What's new in July 2026

Jul 8 to 14 · 7 improvements

1. 13Jul · Mon

   Less repetition in practice

   Improved

   • Improved
     Practice sets space out look-alike questions from the same topic. more ▾less ▴

     Mixed and section practice now space out questions from the same topic, so you're much less likely to see several look-alike items in a row. We also rewrote a group of surgery questions that were worded too similarly.

   • Improved
     Pen modes moved to Q W E R T so the number keys always pick answers. more ▾less ▴

     So the number keys always choose your answer, the pen tool's mode shortcuts moved to a row of neighboring keys — Q W E R T (underline, encircle, box, freehand, eraser, left to right). Each pen button's tooltip shows its key.

2. 11Jul · Sat

   Scratch pad — plus freehand drawing for everyone

   Improved

   • Improved
     Pen upgrade: Freehand for every device + an Eraser mode. more ▾less ▴

     The pen now has five modes: underline, encircle, box — and new Freehand and Eraser. Freehand lets you write and draw right on the question text with any finger, mouse, or stylus (no stylus required anymore), and the eraser removes any pen mark you tap or sweep across.

   • Improved
     A one-time note points out the exam tools on your first question. more ▾less ▴

     First time in the warm-up or practice? A small one-time note now points out the exam tools so you can try them from your very first question — it steps aside the moment you use any tool.

   • Improved
     Keyboard shortcuts for the highlighter, pen, and scratch pad. more ▾less ▴

     On a computer, the exam tools now have keyboard shortcuts: H highlighter, P pen, 1–5 pen modes, S scratch pad, C clear, Esc to put a tool away. Each tool's tooltip shows its key.

3. 10Jul · Fri

   Clearer rationales on every question

   Improved

   

   • Improved
     Why the answer is right — then each wrong option explained, one by one. more ▾less ▴

     Every rationale now follows one clear shape: first, why the correct answer is right — then “Why the other options are wrong”, taking each choice in turn and naming exactly what it is or when it would be the right pick. No more digging through one long paragraph after a tough question. Thank you to the students whose reports sparked this!

   • Improved
     Every question included — practice, all five mock boards, and the diagnostic. more ▾less ▴

     This covers everything: all 11,800+ questions across practice, all five mock boards, and the diagnostic. Each rewrite was checked against the original so the facts — and the correct answers — stayed exactly as verified.

   The right emails at the right time

   Improved

   • Improved
     Day 1 of a new plan now ends with real questions answered. more ▾less ▴

     Day 1 of a new study plan now pairs the intro lessons with a lighter first topic, so your first day ends with real questions answered — not just reading.

   • Improved
     Plans & Pricing previews the official plans arriving after beta. more ▾less ▴

     Plans & Pricing now previews the official plans that arrive after beta, so you can see where BoardPal is headed. Beta access stays the same one-time ₱350 while spots last.

   • Improved
     Mock Boards 1 and 2 got a question-by-question quality pass. more ▾less ▴

     Mock Boards 1 and 2 got a question-by-question quality pass — clearer stems and tighter answer choices — part of our ongoing question review.

   Flashcards: pick your own mix of topics

   Improved

   • Improved
     Cleaner deck library with search. more ▾less ▴

     The deck library is easier to scan: compact rows, subjects collapsed with their due counts on top, and a search box so you can jump straight to a deck like “insulin” or “labor”.

4. 9Jul · Thu

   Study plans now fit your days

   Improved

   • Improved
     Plans are sized to about 4 hours a day — no more impossible days. more ▾less ▴

     New study plans are built around a realistic daily budget of about four hours. A shorter timeline now means fewer questions per topic — never a skipped topic — instead of impossible 200-question days. Mock boards scale with your plan length too (a two-week plan gets one final benchmark instead of ten days of mocks), and the day before your exam always stays light: just your mistakes, then rest.

   • Improved
     Task time estimates are now honest, based on real answering pace. more ▾less ▴

     Time estimates across the app are now calibrated to how long questions and flashcards really take our students. Some tasks will show a longer estimate than before — nothing got longer, the number just got honest.

   • Improved
     Existing plans are untouched, with a one-time offer to rebalance. more ▾less ▴

     Plans you already built are not changed. If yours came from before this update, you'll see a one-time offer on the Study Plan page to rebalance it to the new pacing — everything you've completed carries over, and your old plan stays restorable.

5. 8Jul · Wed

   More beta spots — by popular demand

   Improved

   • Improved
     We opened more beta spots, same ₱350 founding price. more ▾less ▴

     The founding beta filled up, and a lot of you asked us to open more, so we did. Full access is still a one-time ₱350 for 2 months, the same founding price, timed to carry you through the August 2026 boards. Grab a spot under Plans & Pricing while they last.