Customer Reviews

Step-Up: A High-Yield, Systems-Based Review for USMLE Step 1

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Step Up is a great alternative or compliment to First Aid for Step 1. The systems-based organization of Step Up makes it an awesome review resource for unit exams if your school uses a systems -based approach. Step Up is particularly strong in terms of Pathophysiology and Embrology. If you are a visual learner definitely go with Step Up as the charts and diagrams in Step Up are far more numerous and in my opinion superior to those in First Aid.

While the content of First Aid is great, the organization and formating are pretty bad. I would definitely still buy First Aid as the Micro, Pharm and Biochem sections are relatively strong. During my M2 year I used Step Up primarily for organizing info and First Aid as a secondary resource for high yield facts (and primary resource for Pharm and Micro review)and this worked well for me.

As several other reviewers have noted, there are a few typos. This is probably Step Up's main weakness but should not stop you from buying this awesome book.
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Since i'm a relatively old IMG I was delighted when I discovered this book, so I bought it and I personally used it for my step 1 preparation, FORTUNATELY I discovered it late.....since if I'd have trusted just in this book (I mean without First Aid)..I'd have failed....so b VERY careful....if u use this book for specific clinical situations (their tables in anemia, different cancer types etc) its great...but eventhough u will need first aid as a guide for the remainder. In my exam physiology and pharmacology were heavily tested and these guys almost forgot these subjects, on the other hand their pathology is excellent. Their pharmacology is quite poor, they ignored mechanisms of action of the different drugs (quite HY in USMLE). So if u use this book being aware of these problems and especially as a quick review only before the exam it should be OK.

This is a very nice system based review for the Step 1. I wouldn't say it's better than the First Aid, but it sure complements your studies pretty well in conjunction with it. The book has a few mistakes but they're very easy to recognize. I Definitely recommend it for a rapid review.

This is an adequate review book for students already familiar with basic concepts. However, I found that it lacked the high-yield hits or points of emphasis that would help one remember the most important aspects of a given subject. I suggest reading this book after First Aid.

This book is the bible of basic medical science. It incorporates everything you need to know into a concise, systems-based format. It is easy to read, and is great to use as you go through the systems in your first two years. Don't wait until board prep to buy this book! Use it all along to see what information is truly "high-yield".

I haven't taken Step I yet, but so far I have been using it along with my classes on system. It is very helpful. I love the charts!

This book has a lot of useful info, probably more than 1st Aid, and the outline format organization is great to follow. So I think its best to either go with this book or 1st Aid. I recommend 1st Aid. It worked for me.