NBME USMLE Step 2 (CK) and

Subject Examination Sources

(Revised April 2013)
NBME SHELF SUBJECT
USMLE Step 2 (CK)

SOURCE

SOURCE INFO

USMLE Step 2 CK
Qbook (Kaplan USMLE
Qbook)
Paperback: 552 pages
Publisher: Kaplan
Publishing; Original
edition (September 1,
2006)
ISBN-10: 1419551507
ISBN-13: 9781419551505

A great resource to study for individual

shelf exams from IM to surg.

USMLE Step 2 CK
Qbook (Kaplan USMLE
Qbook)
Publication Date:
September 12, 2007
ISBN-10: 0781771560
ISBN-13: 9780781771566
Edition: Second

This Step-Up Series volume is a highyield, systems-based, outline-format

review of commonly tested USMLE
Step 2 material, including internal
medicine subspecialties, required
clerkship specialties, and important
topics in medical practice. The userfriendly format, with numerous tables,
illustrations, and flow charts, allows
quick review of a vast body of facts.
"Quick Hit" marginalia highlight facts
likely to be tested. "Next Step"
marginalia indicate what the clinician
must do next after making a diagnosis.
A full-color section illustrates classic
presentations of dermatologic and
other disorders. This edition includes
additional Quick Hits, mnemonics,
illustrations, expanded coverage of
ARDS, a new table on breast
malignancy variants, and vaccination
schedules.

USMLE World Q Bank

High pass rate of

first-time USMLE
examinees after
using USMLE World
for test preparation

Outstanding,
positive feedback

Over 2000 high quality, unrepeated

multiple choice questions, state-ofthe-art, classic board-type questions
created by real-life physicians.
Contains detailed explanation and
educational objective for each question
with excellent illustrations and charts
that are easy to read and interpret.
Has board simulated interface
software features (highlight, strikeout, annotation, searchable lab values,
calculator, mark/flag items etc). There
is a customization of practice tests
(creates subject-specific, systemspecific or combination tests in timed,
untimed, tutorial and timed tutorial
modes). User can suspend and resume
a test at anytime at your convenience
with 24 hr account web access.
Contains sequence and media
questions. User can compare progress
on test over test basis via detailed
chart and, can generate identical test
blocks. There are external references
to medical journal abstracts. User can
improve their time management skills
by monitoring time spent per question.
Qbank also includes drug-ad and
abstract-based questions. A mobile
companion app is available for iOS and
Android based devices.

from all of our

subscribers

Overwhelming, high
referrals to use
USMLE World for all
USMLE practice
test-taking
needsHigh pass
rate of first-time
USMLE examinees
after using USMLE
World for test
preparation

Outstanding,
positive feedback
from all of our
subscribers

Overwhelming, high
referrals to use
USMLE World for all
USMLE practice
test-taking needs
Use a textbook of your choice to annotate if you feel the information is not deep
enough.
Do 50 USMLE World questions per week. These should cover all of the subject areas
and specialties.

Family Medicine

To properly prepare
for the family
medicine subject
exam, you would
need to study from
all case file books.
This book contains a
smattering of
subjects not covered
in the other case
files, such as
prevention.
Not comprehensive
enough to be used
as a sole resource
for the subject
exam.

Very useful for the

in-house family
medicine exam.
Not as useful for the
subject exam.
Very long, but
contains good
information.
Would be helpful
with the shelf exam
only if you started
reading it at the
beginning of the
rotation.
Could not be easily
reviewed the week
before the subject
exam

Case Files Family

Medicine, Third Edition
(LANGE Case Files)
Eugene Toy Donald
Briscoe, Bruce Britton
Publication Date: March
28, 2012
ISBN-10: 0071753958
ISBN-13: 9780071753951
Edition: 3

CURRENT Diagnosis &

Treatment in Family
Medicine, Third Edition
(LANGE CURRENT Series)
Jeannette South-Paul,
Samuel Matheny, Evelyn
Lewis
Publication Date:
November 23, 2010
ISBN-10: 0071624368
ISBN-13: 9780071624367
Edition: 3

