Best USMLE Step 1 Books – 2022 Review Guide

If you are getting ready to take the USMLE Step 1 exam, you might agree with this statement:

With everything on the line with the USMLE Step 1, making sure you have the best USMLE Step 1 prep books is an absolute must.

Crushing the USMLE Step 1 is no easy task but there are some secret tips to getting it done. In preparing for the exam myself, I spent some time asking some Ivy League doctors I work with what tips they had and what USMLE Step 1 study guides and review books they used to study for the USMLE Step 1 exam. This article is a summary of some notes and will hopefully be of benefit to others who are looking to take the USMLE exam in the near future.

Best USMLE Step 1 Prep Books

Studying for the USMLE Step 1 involves thoughtfully balancing the different types of study guides out there. Some USMLE Step 1 Prep Books are meant to be core review texts while others are complementary study resources such as flash cards. All in all, these USMLE Step 1 prep resources are good and should help most people prepare well for the big exam.

1. USMLE Step 1 Lecture Notes: 7-Book Set (Kaplan Test Prep) – Editor’s Choice

If you are in medical school, odds are the you do have neither the time nor the money to spring for a full Kaplan course. Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 Lecture Notes: 7-Book Set is the next best thing which is why, although expensive, it is our choice for the top USMLE Step 1 prep books.

Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 Lecture Notes: 7-Book Set is comprehensive and deep. Clocking in at over 2,600 pages, Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 Lecture Notes: 7-Book Set covers all of the relevant topics that can be found on the USMLE Step 1 exam. Considered “official” lecture material by Kaplan, Kaplan’s USMLE Step 1 Lecture Notes 2018 leans on Kaplan’s great group of lecturers and covers high-yield material in Anatomy, Behavioral/Social Sciences, Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Medical Genetics. Recently updated, Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 Lecture Notes pairs charts and color diagrams with the text to improve your understanding and clinical correlation of the material. Each chapter finishes with a summary guide that helps improve your retention. Other nice features include outlines, high yield tags, flow charts and summary boxes.

Given the breadth, depth and brand name associated with this USMLE prep guide, it is not surprising that Kaplan USMLE Step 1 Lecture Notes are on the expensive side. In addition, some might find Kaplan’s USMLE Step 1 study books to be overly comprehensive given that one can supplement studying with lecture notes from school. Nonetheless, Kaplan’s USMLE Step 1 Lecture Notes are one to consider for anyone who needs the extra edge – whether it be to pass or to crush the USMLE Step 1.

2. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 – Best Value

A now iconic series in USMLE Step 1 preparation, First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 is a popular review guide with people who are preparing for the USMLE Step 1. Featuring thousands of bits of information, tips and mnemonics, First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 is concise and high-yield.

First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 features fresh content as it is updated every year. Because it is written by students who are or have recently taken the USMLE Step 1 board exam, it helps communicate information in a way that resembles what the USMLE Step 1 actually looks like. On top of that, facts and tips also are sourced from students who are using the USMLE prep book, adding to the overall knowledge framework covered by First Aid for the USMLE Step 1.

First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 has lots of facts that will help people whether they are cramming for the exam or are pacing it out over a period of time. The text is well complemented by visual media such as color photos – thousands of them – and illustrations to assist visual learners with assimilating clinical knowledge. The accompanying website also provide some additional information and tips.

Other than being somewhat light on depth by design, the main issue with First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 really has nothing to do with the quality of the information that is presented for Step 1 prep. Instead, it has to do with formatting. At times, the pages in the paper copy do not hold up with heavy use and the digital versions have had formatting issues. Nonetheless, this is a small price to pay for the excellent knowledge and value provided by First Aid for the USMLE Step 1.

3. Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 Qbook: 850 Exam-Like Practice Questions

Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 Qbook: 850 Exam-Like Practice Questions to Boost Your Score (USMLE Prep) is another prep guide produced by the storied Kaplan line.

As one might guess from the name, Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 Qbook is a USMLE Step 1 prep guide that is focused around providing a foundation of questions for practice. Featuring 850 questions formatted like questions one will find on the USMLE Step 1 board exam, Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 Qbook is a great place for anyone looking for extra questions to put one’s USMLE Step 1 knowledge to the test. Reviewed by Kaplan editors, this USMLE Step 1 prep book is organized around the major practice areas, including Anatomy, Behavioral Science, Biochemistry, Biostatistics, Immunology, Microbiology, Pathology, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Physiology. Kaplan’s USMLE Step 1 Qbook is updated regularly and offers explanations for why specific answer choices are correct in addition to offering test-taking tips and strategies.

Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 Qbook, by design, is not a core USMLE Step 1 prep book. As such, most people will need to utilized Kaplan’s lecture notes or First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 for an overall review and use Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 Qbook for the USMLE practice questions that it offers.

4. USMLE Step 1 Made Ridiculously Simple

The Ridiculously Simple series has made a name for itself through its unconventional approach to communicating knowledge. In fact, years later, many clinicians still remember a mnemonic from a Ridiculously Simple volume because of the stickiness and uniqueness of the mnemonic or the funny illustration accompanying the text. For anyone who wants a break from the monotony of typical USMLE Step 1 prep books, take a look at USMLE Step 1 Made Ridiculously Simple.

USMLE Step 1 Made Ridiculously Simple does not pretend to be comprehensive and it is not. On the contrary, USMLE Step 1 Made Ridiculously Simple features information in a compact way, covering major topics such as Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Social Sciences. USMLE Step 1 Made Ridiculously Simple utilizes charts to help assimilate the knowledge and also offers access to hundreds of online practice questions.

USMLE Step 1 Made Ridiculously Simple is not comprehensive and, for most people, will not work as a standalone USMLE Step 1 prep book. For people who want to take the dive, however, there are several ways to use this USMLE prep guide. One way is to go through it before using one of the other major USMLE review guides to see where your strong and weak points are before diving deeper. The other way is to use it 4-6 weeks before your USMLE Step 1 exam date as a late refresher after studying from one of the major USMLE Step 1 review books.

5. USMLE Step 1 Flashcard Study System – Best USMLE Flashcards

Flashcards are a great way to enhance knowledge for anyone studying for the USMLE Step 1 exam. While some people might not think that flashcards are useful, they do have a few benefits as far as USMLE Step 1 prep goes. For one, flashcards can be easily used on the go and give you additional prep time when you have a few minutes while standing around in the hospital or waiting for a coffee. USMLE Step 1 flashcards will also jog your memory in ways that a prep book cannot do.

The USMLE Step 1 Flashcard Study System is a good way to harness the power of flashcards in your USMLE Step 1 preparation. Covering a wide range of topics, the USMLE Step 1 Flashcard Study System will enable you to continually work on topics – especially areas in which you are weak – covered on the USMLE Step 1 exam.

Although they are useful as flascards, the USMLE Step 1 Flashcard Study System is by no means perfect. More specifically, the USMLE Step 1 Flashcard Study System could use some revisions as the editing is not perfect. Also, the USMLE Step 1 Flashcard Study System is not meant to be use to get an in-depth understanding of the material covered on the USMLE Step 1 exam.

6. Crush Step 1

Crush Step 1 – The Ultimate USMLE Step 1 Review is a popular and effective review guide for the USMLE Step 1. Assembled by senior editors who crushed the USMLE Step 1 (supposedly in the 99th percentile) in association with aspiring doctors at the front lines – residents and students – Crush Step 1 is a useful tool for helping you ace your USMLE Step 1 exam.

Full of current information organized in a highly readable format, Crush Step 1 offers up coverage of the spread of topics that will be tested on the USMLE Step 1 exam. In addition to efficient text set up in chapters accompanied by review questions, Crush Step 1 also provides visual tools such as images and tables to teach and reinforce pieces of USMLE Step 1 knowledge. On top of that, Crush Step 1 offers some test preparation strategies focused around comprehension rather than simply memorization. To do that, Crush Step 1 goes deep on helping one understand the underlying why behind disease processes.

Crush Step 1 – The Ultimate USMLE Step 1 Review also includes an eBook that provides a searchable interface to make the learning process more effective.

Crush Step 1 is a lightweight USMLE Step 1 prep book and not a detailed review volume. The result is that occasional topics that one might find on the USMLE Step 1 are only covered lightly and some are not covered at all. However, most people will find the combination of Crush Step 1 and something like First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 to be an effective combination for Step 1 preparation.

7. USMLE Step 1 Qbank – Best Practice Questions

Like most things in life, practice makes perfect with the USMLE Step 1 exam. And, for anyone who wants USMLE practice questions, the USMLE Step 1 Qbank is a great resource. Produced by Kaplan, the USMLE Step 1 Qbank brings your knowledge to life through more than 2,000 practice questions to poke and prod your understanding of USMLE Step 1 content. Accessible on the go through your mobile device, the USMLE Step 1 Qbank is comprehensive in scope.

