USMLE Step 1 PREP: Is it worth going through First Aid for Step 2CK for Step 1 exam?

[inanevida]

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Yes guys, I'm talking about Step 1. I didn't find this topic in any thread, but very few posts mention its value - so I wanted to make a thread topic about it. Additionally, I found questions on Uworld Step 1 that was not in FA 2015, but I found in FA Step 2 (8th edition). For example, a couple questions on urinary incontinence (stress, urge, overflow) that was clearly depicted in a table on FA Step 2 8th but not on FA 2015 Step 1.

I know FA for Step 2 (8th edition) is not highly recommended for Step 2. But what about skimming it for Step 1? I hear there are a lot of management questions on the Step 1 exam and I was wondering if skimming FA for step 2 is worthwhile of my time?

 

[seminoma]

There's also a lot of anatomy in UW that's not in FA. Should you read Netters?

Can't speak for everyone, but I personally didn't think the UW incontinence questions were especially difficult. As far as step 1 "management" questions, they're just basic science info in disguise. You suspect a patient has sickle cell, what is the next diagnostic step? Patient has tinnitus, fever, and was found next to an empty aspirin bottle. What is the next best step? No need to look to a step 2 book for that.

Plus, as many people say, UW is a learning tool. You don't have to use another resource to teach you things that you only saw in UW.

 

[stepone2015]

If you've already memorized and understood all of UFAP, then go ahead. But if you've got UFAP down, you're going to score 260+ anyway, so why bother?

 

[inanevida]

There's also a lot of anatomy in UW that's not in FA. Should you read Netters?

Can't speak for everyone, but I personally didn't think the UW incontinence questions were especially difficult. As far as step 1 "management" questions, they're just basic science info in disguise. You suspect a patient has sickle cell, what is the next diagnostic step? Patient has tinnitus, fever, and was found next to an empty aspirin bottle. What is the next best step? No need to look to a step 2 book for that.

Plus, as many people say, UW is a learning tool. You don't have to use another resource to teach you things that you only saw in UW.

Thanks for your input. Naw I'm not saying the example I gave was difficult. I was implying that I had to create my own table in FA in order to "annotate" Uworld's table. But when I was just skimming FA for Step 2, nearly identical table was right there. I can give you many more examples. If i looked at FA 2015 and FA for step 2 as "one" resource for step 1, I wouldn't have to annotate as much!

 

[pd1112]

Most will probably say it's a waste of time, because the information you're talking about is in UW, so what's the point of adding another resource with that same information? If it makes you feel better to know those answers ahead of time and get those questions right in UW, then go ahead. But IMO it just seems like a waste of time to review another resource if you're already carefully reviewing all of UW.

 

[cs24]

As far as step 1 "management" questions, they're just basic science info in disguise. You suspect a patient has sickle cell, what is the next diagnostic step? Patient has tinnitus, fever, and was found next to an empty aspirin bottle. What is the next best step? No need to look to a step 2 book for that.

Most of your post is spot on, but just FYI, the above is not true, at least it wasn't for my exam. Most of them are, yes. But I knew my stuff pretty well coming into the test, and there were at least 2-3 out of the park management questions that no amount of basic science info would have given me. That said, no one will get those right with consistency, so it doesn't really matter. As I've said over and over, just keep hammering those basic resources (I know you know this, seminoma, just saying it for the general public/OP).

Speaking of OP, the answer is no.