Attribution Theory for the MCAT: Dispositional vs Situational Thinking
One of the most important—and most tested—concepts in MCAT psychology is attribution theory. This theory explains how people interpret the causes of behavior. Did someone act a certain way because of who they are—or because of their situation?
CARS Strategy for the MCAT: Read Less, Score More
CARS (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills) is the MCAT’s most unpredictable section, yet it’s often the most neglected. Many students assume it just takes “more reading” or “a humanities brain,” but the truth is: CARS is about strategy. You don’t need to read faster—you need to read smarter. In this post, we’ll break down how to spend less time per passage, avoid trap answers, and build confidence using KOTC’s CARS system.
Endotoxins vs Exotoxins – Crack the Bacterial Toxin Code
“Which of the following best differentiates an endotoxin from an exotoxin?”
That’s a classic Step 1-style question—and it can be deceptively tricky unless you’ve mastered the mechanisms, origins, and immunologic responses of each.
The Chemistry of Water – Polarity, Hydrogen Bonds, and DAT Applications
Water makes up over 70% of your body—and about 100% of at least 2 questions on the DAT. Whether it's biology or chemistry, the properties of water come up often and can make or break your score if you don’t know the why behind the facts.
🤰 Physiologic Changes in Pregnancy: Essential NCLEX Concepts You Can’t Miss
Pregnancy affects every organ system in the body—and the NCLEX loves to test you on how and why. Whether you're answering questions about cardiovascular changes, urinary output, or common complaints like nasal stuffiness, understanding the physiologic adaptations of pregnancy is vital.
The 3 Components of Attitude for the MCAT: Cognitive, Affective, Behavioral
One of the most frequently tested psych/soc topics on the MCAT is attitude—especially how it's structured. The tri-component model of attitude breaks down attitudes into three parts: cognitive, affective, and behavioral. If you've ever had a belief, a feeling, and then acted on it—you’ve experienced this model in real time.
Osmosis and Tonicity – DAT Essentials for Understanding Cell Transport
Learn how osmosis and tonicity work for the DAT. This guide breaks down hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic environments with DAT-style tips and visuals.
Amino Acids on the MCAT: The Ultimate Guide to Memorization & Application
Amino acids are MCAT royalty—they appear in nearly every Bio/Biochem passage, and knowing their structures, charges, and properties is non-negotiable. Whether it's understanding enzyme mechanisms or protein folding, this guide will help you go from “I sort of remember histidine…” to “I can crush any amino acid question they throw at me.
Attachment Theory for the MCAT: Secure, Dismissive, Fearful & Preoccupied Explained
Attachment theory isn’t just a buzzword in psychology—it’s a testable MCAT concept, especially in the Psych/Soc section. Whether it’s a child clinging to a caregiver or an adult avoiding emotional intimacy, the four core attachment styles explain behavioral patterns that are ripe for MCAT scenarios.
Cervical Spine Positioning in Neonatal Resuscitation: What Every Nurse Must Know
When it comes to neonatal resuscitation, even small positioning errors can prevent effective ventilation. The NCLEX frequently tests your understanding of newborn airway anatomy—especially the critical role of cervical spine positioning during resuscitation efforts.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome – A High-Yield Neurology Topic You Can’t Miss
Sudden ascending weakness? Areflexia? Recent diarrhea?
If you see this in a USMLE vignette, there’s only one diagnosis that should flash in your brain—Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). This autoimmune demyelinating polyneuropathy is a Step 1 and Step 2 favorite, often appearing in both diagnosis and management questions.
Top 5 MCAT Question Types (and How to Outsmart Each One)
The MCAT doesn’t just test what you know—it tests how you think. You could memorize every amino acid and still miss questions if you don’t recognize the question types being thrown at you. Today, we’ll break down the top 5 MCAT question styles, show you how to approach them, and plug in how King of the Curve’s question bank trains your brain to master each one.
G6PD Deficiency – The Oxidative Stress Trap on Step 1
Imagine this Step 1 classic: A young man develops jaundice and dark urine after eating fava beans. Labs show anemia and elevated LDH. What’s going on?
You’ve just entered the world of G6PD deficiency, a high-yield genetic disorder that connects biochemistry, hematology, and pharmacology all in one go. Today’s blog walks you through what you need to know—with a KOTC visual that simplifies oxidative stress and red blood cell damage.
👶 Congenital Defect Symptoms: Key Signs Every Nursing Student Should Know for the NCLEX
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth-related anomalies, and recognizing their signs is critical—not just for pediatric care, but for acing the NCLEX. Whether you're reviewing cardiovascular conditions or prepping for a pediatric scenario, understanding early warning signs of CHD could be the difference between a passing and a failing score.
Mastering Atrial Pressure Regulation for the MCAT: Systolic, Diastolic, and Mean Pressure Explained
One of the most tested topics in MCAT physiology is the cardiovascular system—and within that, pressure regulation is a recurring favorite. Today’s breakdown focuses on atrial pressure, especially systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure (MAP). With help from King of the Curve’s high-yield visual, we’ll make this graph feel intuitive, not intimidating.
Mastering Periodic Trends – Ionization Energy, Electronegativity & Atomic Radius
How well do you really know the periodic table? On the DAT, general chemistry questions often dive into the trends—not just the facts. From ionization energy to atomic radius, the DAT loves to test whether you can analyze and compare trends across the table.
In this blog, we’ll simplify periodic trends into a visual memory system, give you DAT-style questions to practice, and help you lock in the high-yield rules.
How to Stay Focused During Long MCAT Study Sessions
Let’s be real—prepping for the MCAT isn’t just about understanding content, it’s about surviving the grind. Whether you're in the middle of a 4-hour review block or trying to stay awake through CARS practice, staying focused is half the battle. Today, we’ll share 7 science-backed focus hacks designed to help you study longer, smarter, and with fewer mental crashes—plus how King of the Curve makes it easier.
Bohr vs. Quantum Mechanical Model: What MCAT Test-Takers Need to Know
It’s easy to get lost in the orbitals, particles, and probabilities of atomic theory—but on the MCAT, clarity is power. Today’s high-yield chemistry concept focuses on the evolution of atomic models, from the Bohr model to the quantum mechanical model. With King of the Curve’s visual as your guide, this blog will help you master this MCAT must-know topic.
Hyponatremia on the USMLE: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Master It for Step 1 & Step 2
You’re reviewing labs and see a sodium level of 122 mmol/L—cue exam alert! Hyponatremia, or low serum sodium, is a deceptively simple yet highly testable condition on both Step 1 and Step 2 CK.
In this blog, we’ll walk through the mechanisms, major causes, and classic clinical presentations of hyponatremia—and show you how to dominate questions with a King of the Curve visual aid.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: What Nursing Students Must Know for the NCLEX
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition with high clinical relevance, especially in musculoskeletal and neuro exam sections of the NCLEX. It involves compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel of the wrist—often due to overuse, repetitive motion, or systemic conditions like pregnancy and diabetes.