What is the best Genetics Review book for USMLE Step 1?

1- Kaplan USMLE Step 1 lecture notes Genetics Book by Kaplan
The majority will use this book especially it is made simple and comes as a combo with the Kaplan books for those who wants to stick to one source.

OR

2- High-Yield Genetics (High-Yield Series) by Ronald W. Dudek and John E. Wiley

OR

3- BRS Genetics (Board Review Series) by Ronald Dudek

OR

You can get this combo for 3 subjects:

4- BRS Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Genetics (Board Review Series) by Michael Lieberman and Rick Ricer


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What is the best Ethics Review book for USMLE Step 1?

Most USMLE step 1 (as well as other step applicants) study Ethics from this source:

Master the Boards USMLE Medical Ethics by Conrad Fischer



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What is the best Behavioral Review book for USMLE Step 1?

Majority of USMLE step 1 applicants will be using one of the following 3 sources in descending order:


1- Kaplan USMLE Step 1 lecture notes Behavioral Book by Kaplan
The majority will use this book especially it is made simple and comes as a combo with the Kaplan books for those who wants to stick to one source.

OR

2- High-Yield Behavioral Science (High-Yield Series) by Barbara Fadem

OR

3- BRS Behavioral Science (Board Review Series) by Barbara Fadem


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What is the best Biochemistry Review book for USMLE Step 1?

There are two popular books used by the majority of applicants.


1- Kaplan USMLE Step 1 lecture notes Biochemistry Book by Kaplan
The majority will use this book especially it is made simple and comes as a combo with the Kaplan books for those who wants to stick to one source.

OR

2- Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry (Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews Series) by Pamela C. Champe, Richard A Harvey, and Denise R. Ferrier


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What is the best Microbiology Review book for USMLE Step 1?

Microbiology is subject where applicants like to stick to one of these two books depending on which route of studying they are following:

1- Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple (Medmaster) by Mark Gladwin

OR

2- Kaplan USMLE Step 1 lecture notes Microbiology Book by Kaplan
Although the majority will use the above book but this book also comes as a combo with the Kaplan books for those who wants to stick to one source, still a great resource to study from.


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What is the best Physiology Review book for USMLE Step 1?

There are two popular books used by the majority of applicants.


1- BRS Physiology (Board Review Series) by Linda S Costanzo
This book comes first on top of the list of two physiology review books, no third for them.

OR

2- Kaplan USMLE Step 1 lecture notes Physiology Book by Kaplan
Although the majority will use BRS but this book also comes as a combo with the Kaplan books for those who wants to stick to one source, still a great resource to study from.


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What is the best Immunology Review book for USMLE Step 1?

Immunology is one of the subjects that questions are less frequent but not uncommon. Hence, the applicants like to go the easy way to avoid wasting time and to get a good score in the meantime, so they will do one of these top 3 choices:

1- High-Yield Immunology (High-Yield Series) by Arthur G. Johnson

OR

2- Immunology Made Ridiculously Simple by Massoud Mahmoudi

OR

3- Kaplan USMLE Step 1 lecture notes Immunology Book by Kaplan



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What is the best Cell and Molecular Biology Review book for USMLE step 1?

There are two main sources where USMLE Step 1 applicants usually like to choose one of them. This depends if you are getting the Kaplan as a combo or selecting individual books:

1- High-Yield Cell and Molecular Biology (High-Yield Series) by Ronald W Dudek

OR

2- Kaplan USMLE Step 1 lecture notes Molecular biology book by Kaplan


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What is the best Epidemiology and Biostatistics Review book for USMLE?

In this blog we will tell you about the top 2 Epidemiology and Biostatistics Review books for USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3 exams.


1- High-Yield Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health (High-Yield Series) by Anthony N. Glaser


OR


2- Kaplan USMLE Step 1 lecture notes Behavioral Sciences Book by Kaplan



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What is the best Histology Review book for USMLE Step 1?

Although Histology is a low yield subject, however, it is essential to study as it is easy and can grab you enough points to pass the test or score higher than your peers. These are the three most common used resources.

