The best USMLE Step 1 review courses

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 is a necessary exam for medical students and is generally taken in the second year of medical school. In February 2020, the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) announced certain policy changes to the one-day exam.
The changes, which will come into effect before January 2022, include:
- The USMLE Step 1 will be a pass/fail exam;
- The number of exam attempts is reduced from six to four; and
- All examinees must pass Step 1 before taking Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS).
With so much pressure on this one exam, it’s important that you do everything you can to ensure a high score. That’s why USMLE Step 1 review courses are such a good investment.
5 of the best USMLE Step 1 review courses
Here are some of the best ones to consider.
1. WolffPacc (www.wolfpacc.com/usmle/)
This organization provides a comprehensive USMLE review course that covers all basic medical sciences in what they call a ‘Power 5’ system-based approach. This specialized approach is designed to take the memorization out of medicine by showing how the organs are connected through physiology. Using a live lecture format, you’ll be taught the how’s and why’s of physiology through a customized study plan. Unlike most online lectures, this one is incredibly interactive so that students are inspired to ask questions openly, ensuring this doesn’t follow a monotonous format.
2. Lecturio (www.lecturio.com/usmle-step-1/)
Lecturio has created a digital medical education resource that combines the knowledge of faculty experts with state-of-the-art learning technology and assessment features. The team has more than 250 physicians, among them educators from Harvard University, Johns Hopkins, and University College London. There’s also a faculty advisory board consisting of high-profile and experienced educators, giving strategic direction and ensuring effective quality management. They offer a comprehensive USMLE Step 1 review course, including more than 220 hours of concise, easy-to-follow video lectures by industry experts.
3. Medical School Companion (www.medicalschoolcompanion.org/msc-course/)
If you’re looking for a really comprehensive and affordable USMLE Step 1 review course, then you won’t want to miss out on the Medical School Companion online course which runs regular intervals through the year. This is an eight-week, exam-focused Step 1 review course that covers absolutely all of the USMLE subjects. Participants in this engaging review course will also benefit from 12-month access to Medical School Companion online USMLE resources, a complete eBook series as well as an engaging video review series. Participants also have access to a question bank featuring 1 000 up-to-date questions mirroring the Step 1 exam.
4. Doctors in Training (www.doctorsintraining.com/shop/usmle-step-1/)
Another great USMLE Step 1 review course, run by Doctors in Training, aims to get you that high score through its supplemental study guide which correlates with more than 80 hours of high-yield online video instruction. This includes questions and video answers, and 34 sets of 10 short answer questions. There’s also an average of 70 to 75 hours of video that incorporates active learning principles, more than 800 images, illustrations, charts, graphs, animations, and pathology slides, plus more than 50 right brain bonuses.
5. Gold USMLE Review (www.goldusmlereview.com/usmle-step-1/course/)
Finally, there’s the Gold USMLE Review, a Step 1 preparation course conducted live as well as through online courses. Their review course boasts a 99% success rate because of the comprehensive program conducted by the USMLE experts. As the course progresses, the industry leaders will be able to identify your weaknesses for a customized USMLE Step 1 Prep Course that matches your budget and requirements. Although the USMLE Step 1 exam can be re-taken, it’s a major expense and stressful undertaking which is why you’ll want to attain the best possible score from the first sitting. By getting assistance from industry experts through a review course, you can rest assured that you’re best-placed to ace the exam and continue with your medical school journey.
Read More: How to prepare for the USMLE Step 1 Exam
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