Sixty high-yield family medicine

cases help you sharpen your
diagnostic and problem-solving
skills.
You need exposure to high-yield
cases to excel on the family
medicine clerkship and the
shelf-exam. Case Files: Family
Medicine presents sixty real-life
cases that illustrate essential
concepts. Each case includes
complete discussion, clinical
pearls, references, definitions of
key terms, and USMLE-style
review questions with detailed
explanations of the correct
answers. With this system,
you'll learn in the context of real
patients, rather than merely
memorize facts.
Concise, evidence-based
coverage of the diseases and
syndromes most commonly seen
in clinical practice.
CURRENT Diagnosis and
Treatment in Family Medicine is
an easy-to-use guide to the
diagnosis, treatment, and
management of the full range of
clinical conditions seen in
primary care. The book covers
all age groups--from pediatric to
geriatric--and includes end-oflife issues. An essential clinical
reference for house staff and
practicing family physicians, the
book is also great for USMLE
Step 3 review, board
certification, and maintenance of
certification.

Family Medicine: PreTest SelfAssessment & Review is the

perfect way to assess your
knowledge of Family Medicine
for the USMLE Step 2 CK and
shelf exams. You'll find 500
USMLE-style questions and
answers that address the
clerkship's core competencies
along with detailed explanations
of both correct and incorrect
answers. All questions have
been reviewed by students who
passed the boards and
completed their clerkship to
ensure they match the style and
difficulty level of the exam.
The Family Medicine subject examination is like a mini USMLE Step 2 exam.
One must be proficient at medicine, pediatrics, surgery, ob/gyn, and psychiatry to
do well on this exam.
For this reason, a passing score is set at the 4th percentile.
Clerkship lectures are helpful for the exam, but other resources must be used.
If this is one of the last subject exams of 3rd year, less studying is needed.
If this is one of the first subject exams of 3rd year, more studying will be needed.
Questions are not written by family medicine physicians. They are written by
internists, pediatricians, surgeons, etc
500 USMLE-style
questions and
answers
Detailed
explanations for
right and wrong
answers
Targets what you
really need to know
for exam success
Student tested and
reviewed

Family Medicine PreTest

Self-Assessment And
Review, Third Edition
(PreTest Clinical Medicine)
Doug Knutson (Feb 23,
2012)
Publication Date:
February 23, 2012
ISBN-10: 0071760520
ISBN-13: 9780071760522
Edition: 3

Medicine

Very thorough.
Outline format.
Separated by body
systems.
If its not in this
book, it will not be
on the exam.
Very long and can
take a very long
time to read.
Need to read more
than once in order
to really take in all
of the information
contained in this
book.
Impossible if reading
is not started the
first wk of rotation.

Step-Up to Medicine
(Step-Up Series)
Steven S. Agabegi MD,
Elizabeth A. Derby, Evan
Ryer
Publication Date:
December 17, 2004
ISBN-10: 0781747872
ISBN-13: 9780781747875
Edition: 1

Here is the first single, primary

review tool to prepare students
for both the internal medicine
clerkship and the corresponding
end-rotation NBME shelf
examination. This logical
alternative to several, limitedfocus books blends a bulletoutline format students prefer in
a review book with
comprehensive paragraphs, as
needed, for optimal preparation.
A wealth of illustrations, charts,
tables, graphs, and mnemonics
speed and supplement learning.
Ample content without
superfluous detail enables
students to readily evaluate and
expand their knowledge of
4

cardiology, pulmonary medicine,

gastroenterology, hematology,
neurology, endocrinology,
rheumatology, nephrology,
genitourinary disorders, fluids
and electrolytes, dermatology,
and musculoskeletal problems.

Presents common
internal medicine
subjects in the form
of clinical vignettes
similar to the
subject exam.
Relatively complete.
Probably the 2nd
best internal
medicine subject
exam resource.
Not as much info as
Step Up.
Not separated into
body systems, just
random cases.