The USMLE Step 1 Qbank will deliver a personalized experience to your USMLE prep through its sophisticated dashboard. Track your progress, refine your question quizzes and analyze your results around all content areas, from anatomy to physiology. Answer choices are explained in detail and topics provide references to other materials for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of specific USMLE Step 1 content.

To make sure you are ready for test day, you can also set yourself up in an exam room and indulge in one of two full-length USMLE Step 1 tests offered by the USMLE Step 1 Qbank.

It is fair to say that many people will find the USMLE Step 1 Qbank to be on the pricey side. Also, for most people, the USMLE Step 1 Qbank will be a complement to another USMLE study guide rather than a standalone USMLE review guide.

8. Fundamentals of Pathology – Best USMLE Step 1 Pathology Book

Fundamentals of Pathology has a solid reputation when it comes to pathology preparation for the USMLE Step 1 exam. Also known under the name of Pathoma (based on the affiliated pathology prep website of the same name), Fundamentals of Pathology was produced by Dr. Husain Sattar, a pathologist and well-regarded board review educator.

Fundamentals of Pathology features 300+ images with hundreds of pages in full color. Additionally, Fundamentals of Pathology includes access to quality videos to help you nail down the material. Rich in detail, this comprehensive approach to pathology will give you what you more than what you need to do well on the pathology section of the USMLE Step 1 exam. Despite somewhat light durability, there is also enough room to annotate your text with notes as you cover the material.

Fundamentals of Pathology / Pathoma is, by design, only focused on pathology and will require another USMLE study resource like Kaplan or First Aid to complete the studying process. Also, there seem to be some counterfeit versions of Fundamentals of Pathology floating around so be mindful if you get a version that does not seem to be legit. Also, some might find Fundamentals of Pathology to be expensive given that most people will be mostly done with pathology after the first two years of medical school are finished.

9. medEssentials for USMLE Step 1

Produced by Kaplan Medical, medEssentials for the USMLE Step 1 is a more concise version of the Kaplan teaching system as applied to the USMLE Step 1 exam. A consolidated volume, medEssentials is focused on a high-yield review of topics across the range of content that will be on the USMLE Step 1 and covered during the first two years of medical school.

medEssentials is organized around the core curriculum of most medical schools, including content focused on organ systems. Featuring tables and photos, medEssentials helps bring concepts to light and provides the reader with additional room to build on the knowledge with note-taking areas throughout the book.

medEssentials for the USMLE Step 1 is particularly strong in its review of pharmacology as well as biochemistry. Also, medEssentials for the USMLE Step 1 has fairly helpful diagrams and charts. The main strength of this USMLE Step 1 prep guide is when it is used as a complement to Kaplan lecture notes or the Kaplan review course / lectures.

In general, medEssentials feels somewhat disorganized when compared to other USMLE Step 1 books out there. The anatomy section of medEssentials for the USMLE Step 1 could use more detail. Also, medEssentials is really a lightweight version of the Kaplan materials and will probably not add much, if any, value if you already are using another Kaplan USMLE prep book or review course.

10. USMLE Step 1 Secrets

USMLE Step 1 Secrets is another USMLE Step 1 prep book designed around presenting information in a focused, high-yield review for anyone who wants added practice with getting prepared for the USMLE Step 1 exam. Utilizing the question and answer format found in the Secrets series, the USMLE Step 1 Secrets book was put together by a team of doctors and medical students. This USMLE Step 1 review book features both clinical cases and shorter questions and has a number of tables, images (e.g. color dermatology and pathology), and figures to help solidify knowledge. With space for additional note-taking, the USMLE Step 1 Secrets guide also comes with an electronic book version for added information.

The most recent version of the USMLE Step 1 Secrets has some formatting errors and questionably accurate information which diminishes the overall perception of value that this book delivers. Nonetheless, many will find it a useful USMLE Step 1 book for additional practice in getting ready for the USMLE Step 1 test.

11. Lippincott Microcards – Best Microbiology Review

For anyone looking for additional microbiology preparation – whether it’s for classes or for USMLE Step 1 preparation – check out the Lippincott Microcards flash card series. A popular review aid, the Lippincott Microcards USMLE Step 1 flash cards feature a current, effective review for microbiology. Each flash card highlights a particular microorganism and covers important details about it, ranging from presentation to treatment. Utilizing visual learning techniques such as algorithms and photos, the Lippincott Microcards will make memorizing the large amount of material in microbiology more interesting.

The added benefit of the Lippincott Microcards is that they will help you with your microbiology classes in medical school. Given this benefit, it is worth the investment to get them early on as an adjunctive study tool to complement your lectures.