1- High-Yield Histology (High-Yield Series) by Ronald W. Dudek

OR

2- Kaplan Lecture Notes Histology Book

OR

3- BRS Cell Biology and Histology (Board Review Series) by Leslie P. Gartner



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What is the best Embryology Review book for USMLE Step 1?

Although the percentage is variable but roughly about 3% of the questions come from Embryology on the USMLE Step 1 exam. There are three books which are widely used by applicants, two of them are for the same author.


1- High-Yield Embryology (High-Yield Series) by Ronald W. Dudek

This book is the most widely used even among those who buy the Kaplan series.


2- BRS Embryology (Board Review Series) by Ronald W. Dudek
  
Also a book which is widely used.


3- Kaplan Lecture Notes Embryology Book

Although this series is the most commonly used however applicants like to supplement it by the high yield book.


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What is the best Neuroanatomy Review book for USMLE Step 1?

Neuroanatomy compromises about 5% of the USMLE step 1 questions. The resources which the vast majority of applicants study from are only 2 books:


1-High-Yield Neuroanatomy (High-Yield Series) by James D. Fix

This book is favored by the most, especially those who don't buy the Kaplan series but rather go to the selected book in each subject.


2- Kaplan Lecture Notes Neuroanatomy Book

About 40% of applicants will study from this book because by default they have it in the Kaplan series.


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USMLE step 1 percentage of questions on each subject

The USMLE Step 1 questions distribution by percentage of each Subject have a breakdown similar to those you will face when preparing for the test from Kaplan, UW or NBME. Knowing this subject wise percentage is very important to know because this way you will be able to master the important ones and have a good review too on the less frequently asked subjects.

Based on our extensive experience with IMGs and available online question banks like UW, NBME and Kaplan we came up with the most near format to the real test breakdown. This is the USMLE Step 1 subject wise breakdown percentage:

Pathology 27%
Pharmacology 14%
Physiology 14%
Microbiology 10%
Anatomy 5%
Neuroanatomy 5%
Immunology 5%
Biochemistry 4%
Embryology 3%
Histology 3%
Behavioral science 3%
Medical Genetics 2%
Biostatistics 2%
Cell and Molecular Biology 2%
Medical Ethics 1%
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How to obtain USMLE transcript?

How to request USMLE scores report?

There are different ways to obtain the USMLE score reports transcripts depending on who you are and to whom you are sending it:

1- If you are sending it to a Medical licensing authority then it should be requested through FSMB.

2- If you are an IMG sending it to any recipient other than a medical licensing authority before you register for or take USMLE step 3 then it should be requested through ECFMG.

3- If you are an AMG sending it to any recipient other than a medical licensing authority before you register for or take USMLE step 3 then it should be requested through NLES.

4- If you are sending it to Any recipient after you had registered or taken USMLE Step 3 then it should be requested through FSMB.


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Minimum passing scores for the USMLE exams.

What are the passing scores for the USMLE exams?

As you all know, ECFMG has already eliminated the 2-digit scores and replaced it by the 3-digit scores which is more reflective of the applicant performance at any test. As per August 2013 the minimum passing scores for the USMLE tests are as following:


USMLE Step 1: 194
USMLE Step 2 CK: 209
USMLE Step 2 CS: Pass
USMLE Step 3: 196

These numbers are subject to change depending on research and other stuff the board conducts. We will hopefully keep you posted about any change. We wish you the best in your USMLE journey.


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When are the USMLE Step scores released?

IMGs and AMGs usually had this dilemma of when your USMLE Exam Results are released, Third or Fourth Wednesday? The 3 USMLE steps scores are released in a similar fashion except for the USMLE CS exam score which follows a specific time line posted by ECFMG every year. Applicant's will receive an email telling that their result is ready in their OASIS account as a PDF, except for Step 3 which you will be able to get it from the NBME-FSMB Interactive website.