Case Files Internal

Medicine, Third Edition
(LANGE Case Files)
Eugene Toy, John Patlan
Publication Date: July 14,
2009
ISBN-10: 0071613641
ISBN-13: 9780071613644
Edition: 3

Real-Life Cases for the Internal

Medicine Clerkship and the
USMLE Step 3
"...an excellent internal
medicine review book written
especially or medical students in
their clinical years. It is perfect
for clerkships, sub-internships,
shelf, and USMLE exams. Sized
to fit in the pocket of a white
coat for easy portability, this
book offers an engaging and
high-yield re-view of internal
medicine. It promotes active
learning, using patient
presentations and thoughtprovoking questions to
encourage deeper thinking
about clinical problems. The
format will be comfortable for
anyone who has spent time on
the wards learning from patients
and engaging in problem-based
learning....This book is highly
recommended to supplement
internal medicine clerkships and
sub-internships and to prepare
for shelf and USMLE exams."-Yale Journal of Biology &
Medicine.
You need exposure to high-yield
cases to excel on the Internal
Medicine clerkship and the shelfexam. Case Files: Internal
Medicine presents 60 real-life
cases that illustrate essential
concepts in Internal Medicine.
Each case includes a complete
discussion, clinical pearls,

references, definitions of key

terms, and USMLE-style review
questions. With this system,
you'll learn in the context of real
patients, rather than merely
memorize facts.
60 clinical cases, each
with USMLE-style
questions
Clinical pearls highlight
key concepts
Primer on how to
approach clinical
problems and think like a
doctor
Proven learning system
improves your shelf-exam
scores

Presents common
internal medicine
subject in paragraph
format.
Not as informative
to Step Up
Comparable to Case
Files, just a different
format.
Contains practice
questions at the end
of the book.
Could easily pass
the exam using this
resource.

Blueprints Medicine
(Blueprints Series)
[Paperback]
Vincent B. Young MD PhD,
William A. Kormos MD
MPH, Davoren A. Chick
MD FACP
Publication Date: January
7, 2009
ISBN-10: 0781788706
ISBN-13: 9780781788700
Edition: Fifth

Blueprints Medicine provides a

concise review of what students
need to know in their rotations
or the Boards. Each chapter is
brief and includes pedagogical
features such as bolded key
words, tables, figures, and key
points boxes. This edition has
been reorganized to follow the
Clerkship Directors in Internal
Medicine guidelines and includes
thoroughly updated content and
additional tables and figures. A
question-and-answer section at
the end of the book includes 100
board-format questions with
complete rationales for each
answer choice.
A companion website includes a
question bank with 50 additional
questions and answers and fully
searchable text.

Not a complete
resource by any
means.
Contains high yield,
useful topics for the
exam.
Do not use this as
your sole resource
unless you really
know your stuff or
you are in a serious
time crunch.
Great if used as an
adjunct to another
book, especially the
week before the
exam.

500 USMLE-style
questions and
answers
Detailed
explanations for
right and wrong
answers
Targets what you
really need to know
for exam success
Student tested and
reviewed

High-Yield Internal
Medicine (High-Yield
Series)
Raminder Nirula
Publication Date: October
13, 2006
ISBN-10: 0781781698
ISBN-13: 9780781781695
Edition: Third

As part of the popular HighYield Series, this updated

Third Edition provides a concise
review of internal medicine for
students during their rotation
and while preparing for the
USMLE Step 2. High-Yield
Internal Medicine, Third Edition
is presented in a concise,
uncluttered outline format with
ample illustrations and tables.
The book enables students to
get the maximum relevance and
performance from intensely
focused study.

Medicine: PreTest SelfAssessment & Review,

13th edition (PreTest
Clinical Medicine)
Roger Smalligan, Matt
Chua, J. Rush Pierce,
Robert Urban
Publication Date: March
16, 2012
ISBN-10: 0071761497
ISBN-13: 9780071761499
Edition: 13

Medicine: PreTest SelfAssessment & Review is the

perfect way to assess your
knowledge of medicine/internal
medicine for the USMLE Step 2
CK and shelf exams. You'll find
500 USMLE-style questions and
answers that address the
clerkship's core competencies
along with detailed explanations
of both correct and incorrect
answers. All questions have
been reviewed by students who
passed the boards and
completed their clerkship to
ensure they match the style and
difficulty level of the exam.

Begin reading Step Up the first day of the rotation, and read it everyday.
Try to get through it twice before the subject exam.
Do USMLEworld questions everyday, to prepare yourself for the length of the
vignettes.
If you are in a time crunch, read Case Files.
If you are in a serious time crunch, read High Yield.