The font used for the text in Lippincott Microcards is quite small, making them hard to read at times. Also, if you are one of those people who likes to write on your study guides, the glossy surface on these USMLE Step 1 flash cards will prevent you from doing much of that.

USMLE Step 1 – FAQ

Congratulations if you are at the point in your medical training where you are gearing up to take the USMLE exam. It is a big accomplishment to have successfully worked through the top MCAT prep books and passed the exam and then get admitted to medical school. Now, you are on the next step of your exam journey on your quest to become a doctor.

The USMLE®, or United States Medical Licensing Examination, Step 1 is the first of three parts of the required exams to attain a medical license in the United States. The USMLE is governed by two primary medical bodies – the FSMB (Federation of State Medical Boards) and the NBME® (National Board of Medical Examiners®). The FSMB is a non-profit organization that is comprised of over sixty medical and osteopathic boards in the United States and acts on their behalf. The NBME is also non-profit and consists of individuals and organizations who are charged with protecting the public through evaluating health professionals.

The purpose of all of the USMLE exams is to make sure that a physician has the requisite knowledge to practice as a physician. All three steps are required to determine if the physician has the necessary skills to perform patient care and understand advanced topics in medicine. The content for the USMLE exams is developed by a wide range of scientists, including experts in specialized scientific fields, clinicians and educators.

To be eligible to take the USMLE Step 1 exam, you must be officially enrolled or a graduate of a US or Canadian medical school that results in an MD or DO degree or an international medical school that meets the ECFMG requirements. To apply for the USMLE Step 1 exam, students should apply through the NBME or ECFMG application websites (depending on which one applies), during which you will choose a three-month period during which you wish to take your test. Once your application is finalized, you will schedule the exact date through Prometric’s website.

USMLE Step 1 Board Exam – Content Areas

The USMLE® Step 1 exam consists of 280 questions that are meant to assess one’s ability to understand the system and process behind basic science as it applies to medicine. The USMLE Step 1 test is comprised of 420 minutes of test time broken up into blocks of 60 minutes (7 blocks total). The USMLE Step 1 board exam is taken during an eight hour period on one day. One should plan on arriving thirty minutes before the USMLE Step 1 exam starts and bring a valid photo ID such as a passport or driver’s license that matches your permit and has your signature on it.

Content covered on the USMLE Step 1 fall along the lines of standard medical categories: anatomy, behavioral sciences, biochemistry, biostatistics, epidemiology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology. Additionally, multidisciplinary topics such as aging, cell biology, genetics, immunology, molecular biology and nutrition will be tested. Approximately 20% of the test will focus on general scientific principles, 60% will focus on organ systems, and 20% on interdisciplinary processes, statistics and social science. The majority of scientific topics covered can be considered related to abnormal processes. The questions are organized with a focus on physician competencies.

USMLE Step 1 Exam – Testing Requirements

As you might expect, devices connected to the internet are not permitted during the USMLE Step 1 test. There are some personal items that will be allowed in the test room on your USMLE Step 1 testing day, including medical accessories (e.g. slings, braces), earplugs, medications like an inhaler and hearing aids. For specific other personal items not on the approved list, one can contact the NBME Personal Item Exception (PIE) coordinator as advised on the USMLE website. You will have access to a locker at the testing center for your cell phone and other belongings.

As of the last review, the USMLE Step 1 examination fee is $610 and the USMLE Step 1 is taken at a Prometric Test Center. If you need to reschedule your USMLE Step 1 test day, there is no fee unless you are within a thirty day window before your Step 1 exam. After that, the fees depend on your region and how close you are to the actual test day.

After you finish your USMLE Step 1 exam, your test data is electronically transmitted to the NBME. Assuming you were not flagged for abnormal testing behavior during your testing process, your USMLE test responses are converted in a three-digit score by adding up the points from correct responses. After verifying their accuracy, scores are posted to the website at which the original registration took place (e.g. NBME, ECFMG or FSMB). Once USMLE scores are complete, they are sent to individual state medical boards to be included as a qualifying part of one’s application to become licensed.

You may retake the USMLE Step 1 exam up to three times in one year. For any more attempts, you have to wait a year before taking it again.

To familiarize yourself with the examination, it is recommended to download the information materials on the USMLE website.

USMLE Step 1 Prep Books – Final Points

With luck, this list of the best USMLE Step 1 books will help you pass the USMLE Step 1 exam with flying colors. Good luck with your preparation and the next step to becoming a doctor.