Step 1 Preparation Tools Review 2012
Resource
First Aid
Cost
$
Kaplan
$$$
Doctors in Training
$$
Pros
One book
Helpful memory
tools, pictures,
concise.
Can get it
unbound, put it in
a binder and put
pages of notes in
between.
Especially good
review of biochem,
biostats, anatomy
Cost is graded,
depending on how
much guidance
you need.
Cost all inclusive
with study notes,
which are
excellent, but
thorough.
For people who
don’t want to
attend the
lectures, there is
an online option.
Full package
includes in person
and online
lectures.
Lecturers in
general have been
excellent for
immunology, micro
and pharm.
Cheaper than
Kaplan.
Video lectures.
Uses First Aid,
which you will
probably already
own. One of the
best features is the
daily review
quizzes that
Cons
Occasional errors.
Students who use
first aid as their
only source usually
feel not as well
prepared.
Not thorough
enough for sole
use but good
broad review.
Popularity
Very popular.
If you use this book
as a core resource
and supplement
with other reading
materials and
questions, you will
have a one stop
review source with
good notes shortly
before test time.
Expensive.
Physiology and
biochem teachers
hit or miss.
Online test bank
still has some
glitches and is
slow, questions are
easier than
UWorld but
probably more
representative of
step questions.
Popular, some
people enjoy the
classroom lectures
to break up the
alone studying.
People who take
Kaplan tend to do
well on the test.
If you obtain early
enough, can use
Kaplan notes for
class lectures.
Can also buy step 1
kaplan notes on
amazon cheaper
used if that is all
you want.
Not good if reading
large amounts of
text is crucial to
your learning style.
Doesn’t have many
of the “tricks for
the test” that
Kaplan has.
Many people use
this and do very
well on the test.
Depends on your
style of learning.
Goljan lectures
FREE!!
Goljan rapid
review
$
Lippincott pharm
flash cards
$
reinforce topics
already covered.
Structured lectures
to help organize
your study time.
Goljan tapes are
the old Kaplan
lectures and he
basically sets up
the test for you in
an integrated
format, which is
sometimes hard to
put together by
yourself.
Nice way to study
on an exercise
break especially
while biking
Can follow along in
Goljan rapid
review path for
some of it.
This book is like a
goljan lecture
except in an
indexed and easier
followed form.
Blue notes in the
margins that are
money for
questions (you will
literally remember
reading about
them as you read
your test
questions). Great
images, good
clinical and path
integration.
Easy to go through
quickly. Only a
quick fact about
each drug on each
card, but it was
always the one on
the test in my
experience. Since
Old and some
information is out
of date. Go with
your updated
notes if there is a
discrepancy. He
jumps around a lot
so if you are
unfamiliar with the
material, the
lectures will be
over your head.
He tells a lot of
stories, if you don’t
want to laugh,
don’t use these.
Very. Some people
hate the lectures,
but most find them
helpful to pull
everything
together.
There is also a
transcript of his
lectures floating
around if you want
to remember
something he said
and can just search
a pdf instead of
trying to find it in
the audio again.
Not a short book,
use it early rather
than as a quick
review at the end
of test time.
More thorough
knowledge than
you will need
about some things,
but just focus on
the blue notes
unless you don’t
understand, then
read thoroughly.
Intermediate
popularity. Many
buy it but end up
using first aid. The
vitamin/nutrition
section is
EXTREMELY high
yield***
May have some
holes in knowledge
and can be
inaccurate. Always
check with notes if
unsure.
Popular, good to
review when you
need a break to go
sit outside.
pharm questions
are usually fewer
in number, these
are better for
efficiency than the
intensity of the
Kaplan course.
Very helpful for
prep for test
questions, usually
harder than the
real thing so if you
do well on them
you should do
great on the test.
Mixture of qbank
and practice tests.
You should take
one test midway
through study and
one right near the
end.
Interface is
EXACTLY like step
1, makes test day
much easier
because you
already know how
the computer
system works.
You may already
have them from 1st
year, good for
physiology review.
UWorld questions
$-$$$ depends on
the length of
subscription
BRS books
$
Microbiology made
ridiculously simple
$
Helpful memory
tools for micro.
Entertaining.
Class notes
free
You already have
them.
Not exactly the
same types of
questions. Uworld
questions are
harder and longer,
with 2-3 jumps for
each question,
whereas the real
thing are usually
more
straightforward…
usually, but better
to be prepared.
Don’t expect to get
exactly the same
questions… you’ll
be disappointed.
POPULAR!
Everyone uses
Uworld, it is simply
the best test bank
out there now.
Most people get
almost exactly the
same score on a
final practice test
as on the real
thing.
Probably too much
for biochem, best
to use first aid as a
basis and
supplement.
Sometimes
memory tools
don’t work well for
everyone, some of
it can be a bit
excessive.
Not really helpful,
all the info is in a
high-yield test
form in review
materials
Not popular.
Moderately
popular.
Not at all