OB/GYN

Contains high yield

ob/gyn subject
matter in paragraph
format.
Very thorough
resource.
Contains practice
questions at the end
of the book.
No easily reviewable
during the week
before the subject
exam.

Presents common
internal medicine
subjects in the form
of clinical vignettes
similar to the
subject exam.
Relatively complete.
Probably the 2nd
best ob/gyn subject
exam resource.
Good section on
STDs
Slightly less
complete than
Blueprints.
Not separated
logically, just
random cases.

Blueprints Obstetrics and

Gynecology (Blueprints
Series)
Tamara Callahan MD,
Aaron Caughey MD MPP
MPH
Publication Date: January
28, 2013
ISBN-10: 1451117027
ISBN-13: 9781451117028
Edition: Sixth

Case Files Obstetrics and

Gynecology, Fourth
Edition (LANGE Case
Files)
Eugene Toy, Benton
Baker III, Patti Ross, John
Jennings
Publication Date:
November 13, 2012
ISBN-10: 0071761713
ISBN-13: 9780071761710
Edition: 4

Blueprints Obstetrics and

Gynecology provides students
with a concise review of content
for their ob/gyn rotations and
the Boards. Each chapter is brief
and includes pedagogical
features such as bolded key
words, tables, figures, and Key
Points. New features in this
edition include an image bank
and a For The Boards section,
which presents 4 clinical
vignettes with 3-5 sequential
item set-style questions at the
end of each chapter.
Additionally, 100 bonus boardformat questions with answers
and rationales appear at the end
of the book; another 50 bonus
questions are provided online.
REAL-LIFE CASES FOR THE
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
CLERKSHIP AND THE SHELF
EXAM.
You need exposure to high-yield
cases to excel in the clerkship
and on the shelf exam. Case
Files: Obstetrics & Gynecology
presents 60 real-life cases that
illustrate essential concepts in
this area of medicine. Each case
includes a complete discussion,
clinical pearls, references,
definitions of key terms, and
USMLE-style review questions.
With this system, you'll learn in
the context of real patients,
rather than merely memorize
facts.
60 cases with USMLEstyle questions help you
master core competencies
to excel in the clerkship
and ace the shelf exam
Clinical pearls highlight
8

key points
Primer teaches you how
to approach clinical
problems
Proven learning system
maximizes your exam
scores

Excellent, succinct
summary.
Great tables and
graphs to
demonstrate key
concepts.
Should be used in
conjuction with
another resource.
Only use as a sole
resource if you are
extremely confident
in you ob/gyn
knowledge.

500 USMLE-style
questions and
answers
Detailed
explanations for
right and wrong
answers
Targets what you
really need to know
for exam success
Student tested and
reviewed

High-Yield Obstetrics
and Gynecology (HighYield Series)
Elmar P. Sakala
Publication Date: April 18,
2005
ISBN-10: 078179630X
ISBN-13: 9780781796309
Edition: Second

This concise, outline-formatted

book serves as a preparation for
USMLE examinations and for
course review. In addition to the
traditional High-Yield Series
features, this book contains
Patient Snapshots, Clinical
Pearls, and a table summarizing
common syndromes located in
the back of the book. Numerous
illustrations and tables
supplement the text.

Obstetrics And
Gynecology PreTest SelfAssessment And Review,
Thirteenth Edition
(PreTest Clinical Medicine)
Karen Schneider and
Stephen Patrick (Apr 18,
2012)
Publication Date: April 18,
2012
ISBN-10: 0071761268
ISBN-13: 9780071761260
Edition: 13

Obstetrics and Gynedology:

PreTest Self-Assessment &
Review is the perfect way to
assess your knowledge of
ob/gyn for the USMLE Step 2 CK
and shelf exams. You'll find 500
USMLE-style questions and
answers that address the
clerkship's core competencies
along with detailed explanations
of both correct and incorrect
answers. All questions have
been reviewed by students who
passed the boards and
completed their clerkship to
ensure they match the style and
difficulty level of the exam.

