I prefer the BRS book because it is a no-nonsense text with a few pictures and tables but mostly focused on simple and clear text. The two most commonly used books are BRS Pathology and Goljan's Rapid Review Pathology (#3). Some students also recommend Kaplan's MedEssentials for the USMLE Step 1Īnother required book for Step 1 is a pathology review book. First Aid is not sufficient for Step 1, but it should be required reading for all students as it highlights the stuff that you absolutely must know. Then, purchase the new copy when you are studying for Step 1. I suggest buying one copy early in med school and study from it while you study for your other classes. I don't know how they do it, but the First Aid people have an unbelievable ability to know exactly what is important to the people who write board questions. USMLEworld and the Kaplan Q-bank in my opinion are the best resources for preparing for Step 1, but you can not do questions for 1 month straight, you need to spend some time in books. Now for the books…

Doing well on Step 1 is not just a question of learning the info in the books I list below, but also a question of developing the stamina to say focused on the 349th question of the day….it is like preparing for a marathon. In order to do well on an 8 hour test, you need to be accustomed to doing hundreds of questions in a day.

I found question banks to be the most efficient means of studying for Step 1. Click on the Med School Books Main Page to see other lists including the best books for each year in medical school, the best books for each clinical rotation, and the best books for USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3.īefore I plunge into the Top 10 books for Step 1 let me first explain that books were only the second best resource for me while studying for Step 1. This list is part of a series of articles about the best books for medical students.

Kaplan videos step 1 2015