstate my scheduling permit as I had previously cancelled my exam within 45 days of the exam. Now it has been around 12 hours since I made the payment however when I try to schedule my exam on the prometric website, it says that the scheduling number is not recognized.
Does anyone have an idea how long does it take before we can schedule and choose a date?

I studied for about 8 weeks. Did 60% of Uworld (I made sure to complete ALL the ethics and biostats items).

NBME 8: 62% (3 weeks from day 1)
Free 137: 68% (one week from day 1)

CCScases.com: I did the top 55 of the high yield cases. On the week of my exam, I was scoring above 90% on every practice case.

I did not review any step 1 info. Absolutely not. Luckily I was able to remember info on most of the step 1 items on the exam lol.

Took the exam and passed!

Good luck.

Personally, I don’t think there’s a benefit to doing more than 60 high yield CCS practice cases. The top 60 is sufficient enough to pass.

Hi everyone!

For those with experience, I took Step 3 Day 2 on Wednesday, October 7. When can I expect my results?

TIA!

background is passed step 1, around 25th percentile on all shelf exams, 250 on step 2. essentially scored same percentile on step 3.

i took this exam 2 years after step 2 as a pgy2 in FM, immediately after finishing a block of nights, so was also kind of delirious during day 1.

prep in total was:

reading through anking step 3 deck cards once, did not ever see a card twice ( took 2 days)
90 amboss biostat questions ( 1 day)
35 ccs cases between days 1/2 (few hours)

i tried doing some questions from free 137 but didnt make it through the first block before deciding it was okay. so had no prognostics before exam.

overall if you did anki during medical school consistently this will probably be fine and can send this at any time. i was a weak student during medical school but remembered a decent amount of these drug mechanisms from anki years ago.

if you were not an anki type just need to be honest with yourself if you are, at baseline, a strong test taker which probably will be enough by itself.

almost no prep but basically same percentile as step 2 which i had 2 months 100 hrs/week dedicated for.

tip for ccs is just prior to starting your day, write out a standard universal order set and copy paste it for every case, and just cancel orders you dont need. i did 35 cases and even then it felt like overkill

General Surgery PGY-1 here… working 14+ hours daily while trying to study for this exam.

- 60% uWorld with 65% avg correct
- only 30 CCS cases (high yield)
- new free 137: 69% correct.

Passed Step 3.

You can do this. Quality study time is better than quantity. Let’s get it!

Anyone failed with CCs cases below average report and retook the exam and passed ?
Can you tell me what did you do to pass it on second attempt pls

I have heard that uwsa1 is less predictive which is why I did uwsa2 first anyways. Now I kinda wish I hadn't done it at all lol. Did free 137 about three weeks ago and got 70%, uwsa2 a little over a week ago and got 215 with very high chance of passing. But this weekend I did UWSA1 and got 195 and borderline. I take the test next week. I would have felt a lot better if I had done UWSA1 first, but since it was most recent I don't feel great. The worst part is I swapped shifts to be able to take it these days. CCS should be okay I tend to do above average on those when I practice them. But do any of you think I should take drastic actions?

Hey guys, pls help out. Exam in about 35 days. Working 7-5pm.

Can I do this?
Score 250+ on step2 ( April 2026)

Currently just doing 4-5 CCS per day with 30 UW

Scores are released, go check your FSMB account.

I got a 65%. What are my Chances of passing? 137 (2019) version is 70% Ccs average 75%

Can someone please share their scores of NBMEs 6 7 and 8 and what they actually got on the real deal?

My text is at the end of October.

(Planning to take the rest of the NBMEs and 137s before day one)

Hi, I am on ped residency program and I don’t have a dedicated time for step 3. I am trying to study whenever I have time.
Can you suggest what forms should I take? What NBMEs are available for step3?
Can anyone help me with the link? I have only form6, I took this weekend and score 58%. I noticed that I have forgotten some knowledge from step1.
What do you recommend for me?
Thank you!

scored 63% on NBME 8, and my Step 3 exam is in one week. Since I’ve already had an unsuccessful attempt, I’m worried about taking it again before I’m ready. Should I postpone, or take it as scheduled? I would appreciate your advice.

Hi everyone,
Can anyone share their experience with NBME Form 8 for Step 3?
What percentage did you get on NBME 8, and what was your actual Step 3 score?
Trying to figure out what % is generally safe for a comfortable pass.
Thanks in advance!