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How Many Times Should You Take a Mock Licensing Exam Before the Real Thing?

mock medical exam

Preparing for a medical licensing exam can be grueling, and it might seem like no matter what you do, there are some topics that you just can’t seem to commit to memory. Active learning is by far the best way to overcome the challenges associated with tricky topics, and that’s exactly where question banks and mock exams come in. How many times should you take a mock licensing exam for the MCCQE or other test before you take the real thing? The answer may surprise you!

What is Active Learning?

There are two types of learning: active and passive. Active learning involves actively recalling information whereas passive learning involves something like reading or highlighting – passive steps you take to attempt to commit the information to memory. When you take mock exams, these are a form of active learning. Rather than having the answers right in front of you to read, you must actively use your brain to come up with the answer. Numerous studies have shown that active learning is far superior to passive learning when it comes to both memorization and overall comprehension.

Getting the Most out of Mock Exams

Before sitting down to spend hours answering questions, make sure that you’re using the right tools for your mock exams. Not all question banks are the same, and some afford you very little in the way of actual help. Look for a variety of features, which include things like different modes that you can use to help you learn the material. You should also have the ability to separate questions that you struggle with so that you can easily find them later and practice them until they are second nature. Ideally, you should be able to make your own notes for individual questions, and if you miss a question, you should be able to see some feedback and an explanation.

How Many Times Should You Take a Mock Exam?

The number of times that you will need to take a mock exam before you take the real licensing exam will vary, but the absolute best advice is to continue to take the practice tests until you are 100% confident that you have mastered the material. With CanadaQBank, it’s easy to do. You can build your mock exams around the topics you’ve learned by simply choosing which topics the software will pull questions from. Each time a new topic is introduced, add it to your list, and go through the questions a couple times a week. This way, you can be sure that you are constantly reviewing old material even as you are introducing the new.

There’s no one right way to take a mock exam, and there’s no one strategy that serves as a cookie-cutter solution for all medical students. Nevertheless, by following the advice here and doing your very best to review things you’ve learned in the past and things you’ve learned more frequently – and doing so at least twice a week – you will have a much better chance to retain more information that will benefit you when you take your real licensing exam.

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How Many Times Should You Take a Mock Exam before the Real Deal?

mock-medical-exam

Mock exams are an unavoidable part of life for medical students. While they can sometimes feel repetitive, stressful, or even unnecessary, mock exams play a critical role in exam success. When used correctly, they help bridge the gap between studying content and performing well under real exam conditions.

In this article, we’ll explore what mock exams are, why they matter, and how many mock exams you should take before sitting for your actual medical licensing exam.

What Is a Mock Exam?

A mock exam is a practice test designed to closely replicate the structure, timing, and difficulty of your real examination. The key difference is that mock exam scores do not impact your career, whereas your actual licensing exam does.

Mock exams may:

  • Be shorter than the real exam
  • Match the real exam length and format
  • Be taken under timed or untimed conditions

The more closely a mock exam mirrors the actual test—including question style, time limits, and environment—the better prepared and more confident you’ll feel on exam day.

What Are the Benefits of a Mock Exam?

Mock exams offer far more than just extra practice questions. Their benefits extend across multiple aspects of exam preparation.

1. Builds Exam-Day Familiarity

Mock exams help you become comfortable with:

  • Exam format
  • Question style
  • Time constraints
  • Testing software

This familiarity reduces anxiety and prevents surprises on exam day.

2. Improves Time Management

Many students struggle not because of knowledge gaps, but because of poor pacing. Mock exams teach you how to:

  • Allocate time per question
  • Avoid spending too long on difficult questions
  • Finish all sections within the allotted time

3. Identifies Weak Areas

Mock exams highlight:

  • Content gaps
  • Weak subjects or systems
  • Recurrent mistakes

This allows you to focus your revision on areas that will yield the biggest score improvements.

4. Strengthens Test-Taking Strategy

Taking multiple mock exams trains you to:

  • Read questions more efficiently
  • Eliminate incorrect answer choices
  • Make educated guesses under pressure

These skills are essential for success in high-stakes medical exams.

5. Builds Mental and Physical Endurance

Medical licensing exams often last 8–9 hours. Mock exams help condition your mind and body to sustain focus, reducing fatigue and burnout on the real exam day.

How Many Mock Exams Should You Take?

There is no single “perfect” number, but most successful candidates follow these general guidelines:

Early Preparation Phase

  • Take 1 diagnostic mock exam
  • Purpose: assess baseline knowledge and identify weaknesses

Mid-Preparation Phase

  • Take 1 mock exam every 1–2 weeks
  • Purpose: track progress and refine study strategy

Final Preparation Phase

  • Take 2–4 full-length mock exams
  • Purpose: simulate exam-day conditions, improve stamina, and fine-tune pacing

In total, most students benefit from taking 4–8 mock exams, depending on:

  • Exam difficulty
  • Time available
  • Individual learning needs

Quality matters more than quantity—thorough review after each mock exam is essential.

How to Use Mock Exams Effectively

To maximize the benefit of mock exams:

  • Take them under realistic exam conditions
  • Avoid distractions
  • Review every question—especially the ones you got wrong
  • Categorize mistakes (knowledge gap vs. strategy error)
  • Adjust your study plan based on performance trends

Platforms like CanadaQBank (CQB) provide mock exams with:

  • Exam-style questions
  • Detailed explanations
  • Performance analytics
  • Simulated exam environments

These features allow you to practice smarter—not just harder.

Conclusion

Mock exams are not just practice tests—they are powerful diagnostic and performance tools. When used correctly, they help you identify weaknesses, improve time management, build endurance, and approach exam day with confidence.

