USMLE Step 1 scoring system has been changed to Pass or Fail from 3-digit scoring. Many would debate that you will no longer need to focus much on Step 1 preparation and just go for it quickly, but the fact is the exam isn’t any easier and you still risk failing if you take it lightly. Removal of scoring system does relieve pressure on students from need of getting high scores, but a good preparation and knowledge of Basic medical science is needed in order to get through safely. And Step 2 CK is based on Step 1 knowledge which can not be denied.
There can be no debate on First Aid USMLE Step 1 being the most important review resource for Step 1. It is most complete revision material available till date. When you go through FA1 (First Aid Step 1), you may be able to comprehend it well and other option is you may not be able to get what it says. It is because FA1 is only a high yield resource that you can use after you know the content. I during my preparation was totally lost within FA and later decided to go for a comprehensive resource to complement the FA1. Realizing this FA team and launched USMLERx Bricks which is the detail text along with multimedia and questions for complementing this deficit. I will be talking about USMLERx Bricks in another blog. I used both Bricks and Boards n Beyond review during my preparation.
Boards and Beyond: What is it?
It is a USMLE resource for students designed by Dr. Jayson Ryan. His lectures are clear, concise, practically relevant, and high yield. There are more than 400 videos along with slides for students to learn from. The videos are well created and makes your studying meaningful. Not everything is covered but remember studying everything is not your target, it’s the High Yield topics you need. High Yield topics are also clinically relevant and epidemiologically important topics. The videos are clear and explanation of charts and graphs are excellent.
Do I need it?
If you are in touch with your basic science and know things well, all you need is first aid and practicing question banks to get tuned to exams. If you want to spend time on something substantial during your preparation and learning process, Boards and Beyond ( BnB) is the resource to go for. I was out of medical school for a while and was looking for something that can rejuvenate my knowledge in a summarized and concise manner. I found BnB to be excellent match for my needs. So, in my opinion, these are scenarios where you would like to use BnB for Step 1-
- You are detached from Basic Science and want to recapitulate things meaningfully
- You want to know the High yield topics in better detail
- You want to understand the Graphs, charts and formula and calculations, which FA1 or UWorld may not be sufficient for.
- You don’t want to waste time on big books and disorganized internet resources.
It is up to one to decide, but I would definitely suggest using the BnB videos , specially if you have a gap between basic science and step exams.
How did it help me?
I analyzed it and felt the most important aspect with which BnB videos helped me was, the memorization. When you have a visual, audio and text complementing each other during the studying, it grips your attention and stimulates your memory in three ways- 3 sensory organs. This is the best part of using video learning. Qbanks like UW and Amboss on the other hand stimulate another aspect of learning, it’s the “thinking process/reasoning/problem solving”.
I went through First Aid Step 1 chapter and watched videos for same topic. Once you know FA1, while watching videos you can easily know what things you need to add to it. I wrote important points on the book. It may sound funny but this way I made it sure than at the end, I had a single resource to revise from. It is better to use sticky notes than writing on book.
I found the explanations to graphics and formula like Acid-base, ABG extremely helpful. It is also a feeling of entitlement when you have resource you can rely on and not needing to cross check on the internet.
For best use: UFAP and BnB
- Use First Aid USMLE, Uworld , Pathoma and BnB together. It will be the most complete preparation for Step 1 exam.
What are the Drawbacks of BnB?
Well, everything has pros and cons. Here are few drawbacks of BnB step1 –
- Time: The videos do consume time and sometimes may lead to anxiety. You can speed up your video to save time but optimize it so that it is meaningful.
- The added cost: Depends on the budget you have but it is worth it.
- It has extensive information; it may overwhelm you. But the knowledge is important for your Step2 exams as well. Most are clinically relevant information, so no way it is a waste.
- You rarely can go through the videos again, its noteworthy to take notes so you can revise things quickly later.
It is up to one to decide, but I would definitely suggest using the BnB videos , specially if you have a gap between basic science and step exams.
What are the Drawbacks of BnB?
Well, everything has pros and cons. Here are few drawbacks of BnB step1 –
- Time: The videos do consume time and sometimes may lead to anxiety. You can speed up your video to save time but optimize it so that it is meaningful.
- The added cost: Depends on the budget you have but it is worth it.
- It has extensive information; it may overwhelm you. But the knowledge is important for your Step2 exams as well. Most are clinically relevant information, so no way it is a waste.
- You rarely can go through the videos again, its noteworthy to take notes so you can revise things quickly later.
So, if you are looking for a complete study plan, adding Boards and Beyond videos to your preparation is a great idea.