The clerkship lectures are very high yield when it comes to the Ob/Gyn subject
exam.
Much is expected from students on the Ob/Gyn rotation, and students know more
than they realize when it comes time to take the subject exam.
The information tested on this exam is very specialized, so the material learned
during 2nd year isnt very useful.
9

Start reading Blueprints or Case Files at the beginning of the rotation.

Read before each lecture, the corresponding section in your chosen book.
Begin reading High Yield two weeks before the subject exam, and get through it
twice.
Do USMLEworld questions throughout the rotation.
The required text for the rotation isnt very useful for the subject exam.

Pediatrics

Very complete
resource in outline
format.
Very cumbersome
book.
Has everything that
could ever be tested
on the subject
exam, but would be
difficult to use
unless you are very
dedicated.
Excellent tables and
charts.
If ambitious, you
could obtain >90th
percentile using this
book.

BRS Pediatrics (Board

Review Series)
Lloyd J. Brown MC, Lee
Todd Miller MD FAAP
Publication Date: July 27,
2004
ISBN-10: 0781721296
ISBN-13: 9780781721295
Edition: 1

Like other titles in the Board

Review Series, BRS Pediatrics is
designed to offer students a
strong foundation for
subsequent learning in both
primary care and subspecialty
pediatrics.
BRS Pediatrics features:
A comprehensive
overview of the basic
principles of pediatrics
Detailed information for
the pediatric
subinternships and
pediatric subspecialty
rotations
Case-based review tests
(simulating USMLE Step 2
questions) at the end of
each chapter
Explanations for the
correct answers and the
incorrect responses with
cross-references to the
appropriate text for
student follow-up
End-of-book
comprehensive 100question examination
You'll find that BRS Pediatrics
will be an indispensable
resource for the pediatric
rotation, the end of rotation
exam, and the USMLE Step 2.

Presents common
pediatric subjects in

Case Files Pediatrics,

Fourth Edition (LANGE
Case Files)

Sixty high-yield pediatrics cases

help you sharpen your
diagnostic and problem-solving
10

the form of clinical

vignettes similar to
the subject exam.
Relatively complete.
Probably the 2nd
best subject exam
resource.
Not as much info as
Blueprints.
Not separated into
body systems, just
random cases

Contains high-yield
peds subject matter
in paragraph
format.
Very thorough
resource.
Contains practice
questions at the end
of the book.
No easily reviewable
during the week
before the subject
exam.

Eugene Toy, Robert

Yetman, Mark Hormann,
Sheela Lahoti, Margaret
McNeese, Mark Jason
Sanders, Abby M.
Geltemeyer
Publication Date: August
30, 2012
ISBN-10: 0071766987
ISBN-13: 9780071766982
Edition: 4

skills
You need exposure to high-yield
cases to excel on the pediatrics
clerkship and the shelf-exam.
Case Files: Pediatrics presents
sixty real-life cases that
illustrate essential concepts.
Each case includes complete
discussion, clinical pearls,
references, definitions of key
terms, and USMLE-style review
questions with detailed
explanations of the correct
answers. With this system,
you'll learn in the context of real
patients, rather than merely
memorize facts.

Blueprints Pediatrics
(Blueprints Series)
Bradley S. Marino MD MPP
MSCE, Katie S. Fine MD
Publication Date: March 8,
2013
ISBN-10: 1451116047
ISBN-13: 9781451116045
Edition: Sixth

Blueprints Pediatrics provides

students with a concise, "needto-know" review for the
pediatrics rotation and the
Boards. Each chapter is brief,
written in narrative format, and
includes pedagogical features
such as bolded key words,
tables, figures, and key points.
This edition includes 2 new
sections -- For the Boards,
which presents 10 USMLE-style
questions (answers & rationales
at the end of the book) and For
the Wards, a section of 2 case
studies per chapters -- 40 to 50
cases, total. This edition
includes 26 full-color
dermatology and infectious
disease photographs and
multicolored flow diagrams of
congenital heart defects. A
website on thePoint includes the
e-Book and 50-100 bonus
questions in a question bank.