Rather than asking “Do I really need another mock exam?”, a better question is “Have I fully learned from the last one?”

With the right balance of mock exams and quality review—using trusted resources like CQB / CanadaQBank—you can walk into your real exam prepared, confident, and ready to succeed.

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The 5 Best Medical Test Taking Tips for 2019

Taking Medical Exam

Preparing for an exam is one thing, but actually preparing yourself to sit down and take one of the most intense exams you’ll ever take in your life is something else entirely. Here, you’ll learn five of the best tips from the experts for taking medical exams like a pro.

#1 – Maximize Your Study Time

Making your test day the best it can be all starts with studying. Make sure that you start studying for your exam early on, and to get the most out of your time, use programs and tools that allow you to take mock exams and review your incorrect answers. Not only does this help get you in the right frame of mind for answering the questions on the actual medical exam, but it also puts the information you need most in front of you and helps to ensure your overall success on the real test.

#2 – Get Plenty of Rest the Night Before

Though it may seem beneficial to stay up late and study the things that have been giving you trouble, getting a good night’s sleep is even more important. In fact, studies have proven that better sleep improves academic success. By staying up late and getting fewer than seven to nine hours of sleep, your mind will not be as clear as it could be on test day, which can lead to reading comprehension issues and silly mistakes you may not otherwise make.

#3 – Eat a Good Breakfast (and Plan a Good Lunch)

Food is fuel for the body and the mind, so even if you’re feeling butterflies in your stomach, make sure you eat a well-balanced breakfast. Ideally, it should contain an excellent source of protein such as meat or Greek yogurt, and it should also contain a good source of complex carbohydrates that will help keep you satisfied and energetic until lunch. If your test lasts several hours and you will have a lunch break between, be sure to pack a meal that closely mimics breakfast. Fast food can be tempting, but a balanced meal is far better for your brain.

#4 – Wake Up Early to Prepare

Another excellent tip involves waking yourself up early the day of the test and taking your time to prepare. Rather than giving yourself an hour to get dressed, eat, and travel to the testing area, try to give yourself two or even three. Plan what you’ll eat for breakfast the night before, and perhaps lay out what you will wear before you go to bed, too. This will help reduce the number of decisions you have to make in the morning and may aid your overall focus.

#5 – One Question at a Time

When faced with an important exam, many people feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of questions they must answer in the allotted time. Rather than allowing yourself to stress out and start reading ahead, focus on the question in front of you until you have the right answer. By giving the question or problem on the screen all of your undivided attention, the odds of making a mistake or getting the wrong answer are much, much lower.

Many of the best test-taking tips for 2019 involve the time leading up to the test rather than the test itself. After all, the things you do before the exam will have the biggest impact. Be sure that you’re as prepared as you can be, and make sure that you take care of your body and mind, too. These things will keep your brain sharp and allow you to perform much better on test day.

 

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USMLE Step 2 Test Prep Questions You Should Focus On

USMLE Step 2 Test Prep

Preparing for the USMLE Step 2 is a daunting task. There are so many questions in so many categories, it can be hard to know where to even start. Each scenario is different from the next, and since you can’t guess which questions you’ll be asked, it can be nerve-wracking to say the least. Here are some examples of particularly difficult USMLE Step 2 questions to study alone or with a group.

Which Screening Would You Recommend?

In this scenario, a man who is 48 years old visits his doctor for a routine checkup. He appears healthy and has no complaints. He weighs 203 pounds, is 5’ 8” tall, and has a BMI of 29. His blood pressure is 145/82, and his pulse is 92bpm. Upon questioning, the patient reports he does not drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use any drugs, and he has had no chest pains, palpitations, or shortness of breath. The physician cannot find any abnormalities in this man’s exam, and his medical history is unremarkable. Blood tests reveal normal serum electrolytes, normal blood count, and normal cholesterol. Which screening test would you recommend for this patient?

Why Does This Patient Have Diarrhea and Fatigue?

In another case, a 54-year-old man comes to the emergency room claiming he has had diarrhea for two months. He says he is a lawyer, and he also notes fatigue, weight loss, and shortness of breath. He says he has lost 10 pounds over the last few months, and the symptoms are worsening progressively. He doesn’t smoke or drink, and he does not take any medications. His medical history reveals no related conditions or episodes. During the exam, his blood pressure is 115/75 and his pulse is 108bpm. The physician notes the patient’s skin is pale, and upon a neuro exam, it is revealed that he has a positive Babinski sign, spasticity, and a loss of vibration sense. Lab results are as follows:

  • Hematocrit – 26%
  • WBC – 3700/mm3
  • Platelets – 110,000 mm3
  • MCV – 116 um3
  • Reticulocytes – 0.5%
  • Serum lactate dehydrogenase – 650 U/L
  • Serum total bilirubin – 2mg/dL

What is this patient’s most likely diagnosis?

Why Is This Patient Losing Weight and In Pain?

Finally, in this scenario, an HIV-positive woman who is 45 years old comes to her doctor because she has been losing weight for a month, is experiencing pain when she swallows, and has substernal chest pain. She reports she is taking no medications. Her temperature is roughly 100 degrees, and her T-cell count is 41/mm3. An upper endoscopy is performed, and it reveals a large and deep ulcer in the distal esophagus as well as significant inflammation. A biopsy shows inflammation and small blood vessel endothelial cells along with large and smudged eosinophilic nuclei. Why is this patient experiencing pain and weight loss?

These are some of the toughest questions asked on the USMLE Step 2, and they provide a good indication of other questions you may encounter. The ability to accurately recommend treatments and diagnose these conditions will serve you well when it is time to sit for the real exam.