So USMLE step 1, step 2 CK and Step 3 scores are released typically 9 AM Eastern Time in the third or fourth Wednesday depending on which day of the week you took the test. If you took the exam on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday then your score will be released on the 3rd Wednesday. If you took your step on Saturday, Monday or Tuesday expect your result to be released on the 4th Wednesday. But when ECFMG or USMLE introduce new changes on the exam format which happen every couple of years then a delay will occur and this is usually announced ahead of time.

The USMLE Step 2 CS test result it will be received according to this Score Reporting Period Table depending on the testing period in which the applicant took his test.

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What is the best Pharmacology Review book for USMLE Step 1?

Pharmacology is an important topic for the exam score wise, yes it is big and to some applicants it is overwhelming. Only 3 sources are in the pioneer of books USMLE Step 1 aspirants use.

1- Kaplan Lecture Notes Pharmacology Book

This series of books is the most popular and most used among people. Not because it is superior to others but because it come in a complete set of other USMLE Step 1 books.


2- Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology (Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews Series) by Richard A Harvey and Pamela C Champe

This book is for people with higher abilities of studying or for those taking the test during there medical school years. It is the biggest among the top three but it guarantee a top score.


3- Katzung & Trevor's Pharmacology Examination and Board Review by Anthony Trevor, Bertram Katzung, Susan Masters and Marieke Knuidering-Hall

This book is the moderate choice between the above first too, not too big and not classical. Many people use it and like its illustrations.


In addition to one of the above books, getting these cards will help you memorize better, can be used complementery to Kaplan books or to one of the above two books: Kaplan Medical USMLE Pharmacology and Treatment Flash Cards

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What is the best Gross Anatomy book to study for the USMLE Step 1?

IMGs usually fall in a dilemma when they come to choose from the wide variety of gross anatomy books available for preparing for USMLE step 1. To make it easy for you to choose we will mention the top 3 sources which applicants use to score high. Don't bother buying any other sources unless otherwise specified.

Based on multiple assessments we did in the near past we concluded that these 3 books are the top in the market:

1- Kaplan Lecture Notes Anatomy Book

This series of books is the most popular and most used among people. Not because it is superior to others but because it come in a complete set of other USMLE Step 1 books.

2- High-Yield Gross Anatomy (High-Yield Series) by Ronald W. Dudek

 Very popular because of the easy language and illustrations. Can be an alternative for any other book if needed.


3- BRS Gross Anatomy (Board Review Series) by Chung

A very decent USMLE Anatomy study book, although less used than others due to bit more amount of information, but still being used by many students and ranked among the only top 3 in the anatomy field.


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What is the time needed for studying for the USMLE exams?

Important question for planning your USMLE trip and preparation. We will be talking about somebody dedicating an average of 8 hours per day. So typically speaking this apply for graduates but also apply to medical students but on more prolonged period of time due to less available hours per day due to their busy schedule.

USMLE Step 1 will requires 7-9 months.

USMLE Step 2 CK needs 3-5 months.

USMLE Step 2 CS will take 1-2 months.

USMLE Step 3 requires 3-5 months.



It is important to setup studying plans to keep track of your progress.


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What is the best Pathology book for USMLE Step 1?

IMGs usually fall in a dilemma when they come to choose from the wide variety of pathology books available for preparing for USMLE step 1. To make it easy for you to choose we will rank the top 3 sources which applicants use to score high. Don't bother buying any other sources unless otherwise specified.

Based on multiple assessments we did in the near past we concluded that these 3 books are the top in the market:

1- Goljan, Rapid Review Pathology

Don't ask why, but this guy seems attracting many of the applicants to his pathology book, it works like magic. You don't necessary need to get it if you already have one of the other 2 sources listed below but if you have extra time and like perfection, you might think of adding it or making it your primary source for pathology studying.


2- Kaplan Lecture Notes Pathology Book

This series of books is the most popular and most used among people. Not because it is superior to others but because it come in a complete set of other USMLE Step 1 books.


3- Board Review Pathology

A very decent USMLE Pathology study book, still being used by many students and ranked among the only top 3 in the pathology field.


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