11

Exam-focused
organization by
disease
A full chapter on
well-child careno
other book has this!
Key words in each
chapter feature tools
to recognize the
problem
diagnostically
Associations with
related conditions
Next steps in
management
Best initial
diagnostic tests
Most accurate
diagnostic test
Best initial therapy
Most effective
therapy
Long-term problems

500 USMLE-style
questions and
answers
Detailed
explanations for
right and wrong
answers
Targets what you
really need to know
for exam success
Student tested and
reviewed

Master the Boards:

Pediatrics
William G Cvetnic MD
MBA
Release date: October 1,
2013
ISBN-10: 1609788796
ISBN-13: 9781609788797
Edition: 2nd Edition

In the increasingly competitive

world of medical training,
Pediatrics ranks in the top five
choices for specialization. In
order to pass the Boards,
doctors must be able to master
key words, concepts, and
difficult information. Kaplan
Medical's Master the Boards:
Pediatrics, written by noted
Pediatrics and Neonatology
expert William Cvetnik, is a
capstone review of all the
information a doctor must know
to pass the Pediatric Boards
exam.
Focused on the most important
test-like concepts and
questions, Master the Boards:
Pediatrics has everything you
need to excel on the American
Board of Pediatrics Exam.

Pediatrics PreTest SelfAssessment And Review,

Thirteenth Edition
(PreTest Clinical Medicine)
Robert Yetman, Mark
Hormann
Publication Date: January
10, 2013
ISBN-10: 0071761233
ISBN-13: 9780071761239
Edition: 13

Pediatrics: PreTest SelfAssessment & Review is the

perfect way to assess your
knowledge of pediatrics for the
USMLE Step 2 CK and shelf
exams. You'll find 500 USMLEstyle questions and answers that
address the clerkship's core
competencies along with
detailed explanations of both
correct and incorrect answers.
All questions have been
reviewed by students who
passed the boards and
completed

Clerkship lectures are pretty useful resources, especially when it comes to

developmental milestones and vaccination schedules.
This test tends to be heavy in microbiology and infectious diseases.
12

Psychiatry

Presents common
psychiatry subjects
in the form of
clinical vignettes
similar to the
subject exam.
Relatively complete.
Rivals First Aid as
best resource
More info than First
Aid, but may be
overkill.
Not separated
logically, just
random cases

Part of the highly

regarded Blueprints
series and provides
students with a
concise review of
what they need to
know in their
psychiatry rotations
or the Boards.

Case Files Psychiatry,

Fourth Edition (LANGE
Case Files)
Eugene Toy (Author),
Debra Klamen
Publication Date: March
29, 2012
ISBN-10: 0071753915
ISBN-13: 9780071753913
Edition: 4

Sixty high-yield psychiatry cases

help you sharpen your
diagnostic and problem-solving
skills.

Blueprints Psychiatry
(Blueprints Series)
Michael J. Murphy, Ronald
L. Cowan MD PhD
Publication Date:
November 6, 2008
ISBN-10: 0781782538
ISBN-13: 9780781782531
Edition: Fifth

Each chapter is brief and

includes pedagogical features
such as bolded key words,
tables, figures, and key points.

You need exposure to high-yield

cases to excel on the psychiatry
clerkship and the shelf-exam.
Case Files: Psychiatry presents
sixty real-life cases that
illustrate essential concepts.
Each case includes complete
discussion, clinical pearls,
references, definitions of key
terms, and USMLE-style review
questions with detailed
explanations of the correct
answers. With this system,
you'll learn in the context of real
patients, rather than merely
memorize facts.

A question and answer section

at the end of the book includes
100 board-format questions
with complete rationales. This
edition includes new images,
more USMLE study questions,
and a Neural Basis section for
each major diagnostic category.
A companion Website includes a
question bank and fully
searchable text.

500 USMLE-style
questions and
answers

Psychiatry PreTest SelfAssessment And Review,

Thirteenth Edition
(PreTest Clinical Medicine)

Psychiatry: PreTest SelfAssessment & Review is the

perfect way to assess your
knowledge of psychiatry for the
13

Detailed
explanations for
right and wrong
answers
Targets what you
really need to know
for exam success
Student tested and
reviewed

Debra Klamen and Phil

Pan (Feb 16, 2012)
Publication Date:
February 16, 2012
ISBN-10: 0071761012
ISBN-13: 9780071761017
Edition: 13

USMLE Step 2 CK and shelf

exams. You'll find 500 USMLEstyle questions and answers
that address the clerkship's core
competencies along with
detailed explanations of both
correct and incorrect answers.
All questions have been
reviewed by students who
passed the boards and
completed their clerkship to
ensure they match the style and
difficulty level of the exam.

