8 Best Study Resources for the USMLE Step 2 Exam

Gaurav Rathore Gaurav Rathore
Gaurav Rathore

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It is the dream of every medical student to practice medicine in the US and USMLE is the primary route to it. It filters the best doctors for dedicating service to the US society. 

The mission statement of USMLE on its official website cites the following –

To assure fairness and equity to physicians through the highest professional testing standards.”

This statement unveils the utmost priority of USMLE being to extract the best doctors, based on the standard parameters. 

Being one of the most competitive medical exams, it requires constant rigor, persistent pursuit, and reliable resources to get through it. 

The exam consists of 3 steps, with all steps structured to access the understanding of different subjects and topics. Out of them, Step 2, conducted to test the aptitude in basic clinical science, is the intermediate stage of the entire exam process. The USMLE step 2 preparation can be simplified using the most recommended resources. 

These quintessential resources help give a push to your preparation, aligning the preparation with the standard of the actual exam and scoring the maximum in the exam.

8 Best Study Resources for USMLE Step 2 Preparation

It is commonly said that ‘the right resources supplemented with the right approach, bring the expected results’. 

Apart from the elementary medical books from the respective medical course, there are certain other reference books, question banks, and digital resources to metamorphosis the student into exam exam-ready state. Here is the detailed list of the best resources for USMLE step 2 preparation. 

  1. Uworld – UWorld question banks are considered Sin qua non for the entire USMLE exam process. The meticulously arranged infomration in the form of tables, diagrams, and explanations helps yield maximum knowledge in a limited time, making it the most recommended book for USMLE. The book is very beneficial for value addition in the Step 2 exam. With more than 4,000 questions structured on the USMLE pattern, it has become a dependable resource for the USMLE Step 2. 
  1. AMBOSS – Another highly recommended question bank for USMLE Step 2 preparation is AMBOSS. The book was orignally published particularly for the step 2 exam, but now also works for other steps as well. It comes with a ‘Clinical Library’ which is also considered very helpful for medical students in clinical years in a medical course.
  1. Anki – This digital platform exhibits information in digitally segregated flashcards to make learning more convenient. It provides a digest of the topics and is very helpful in spaced revisions. These flashcards hook the interest of the students by easing in locating the topic and understanding the concepts.  
  1. Truelearn’s Smart Question Bank – It is another suggested resource for USMLE step 2. Its USMLE-level questions make it a dependable resource for evaluating the level of preparation and fine-tuning the strategy. 
  1. Kaplan – The Kaplan question bank is also a gem in USMLE step 2 separation. The exceptional feature of this book is it helps in locating a particular topic in the popular books. Kaplan also releases lecture notes and clinical internal medicine reviews to supplement the basic books for step 2 preparation. Owing to the detailed coverage of every topic, the Kaplan books are considered the benchmark for all steps of USMLE.
  1. Picmonic – To simplify learning and memorizing the key concepts, Picmonic comes with almost 2000 vibrant pictures. The pictorial representation always has a deeper impact on the memory and Picmonic works on this principle. The images and diagrams make learning enjoyable and keep the student locked in the studies schedule. 

Practice Tests 

Every exam is always a two-way process. The input of knowledge and information through the books and study material; and the output i.e. application of the grasped knowledge by practicing the questions. Here comes the need to attempt practice papers to gauge the level of preparation, identify the section you are weak in, practice attempting the test in exam-like conditions, and learn the knack for attempting questions to make the grade. Here are some highly recommended practice tests for USMLE Step 2 :

  1. UWorld Self-Assessments – The two self-assessment forms by UWorld are suggested to attempt to get insight into the level of preparation. The test will condition your mind for the exam. The explanation at the end of the exam will aid in improving your knowledge. 
  1. NBME Practice Tests–  It is also called Comprehensive Clinical Science Self-assessments (CCSSAs). NBME, being one of the 2 bodies that conduct USMLE exams, comes with 6 tests,  with each costing $60. Each test consists of 200 questions, divided into 4 sections of 50 questions each.

Apart from the above-mentioned resource, the veterans have also suggested Sketchy for step 2 preparation to enhance the preparation. 

These resources are to be supplemented with the foundational books of medical courses to get the maximum out of them. 

Conclusion

The aforementioned resources will in developing a holistic understanding of the USMLE Step 2 exam. These resources will supplement the basic books and will help in absorbing the concepts and details comprehensively. 

As it is very hard to revise bulky books, it brings the dire need to extract succinct notes out of the fundamental books, the reference material, and practice tests to simplify last-minute revision. Going with digital mediums to take short notes with images and diagrams embedded in them, can also be preferred. 

Always remember to have periodic revisions during your preparation to keep the new information and the accumulated knowledge integrated and intact. Declutter your resources to untangle the learning and streamline the preparation.




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