ABO Blood Group System for the MCAT: Antigens, Antibodies & Universal Recipients
Master the ABO blood group system for the MCAT. Learn about blood antigens, antibodies, and transfusion compatibility with King of the Curve’s signature visual guide.
🧒 Heat Stroke in Pediatric Patients: NCLEX Must-Know Signs & Interventions
Learn the signs, symptoms, and nursing interventions for pediatric heat stroke. This NCLEX-ready blog features a KOTC visual and clinical breakdown of thermoregulation emergencies.
Master the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) for the MCAT & Beyond
Struggling with RAAS on the MCAT? Learn how to simplify the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with visual aids and exam-focused strategies from King of the Curve.
Hyperthyroidism – High-Yield Signs, Labs, and Exam Patterns
Learn the signs, symptoms, and causes of hyperthyroidism for the USMLE. This breakdown includes lab findings, Graves’ vs toxic nodules, and a high-yield KOTC visual.
🧬 DNA Replication – Enzymes, Directionality & What to Know for Test Day
Learn the essentials of DNA replication for the DAT, including enzymes, 5' to 3' directionality, and lagging vs. leading strands with helpful visuals and mnemonics.
Rate-Limiting Enzymes: MCAT’s Favorite Biochem Traps
Crush the MCAT by mastering rate-limiting enzymes in key pathways like glycolysis and the Krebs cycle. This KOTC guide helps you decode where students go wrong—and how to get it right.
Macromolecules Made Simple – Proteins, Carbs, Lipids & Nucleic Acids
If you're preparing for the DAT, macromolecules are one of those “must-know” categories that sneak into several biology questions—sometimes directly, sometimes as part of enzyme or genetic material topics.
Whether it's a diagram of DNA, a question about fatty acid structure, or identifying amino acid bonds, this blog will help you lock in everything you need to know with a clear visual breakdown and test-smart strategies.
Understanding Heart Murmurs – How to Master Auscultation for Step 1 & Step 2
Whether you’re learning them for the first time or reviewing before test day, heart murmurs are a must-know USMLE topic. From aortic stenosis to mitral regurgitation, questions will test not only your knowledge of the murmurs—but your ability to reason through timing, location, and maneuvers.
🩺 Cholecystitis: Key Signs Nursing Students Must Know for the NCLEX
Cholecystitis, or inflammation of the gallbladder, is a classic gastrointestinal disorder that nursing students must recognize. It’s a frequent scenario on the NCLEX, especially when testing clinical assessment skills, dietary education, or prioritization of care.
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.