A quick search for the best usmle step 1 books can leave you feeling overwhelmed. That’s why we’re here to help! We have the best usmle step 1 books broken down according to your needs! Among our favorites are First Aid and the Kaplan Usmle Step 1 Book Set.
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13 best usmle books step 1
kaplan step 1 lecture notes
best for a complete review of usmle
kaplan usmle step 1 books come in a set of 7 books spanning 2000 pages that are aligned with the changes in the usmle. All 7 volumes: Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Biochemistry/Medical Genetics, Immunology/Microbiology, Anatomy, and Behavioral Sciences/Social Sciences are updated each year by the Kaplan faculty. for this reason, we recommend kaplan’s lecture notes among the best usmle books for step 1.
These books are also included in Kaplan’s USMLE Step 1 Prep courses; Read more in our detailed review of Kaplan’s USMLE Step 1.
book highlights:
- reinforced learning with summaries at the end of chapters for super easy review.
- all diagrams and graphs are in full color to help visual learners.
- updated annually by kaplan medical conference faculty.
- clinical correlations and bridges between disciplines are noted throughout the series.
featured review
great material
“great graphics and images, slightly dry text”
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amazon review
first aid
best usmle study guide
first aid for usmle step 1 is pretty much the og of usmle step 1 prep. Updated each year to reflect current USMLE Step 1 tests, this USMLE prep book does a remarkable job of outlining the high-achieving topics and tips you’ll need to do well at USMLE. Most of the students who have enjoyed this book still use a proper Qbank and video lectures like Lecturio or Kaplan.
book highlights:
- this book is updated annually using collaborative contributions from people who have taken the usmle step 1 high performance exam; includes strategies and recent experiences from top scorers in the usmle.
- 1,300 essential topics that also include mnemonics to help you remember key information.
- over 1,200 full-color photos and illustrations they provide visual guides to clinical information, processes, and disorders (making this very essential for visual learners).
- The quick review section can be used as a last minute study guide to refresh yourself just before test day.
featured review
incredible resource, I needed picmonic to memorize it
“just got my copy of first aid 2021 and it’s great, really the best step 1 resource on usmle! the only way to use it is in conjunction with picmonic – this book is incredibly dense and hard to cram in so i go through it page by page with picmonic. this breaks the pages up into easily consumable sections and mnemonics so i can remember what i’m reading. there’s no other way to cram such a large amount of information into your brain in such a short amount of time! these two resources together are crucial to achieve step 1 (268) and I’m proud of how well they worked :d”
See Also: A Suggested Reading Order of the Bible (and Why) – Christianity FAQ
amazon review
kaplan usmle qbook
best exam-like practice questions for usmle
This kaplan usmle qbook is an excellent resource for students looking for additional usmle practice to accompany their current review of usmle step 1. While not intended to be a stand-alone USMLE Step 1 review book, these questions are a great supplement to your studies. Most students have had success working through these questions while using their USMLE Step 1 Prep course or home study program.
book highlights
- 850 high-performance exam-like questions.
- 17 high-performance exam-like practice sets for major practice areas.
- These practice questions they are unique and not published anywhere else.
- You can find answer explanations for each correct and incorrect answer option.
featured review
best question bank to use in combination with uworld
I also started with the first aid question bank (usmle rx), but found the questions in kaplan to be better. usmle rx has a lot of buzzwords which may be best during the first two years of med school when exams often include descriptions of buzzwords but usmle (haven’t taken it yet but per nbme questions and other opinions) tends to stay away from buzzwords and dig deeper into descriptions, which kaplan does. kaplan also has more third-order questions, which means you’ll get used to answering questions that are a bit more difficult than the actual exam. The book is packed with a great introduction that goes over test-taking usage and strategies, and provides great answers on why each question is right or wrong, and why wrong answers are wrong. if you are looking for a qbank to study for boards, kaplan about usmle rx. yes you
You’re looking for a qbank to do during your first few semesters, usmle rx might be a little closer to the types of questions med schools will ask on exams. but, as a question bank in your dedicated study or last year, this is by far the best written of the question banks. Also, I guess at some point you will use uworld. i am saving that for my dedicated study period and using this qbank during my fourth semester. uworld is the best, however this is what I would recommend using before asking uworld questions.
essential elements of kaplan
best visual aid to combine with kaplan lecture notes
if you are planning to buy the kaplan usmle step 1 reading notebooks then this is a great add on as it will summarize the main concepts and includes some of the same illustrations. Most students use this USMLE Step 1 book as a visual aid for a quick summary review after going through their own comprehensive USMLE content review. It should be noted that this book is not a stand-alone Step 1 study tool and should simply be viewed as a study aid for those who need more visuals in their preparation.
book highlights:
- kaplan step 1 lecture notes because they use the same illustrations.
- condenses high-performance topics into a single volume.
featured review
good format
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“if fa is a book of paragraphs, this is a book of graphs & tables. so if you have already read the annotated fa and need a book that you can use to memorize the abridged version of it, then this is the one to go for. better image/characters/tables than fa but i think some details are missing. i also think this is particularly useful for those who used kaplan step 1 resources: kaplan lec notes, lectures because they use the same images.”
brs physiology
best physiology practice for usmle
this is part of the physiology board review series. Appropriate for first and second year medical students, this book reviews all the important physiology topics covered in class. this means that you can use these summaries and illustrations of dr. Linda Costanzo for the class, as well as last-minute usmle step 1 prep.
book highlights
- 350 new and revised multiple-choice clinical questions and answers
- 130 full-color figures and diagrams, as well as 50 tables
- includes new appendices for topics key physiology for usmle step i, key physiological equations for usmle step i, and normal blood values
- outline format makes physiology review simple and effective
featured review
robust review before physiology exam
“this book was essential for me during my studies (cramming) for the physiology exam of the first semester of ms1. i used this as the sole source for my studies, and did a detailed read with annotations over the course of a week and got the 95th percentile, which only got class average grades in physiology for the entire semester. so I vouch for my impressive score on this book. very good resource, the questions at the end of each chapter and the full quiz at the end are great for determining how well you understand the material. we strongly suggest you buy this & brs biochemistry!”
robbins and cotran pathology review
pathology best practices for usmle step 1
robbins and cotran will be mentioned several times in this usmle step 1 best books list because of their authority on medical education. robbins and cotran has put a lot of work into improving e-book versions of all of their new editions, so you’ll be able to interact with the illustrations as well as browse and search content on all your devices.
book highlights:
- 1500 printed bullet points, plus 500 online questions covering even more challenging concepts.
- questions written in usmle style and includes a final 75-question usmle exam.
- detailed answers and explanations at the end of each chapter for quick review.
- also available as an ebook with your purchase, so you can access it from different devices.
featured review
they should change the name of this book, “vignette domain”.
“they should rename this book, “cartoon mastery”. ask as many questions as you can and walk away with a wealth of knowledge that lectures and reference texts could never achieve.”
See Also: A Suggested Reading Order of the Bible (and Why) – Christianity FAQ
amazon review
essential pathology of robbins and cotran
best for pathology review
while the robbins and cotran review of pathology is to test yourself on the principles of pathology, this robbins and cotran book is intended to be a more comprehensive review of pathology. This will help you with your courses and exams and give you a deeper grounding in pathology, if you are going to start your preparation for USMLE feeling a little lacking in this area.
book highlights
- over 500 images and tables for disorders and concepts
- evaluations and case studies can be accessed digitally with online consultation
- integrated multimedia format (cases, mcqs and images )
- self-assessment questions
featured review
concise and well written
“The e-book access code gives you access to evidence assessments and case studies. the book appears to have been rewritten and not just trimmed. all essential details are presented concisely. excellent for a quick ms review, or in depth study when combined with the great rubin. if you’re looking for more histological detail, add rosai to the combo!”
pathological basis of robbins and cotran disease
the best comprehensive understanding of pathological principles
this is the last robbins and cotron pathology book we are going to recommend, i promise! we only wanted to include this pathology basis of the disease because it is the most comprehensive in terms of giving you basic and clinical content in an easy to read textbook style. this is best for second year medical students. revised graphs and tables are included.
book highlights
- over 1000 high quality photographs and full color illustrations
- special attention to text readability
featured review
beautifully printed
“this is my bible. beautifully printed.”
See Also: A Suggested Reading Order of the Bible (and Why) – Christianity FAQ
amazon review
robbins and cotran flashcards
best usmle flashcards step 1
These pathology records include 700 cases. each card presents a clinical scenario with a histological, macroscopic or radiographic image. on the other side of each flashcard is the answer. These flashcards are an easy change of pace for textbook usmle study and also come with a handy ring so you can keep all the flashcards together when you’re on the go.
book highlights:
- two clinical vignettes per card.
- two to five questions on each card with answers and explanations on the other side.
- provides a break from routine in the usmle preparation .
- each card has a hole and is connected by a ring to study on the go.
featured review
wonderful flashcards
“These flash cards are absolutely amazing! I am very impressed with the format of the cards. I love how there are clinical scenarios that connect all the key concepts of pathology, biochemistry, physiology, immunology, microbiology, and many more concepts together. I highly recommend these flashcards and textbook to all medical students. the book flows very well with the cards!”
See Also: A Suggested Reading Order of the Bible (and Why) – Christianity FAQ
amazon review
related: top 4 anki decks for step 1
pathoma fundamentals of pathology
best for video resources
The pathoma basics of pathoma are interesting because you have to buy the pathoma pro subscription to access them. When you purchase Pathoma Pro, you’ll gain access to over 35 hours of exclusive video content that can be accessed on all Apple devices (sorry Android users). This book packs a punch with 218 full-color pages written in a high-performance outline format.
book highlights:
- includes a subscription to dr. sattar online videos (over 35 hours).
- 350 high-quality color images.
- high-performance outline format covers all important pathology topics.
featured review
could have ended the cold war
pathoma is so high performing that it could have ended the cold war 20 years earlier if we had it then. get it.
medical student forum
kaplan integrated bullets
best compact usmle practice book
This cute portable usmle book from kaplan still has 266 printed pages. all of this is high performance information for important clinical disorders and will guide you through different diagnoses, simultaneously integrating physiology and pharmacology.
book highlights:
- checklist of disease processes within each organ system.
- practice questions for self-assessment.
- each chapter of the book covers a different organ system .
featured review
good review
“I’m going through the questions and explanations and my only thought is why didn’t I get it sooner?”
See Also: A Suggested Reading Order of the Bible (and Why) – Christianity FAQ
amazon review
lippincott microcards
best deck of microbiology flash cards
This is a useful way to learn and review clinical microbiology. This microbiology review platform was created specifically for students looking for a concise microbiology tool, as well as those studying for the USMLE. along with the purchase of this deck, you will get free access to an interactive question bank!
card highlights
- 142 bright, durable cards
- free access to interactive question bank with 70 usmle-style questions and answers
- each card offers special features to remember, including : title bars, images, flowcharts, clinical cases, pathogenesis icons and study tips.
- Full color clinical photographs are good for visual learners.
featured review
essential for microbiology!
“I love these flashcards. they have been invaluable to me during my first year of medical school. At first I was annoyed by the fact that I couldn’t really write on them (because they’re the glossy card type, not paper), but now I’m very happy. I have poured water on them and left them lying around and they are in great shape. the clinical scenarios also helped me a lot.”
rapid review pathology
best ebook version for digital access
rapid review pathology, by dr. edward goljan, is known in the medical community to be one of the best resources for usmle. this updated edition reflects current usmle-style questions. When you purchase this book, you’ll get access to the Student Reference eBook. The beauty of digital access is that you can search the text, references, figures, and more.
key features
- 500 new and updated usmle questions.
- 1100 full-color photographs and diagrams.
- high performance margin notes by dr. goljan for those who need a quick summary.
- Online access to the e-book allows you to search for any disease in seconds.
featured review
if robbins and pathoma had a baby, this would be it
“a friend recommended it to me for use during dedicated step prep, and I wish I’d gotten it sooner! it’s like robbins & pathoma had a baby: detailed yet concise in outline format with high performance phrases in the margins .a must have for step 1 prep, and certainly wouldn’t hurt to have during the preclinical years as well!”
frequently asked questions for usmle books
best usmle books step 1 – final grade
With this list of the best usmle step 1 books, we are sure that you were able to find the book that best suits your study needs. As a quick refresher, if you’re looking for a complete USMLE preparation suite, we recommend Kaplan’s 7-Book Lecture Series. As an aid, it can also be supplemented with the first aid usmle step 1.
Good luck with your studies and let us know which books worked for you in your studies by commenting below!
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