The USMLE, or United States Medical Licensing Examination, is a three-part medical exam that tests your knowledge, concepts, ethics, and principles to determine if you are fit for medical practice or not. Upon successful completion, you are granted a medical license, and subsequently, you are free to practice medicine in the United States.
The exam is extremely detailed, and passing it is no walk in the park. Like with any other test, the very first step towards success is choosing suitable learning material. Currently, there are lots of different books and courses to help prepare you for the test; however, knowing which book to get can be quite confusing.
Hence, I have compiled a list of the 10 best USMLE Step 1 books to make selection easy for you. All the listed books have been selected after rigorous review of each one of them.
USMLE Step 1 by Deja Review is a well-organized and well-written book that includes all the critical concepts you need to know for passing the exam. The focus in this book is not on comprehensiveness but efficiency. The way all the contents are laid out makes it ideal for a quick reference.
Key Features:
- Active recall Q&A allows you to understand, not just memorize, the content
- “Make a Diagnosis” clinical vignettes that put the material in a clinical context
- Mnemonics and keywords to help you focus on core concepts
- Portable size for study on the go-fits in your white coat pocket
- Bookmark included helping you work through an easy-to-use flashcard presentation
Get it here.
This book is concise and offers a structure that is quick to navigate through. Don’t expect to find any detailed coverage of the various USMLE topics; however, it does feature hundreds of the most relevant questions asked on the test. The questions are followed by detailed answers as well as case scenarios.
Key Features:
- A case-based approach and abundant clinical context help prepare for the vignette-style of the USMLE exam.
- Figures, tables, and summary boxes provide a visual and concise overview of crucial board-relevant content.
- New color images were added throughout.
- New larger trim size for improved note-taking and easy review of this comprehensive, high-yield review.
Get it here.
MedEssentials by Kaplan offers a visual study of the various USMLE topics. It includes illustrated tables, charts, and 12 pages of full-color medical photos. The book consists of all core science concepts that you are likely to find on the test.
Key Features:
- Highlights the highest-yield review concepts for all topics tested on the USMLE Step 1
- Includes all core science concepts covered in medical programs and the USMLE and COMLEX exams
- Complements both organ system and discipline-based curricula
- Features illustrated tables, bolded terms, and 12 pages of full-color medical photos
Get it here.
The First Aid series by McGraw Hill are easily the most sought after books for USMLE preparation, as you will continue to see on this list. Written by Tao Le, this USMLE prep book contains some 350 medical cases couples with questions and illustrations for ultimate understanding.
Key Features:
- 350 updated cases prepare you to anticipate commonly tested concepts on the USMLE® Step 1
- Active learning questions and answers reinforce essential concepts
- A NEW full-color design bolstered by 300+ concept-clarifying clinical images and illustrations
- Concise yet complete with relevant pathophysiology explanations
- Organization mirrors First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 for side-by-side study
Get it here.
USMLE Step 1 is a tried and tested prep book that contains everything from detailed questions/answers to case studies and more. It also includes a complete overview of the Step 1 test and illustrations to prepare for the image-based questions.
Key Features:
- Prepare for the vignette-style of the USMLE with a case-based approach and abundant clinical context.
- Benefit from the most current overview of board-tested content from top USMLE review author Dr. Thomas Brown and his team of medical student reviewers.
- Stay up to date with all-new chapters on Pathology (with full-color images) and ECG.
- Prepare for image-based questions with new color chapters and high-quality clinical images.
Get it here.
Crush Step 1 is written by Dr. Ted O’ Connell in collaboration with students, residents, and other experts. This is one of the most highly regarded USMLE step 1 books in the market, and it contains a detailed review of all the topics tested in USMLE step 1.
Key Features:
- Up-to-date, easy-to-read, high-yield coverage of all the material tested on the exam.
- Numerous color images, helpful lists, and quick-reference tables help students retain and recall information quickly.
- Review questions for each chapter test student mastery of core knowledge and aid retention of high-yield facts. Test prep strategies help readers identify and understand question stems rather than memorizing buzz words.
- A recent review board of current students and residents, and authors who scored within the 99th percentile on the USMLE Step 1, ensures relevance and accuracy.
Get it here.
Kaplan’s USMLE Step 1 Qbook contains some 850 quality questions that are likely to show up on the actual exam. It has detailed answer explanations for correct and incorrect choices, so you know why a particular answer is wrong.
Key Features:
- 850 exam-like practice questions you won’t find anywhere else
- Explanations for each correct and incorrect answer choice
- 17 high-yield, exam-relevant practice sets in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology/Immunology, Pathology/Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Behavioral Science/Biostatistics
- Test-taking strategies for every question type
- Study techniques to maximize your limited preparation time
Get it here.
First AID Q&A by McGraw Hill is one of the most popular Q&A type books on USMLE. It contains some 1000 questions with detailed answer explanations and 130+ high yield images, diagrams, and tables.
Key Features:
- 1000 board-style questions and answers — reviewed and approved — by students who just aced the exam
- Detailed explanations for both right and wrong answers – with letter options in boldface for at-a-glance review
- Chapters keyed to Dr. Le’s First Aid for the USMLE Step 1, so you can simultaneously review questions and high-yield facts
- 130+ high-yield images, diagrams, and tables
- One complete practice exam consisting of 7 blocks of 50 questions simulates the exam experience
Get it here.
If you want the most comprehensive study guide for USMLE step 1, nothing can come close to Kaplan’s lecture notes collection. This set features a total of 7 books, and it covers in detail all the topics of varying disciplines.
Key Features:
- More than 2,700 pages covering every discipline you’ll need on this section of the boards
- Full-color diagrams and charts for better comprehension and retention
- Clinical correlations and bridges between disciplines highlighted throughout
- Chapter summary study guides at the end of every chapter for easier review
Get it here.
First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 is by far the best USMLE step 1 book on the market. It covers some 1300 must-know topics and features more than 1000 color photos.
Key Features:
- 1,300+ must-know topics with mnemonics to focus your study
- 1,000+ color photos and illustrations to help you visualize processes, disorders, and clinical findings
- Rapid Review section presents high-yield tables associating diseases with their clinical findings, treatments, and pathophysiology
- Updated every year to ensure all content is relevant and high-yield, reflecting the most current USMLE blueprint
Get it here.
