This section is a database of top-rated basic science review books, sample examination books, websites, apps, and commercial review courses that have been marketed to medical students studying for the USMLE Step 1
A letter rating scale with six different grades reflects the detailed student evaluations for Rated Resources. Each rated resource receives a rating as follows:
| A+ | Excellent for boards review. |
| A | Very good for boards review; choose among the group. |
| A− | |
| B | Good, but use only after exhausting better resources. |
| B− | Fair, but there are many better resources in the discipline; or lowyield subject material. |
The Rating is meant to reflect the overall usefulness of the resource in helping medical students prepare for the USMLE Step 1. This is based on a number of factors, including:
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- The cost
- The readability of the text
- The appropriateness and accuracy of the material
- The quality and number of sample questions
- The quality of written answers to sample questions
- The quality and appropriateness of the images and illustrations
- The quality of the user interface and learning experience, for web andmobile apps
- The length of the text (longer is not necessarily better)
- The quality and number of other resources available in the same discipline
- The importance of the discipline for the USMLE Step 1
