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Personalized exam prep for medical school and licensing examinations: structured notes, high-yield exam-style MCQs with every option explained, and a review stack built from what you save.

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Microbiology: 78 notes and 1,178 practice questions

Notes

Every organism, organized for revision

Each note follows the same structure, from key features and pathogenesis to diagnosis and treatment, so the facts that examinations test are always in the same place.

Recall and memo cards for better long-term retention
Tables, pathways and figures with captions
Checked against standard textbooks and official sources

See all 78 microbiology topics →

RecallShow answer

PVL is phage-encoded. Which other toxins are?

Diphtheria toxin (C. diphtheriae) requires a lysogenic β-phage carrying the tox gene; a nontoxigenic strain infected by the phage becomes toxigenic. Shiga toxin in E. coli O157:H7 follows the same principle. A phage-encoded toxin gene can spread between strains independent of the bacterium’s own reproduction.

From the note Staphylococci

Memo

Coagulase→Positive: S. aureusNegative: most other staphylococci

Coagulase-positive = S. aureus (clots plasma, forms abscesses). Coagulase-negative = S. epidermidis / S. saprophyticus (device- and catheter-associated). A single enzyme test separates S. aureus from the coagulase-negative staphylococci.

From the note Staphylococci

Questions

Clinical vignettes, every option explained

Build a block by subject and topic, then choose study mode or timed exam mode. Study mode gives instant feedback and a hint that highlights the key clues in the vignette. Every option is explained, followed by a short teaching block, and missed questions link back to the note they come from.

Study mode: instant feedback and clue hints
Timed exam mode at 90 seconds per question
Unused, marked and incorrect question pools
A teaching block with every answer

My Stack

Save any box, review it later

Press + on a box in any note and it is saved to My Stack. Open My Stack and review your saved boxes one at a time, across notes and subjects, before an examination.

One tap to save, from every note
Grouped by subject and note
Review mode, one box at a time

Progress

See where you stand

Questions seen, overall accuracy, accuracy by topic and your recent block scores, so you know what to revise next.

Progress tab with accuracy by topic and recent block scores

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is TheMedCoach?

TheMedCoach is an exam-prep resource for medical students: structured notes, exam-style multiple-choice questions with every option explained, recall and memo cards, and a personal review stack built from the boxes you save.

Which subjects does it cover?

Medical Microbiology: general microbiology, bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology and antimicrobials. Further subjects are in preparation.

Is it written for the USMLE Step 1?

Yes. The notes and questions are written for medical school examinations and licensing examinations, including the USMLE Step 1, and the topics are checked against the USMLE Content Outline.

How is the content checked?

Facts are checked against First Aid for the USMLE Step 1, Levinson’s Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Murray’s Medical Microbiology, the Merck Manual Professional, FDA prescribing information, WHO and CDC. All notes, questions and figures are original; TheMedCoach is independent and not affiliated with any publisher.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. New accounts get a 3-day free trial, and no card is needed to start.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. It runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers.