USMLE Question Banks & 20% off code
12/13/07 09:58 Filed in: Medical
I plan to take Step 2 in February and need to start
thinking about a study schedule. I haven't had a
chance to study much since coming off my neurology
rotation because I have been trying to catch up on
extracurriculars, interview, unpack (yes, still
unpacking) at home, and spend much-needed time on
some research projects. In any case, I had a brief
free trial of USMLE Steps 123 a while ago
and so did some questions off that bank, and I
think it's pretty good. Most students here
(including myself) used Kaplan QBank for Step 1,
which, for a while, was the only thing around.
But now there are a few new ones that have
popped up (always nice to have choices). I have
a friend who recommended USMLE World for Step 2
studying, but I am not personally familiar with
that program. I have heard good things though.
In the interest of full disclosure, I want to add that I am also a student representative for Elsevier, which is the parent company behind USMLE Steps 123. I do some book reviews for them, and they send me informational flyers to distribute every month or two at my own school in return for Elsevier books (averages 4-8 books per year, and I also keep the books I review). I've been a representative for about a year now. I am not paid to write reviews like this, nor am I getting the question bank for free (I am going to purchase it myself). You can read my reasons for choosing it for myself below.
These programs were both given "A" ratings, according to the resource reference at the end of First Aid Step 1, 2007 edition. I have used them both and they are very similar in that they mimic the actual exam. I have seen factual errors in both programs (I try to email them when I see mistakes), and they both have similar search and summary features.
Kaplan QBank (2250+ questions for Step 2 CK)
3 months $249
1 month $149
Boasts a new Explanation-on-call audio lecture feature for difficult concepts, which I have not had a chance to try out.
*Kaplan is sometimes willing to work out discounts with your school if you have enough people registering at the same time, but then you have to wait for a certain time period to roll around.
USMLE Steps 123 (2500+ questions for Step 2 CK)
3 months $199
1 month $99
2 weeks $79
1 week $49
Has a High-Yield-Hit feature, where it links you to actual publications to explain answers in more detail. Personally, I like it, but I can see how some may think it is an extraneous feature.
With that in mind, I will probably sign up for two weeks or one month (you can buy it now and use it within 6 months of purchase), since with the discount, it'll cost much less (almost half the cost of QBank) and it has more questions. I like that they offer more choices, for those who don't want to spend a lot of money but can do a ton of questions in a week or two. I truly don't think it matters which one you decide to go with, as long as there are a lot of good questions and explanations, so (at least between the highly rated programs) I think it's reasonable to choose by price. I tend to prefer reading books but have found myself running out of time to do lots of questions, which is not good, since there is no way to know if I can apply the information until I test myself. So I am going to really try to start doing more questions from now on, which I think is essential to doing well on these types of exams.
In the interest of full disclosure, I want to add that I am also a student representative for Elsevier, which is the parent company behind USMLE Steps 123. I do some book reviews for them, and they send me informational flyers to distribute every month or two at my own school in return for Elsevier books (averages 4-8 books per year, and I also keep the books I review). I've been a representative for about a year now. I am not paid to write reviews like this, nor am I getting the question bank for free (I am going to purchase it myself). You can read my reasons for choosing it for myself below.
These programs were both given "A" ratings, according to the resource reference at the end of First Aid Step 1, 2007 edition. I have used them both and they are very similar in that they mimic the actual exam. I have seen factual errors in both programs (I try to email them when I see mistakes), and they both have similar search and summary features.
Kaplan QBank (2250+ questions for Step 2 CK)
3 months $249
1 month $149
Boasts a new Explanation-on-call audio lecture feature for difficult concepts, which I have not had a chance to try out.
*Kaplan is sometimes willing to work out discounts with your school if you have enough people registering at the same time, but then you have to wait for a certain time period to roll around.
USMLE Steps 123 (2500+ questions for Step 2 CK)
3 months $199
1 month $99
2 weeks $79
1 week $49
Has a High-Yield-Hit feature, where it links you to actual publications to explain answers in more detail. Personally, I like it, but I can see how some may think it is an extraneous feature.
With that in mind, I will probably sign up for two weeks or one month (you can buy it now and use it within 6 months of purchase), since with the discount, it'll cost much less (almost half the cost of QBank) and it has more questions. I like that they offer more choices, for those who don't want to spend a lot of money but can do a ton of questions in a week or two. I truly don't think it matters which one you decide to go with, as long as there are a lot of good questions and explanations, so (at least between the highly rated programs) I think it's reasonable to choose by price. I tend to prefer reading books but have found myself running out of time to do lots of questions, which is not good, since there is no way to know if I can apply the information until I test myself. So I am going to really try to start doing more questions from now on, which I think is essential to doing well on these types of exams.
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