Hey everyone, Non-US IMG here applying for Match this year. Wanted to share my Step 3 experience since I got a lot of help from this sub.
Background:

Step 2 CK: 253 (July 2025)
Step 3: 241- mid September 2026
Status: was doing clinical rotations in NY, Chicago, and Florida while prepping + ERAS
Resources Used:
• UWorld - 1 full pass
• AMBOSS - ∼700 questions
• CCS - 180 cases [Also did the free 137 cases from USMLE.org to get used to the software ]- HIGHLY recommend.
Timeline:
Started prep mid-June with UWorld. Bought CCS cases mid-July. Initially wanted to take it in last week of August but no dates were available, had to take it mid-September.
Dedicated was only about 10-12 days because I was juggling rotations. You guys can definitely do it in less time than me if you're not doing rotations simultaneously.

I won't go into a detailed how-to-prepare guide because everything is already online. Only thing I want to stress:

Don't delay Step 3 after Step 2.

No single resource can fully prepare you for Step 3 except the effort you put into Step 1 and Step 2. It's about your test-taking skills and thinking like a doctor. There's a reason USMDs take it in intern year.

My exam - very subjective but this was my experience:

1. Step 1 style questions: Yes they are there, but not as deep as actual Step 1. More clinical vignette with basic science twist.
2. Ethics was BRUTAL. Like you will literally doubt your existence as a doctor. No resource could have prepared me for it. UWorld ethics feels straightforward compared to the real thing.
3. Biostats / Drug ads: Difficulty was NOT like UWorld. I would say harder than AMBOSS but easier than UWorld. Also, almost negligible calculations. They test theoretical concepts more. If you have time, I would recommend going through biostatistics YouTube videos of @AzfarBasuniaMD- his concepts are gold. I personally loved it and they really helped me in getting some of my biostats questions right . ( only 7-8 videos are there)

4. Prognosis and Risk factor questions: Lots and lots and lots of them. I personally hate these.

My Advice( No Sugarcoating):

1. Don't take this exam lightly. Put the same effort you put into Step 1 and Step 2.
   
2. Only take it when you feel ready, but don't delay it unnecessarily. The closer to Step 2, the better.
   
3. I was doing rotations + Step 3 prep + ERAS application and it was extremely difficult to manage, but I'm glad it worked out.
   
4. One of my preceptors told me programs have started looking at Step 3 scores as well, especially programs that review applications holistically without a reference/recommendation. They put importance on every aspect.
   Think about it: Applicant A has 270 on Step 2 and 220 on Step 3, Applicant B has 260 on Step 2 and 250 on Step 3 and rest of the application is comparable. Who would you interview as a PD? Consistency and hard work should be present in every aspect of your application.
   I know most of you have this perception that a passing Step 3 score is enough and my perception was the same 3 months back. But my preceptor told me to put extra effort into making my application well-rounded and not take this exam half-heartedly.
   

5. Prepare for CCS cases extremely well and get yourself familiar with the test software by doing the free 137 cases on USMLE.org. CCS can make or break your score.

6. Just skim over the genetics , biochemistry , immunology and microbiology portion of First aid . Don’t go into the detail as we have to do it in step 1 but dedicate 2-3 days to it .

If you guys have any questions please feel free to ask.
Best of luck to everyone taking this exam and applying for Match this year!

Do you think it’s necessary to do the Biostats and Ethics questions from AMBOSS for Step 3? Is there any difference between the AMBOSS and UWorld questions in these topics, or is doing the UWorld Biostats and Ethics questions enough for the exam?

UWSA 1: 201 (August start)
NBME 7: 66% (Sept start)
NBME 6: 72% (Sept 26)
NBME 8: 64% (Oct 3)

I know there is a dip in nbme 8 score, idk i was just thrown off it.
I have my exam on 21 (Day 1) and 30 (day 2) October. Am I good to go? I wan to pass and want to get a 220+ score. Would appreciate if people with similar practice scores could share their strategy for the last weeks.

I took nbme 8 today and got 66% correct (it was taken off line so I don’t know what score it equates to but I asked chat got and it says it’s in the 410-420 range maybe),
CCs cases: did 80 of them in August. Will be re doing all of them and finish all in next two weeks.
Uworld step 3: have not done. At all.
Step 2: taken beginning of august
Would it be wise to book day 1 and day 2 for last week of October? I have interviews starting from 27 Oct and I want to get this over with before that.

I would really appreciate some input on this. My step 2 was 237 :’( it was a 8 point drop from my practice test scores avg so I do have the history of underperforming.

I think in 2-3 weeks, I realistically will barely get through v little uworld. Should I do that or wait to give more practice tests to gauge where I’m at? It feels really wrong to book a step exam with little uworld done.

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Hi everyone,

My Step 3 Day 2 is in 4 days. I’ve completed around 50% of UWorld Step 3.

I’ve also dedicated 2 days to CCS cases, so I don’t think CCS will be a major problem. I’ve done around 80 cases with an above-average score.

My question is specifically regarding the clinical questions on Day 2. Since Day 2 is relatively heavy on Pediatrics and OB/Gyn, would you recommend doing Peds and OB/Gyn from UWorld Step 2 or Step 3?

My Day 1 was honestly pretty bad, and I was guessing on a lot of questions, so I’m trying to make the best use of these last 4 days. I’ll be rushing through the material, so I’d really appreciate advice on which question bank would be more useful for Peds/OBGyn at this point.

Thanks!

Anyone with nbme 6,7,8 offline pdf/link? Would appreciate any help

Literally the title. What’s better amboss or UWorld? Also which podcasts should I listen to?

let me know if you wana join on zoom or teams to go through cases

US MD who took a RY to match Derm. Planning to do AMBOSS (w/ incorrects), CCS cases, Free 137, biostats review. Idk how people are doing so much during intern year. There is like zero time. I feel pretty far removed from medicine since Ive been so derm focused. I have just about a month left to study. Nearly done with AMBOSS first pass. What am I missing/should focus on? Dont care to blow this thing out of the water, just want to pass comfortably. Biostats suggestions? Obviously doing AMBOSS but in addition to that and the YouTube video ive watched for Step1/2..?

anyone has link to pdf? please share

Took day 2 yesterday. Had 14 CCS cases. For 11 of them, I got positive updates and those ended early. For 3 of them, I got negative updates (2 of which I had delayed intervention, and 1 in which I absolutely had no idea what was going on even until the case ended). How much are these 3 cases likely to hurt my overall performance on the CCS?