The clerkship lectures are very useful for this subject examination.
This exam focuses on diagnosis of mental illness and less on treatment.
Know the DSM criteria for diagnosis of mood disorders, personality disorders, etc
Watch out for mental illness caused my a general medical condition. This almost
always appears a couple of times on the exam.
Know all of the psych drugs.
Pay attention to the clerkship lectures.
Begin reading Case Files at the beginning of the rotation.
Do USMLEworld questions throughout the rotation.

Surgery

Presents common
surgery subjects in
the form of clinical
vignettes similar to
the subject exam.
Relatively complete.
Probably the 2nd
best surgery subject
exam resource.
Not as much info as
NMS.
Not separated into
body systems, just
random cases
56 high-yield cases,
each with USMLEstyle questions, help
you master core
competencies to
excel on the
clerkship and ace
the shelf exam
Clinical pearls

Case Files Surgery, Fourth

Edition (LANGE Case
Files)
Eugene Toy, Terrence Liu,
Andre Campbell
Publication Date: June 19,
2012
ISBN-10: 0071766995
ISBN-13: 9780071766999
Edition: 4

REAL-LIFE CASES FOR THE

SURGERY CLERKSHIP
You need exposure to high-yield
cases to excel in the surgery
clerkship and on the shelf exam.
Case Files: Surgery presents 56
real-life cases that illustrate
essential concepts in surgery.
Each case includes a complete
discussion, clinical pearls,
references, definitions of key
terms, and USMLE-style review
questions. With this system,
you'll learn in the context of real
patients, rather then merely
memorize facts.
HERE'S WHAT STUDENTS HAVE
TO SAY " an extremely
useful resource. It is a quick
read and it serves to cover all
the important topics pertaining
to surgery at a level appropriate
for a third-year medical student
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highlight key
concepts
Primer teaches you
how to approach
clinical problems
Proven learning
system maximizes
your shelf exam
scores
Online access to the
fully searchable text
A comprehensive
examination is
available on
thePoint.

or surgical intern. It serves as a

good introduction to the basic
surgical diseases and their
management." -- Jeffrey Feiner,
Medical Student, Buffalo Medical
School (reviewing previous
edition).

NMS Surgery (National

Medical Series for
Independent Study)
Bruce E. Jarrell, R.
Anthony Carabasi III MD
Publication Date: April 18,
2007
ISBN-10: 0781759013
ISBN-13: 9780781759014
Edition: Fifth

Now in its Fifth Edition, NMS

Surgery is a concise, outlined
review of surgery. The succinct
coverage of surgical subjects
and the USMLE-format
questions enable students to
successfully complete their
clerkship, prepare for the
shelf/end-of-rotation exam, and
study for USMLE.
This edition has been thoroughly
updated and streamlined to
focus on essential material.
Questions have been revised to
better reflect the level of
difficulty of shelf/end-of-rotation
exams. The book has a new
two-color design with more
illustrations and wider margins
for notes.

Large resource in
outline format.
Very complete, but
could be somewhat
cumbersome to
complete.
Contains general
surgery as well as
subspecialty
chapters.
This could be used
as a sole resource.
Excellent question
book that mimics

Surgery PreTest SelfAssessment and Review,

Thirteenth Edition
(PreTest Clinical Medicine)
Lillian Kao, Tammy Lee
Publication Date: March 9,
2012
ISBN-10: 0071761217
ISBN-13: 9780071761215
Edition: 13

Surgery: PreTest SelfAssessment & Review is the

perfect way to assess your
knowledge of surgery for the
USMLE Step 2 CK and shelf
exams. You'll find 500 USMLEstyle questions and answers
that address the clerkship's core
competencies along with
detailed explanations of both
correct and incorrect answers.
All questions have been
reviewed by students who
passed the boards and
completed their clerkship to
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the questions on the

subject exam.
Far more useful than
USMLEworld for the
surgery subject
exam.
Read the question
and the explanation.
Absolutely not
intended to be a
sole resource.
500 USMLE-style
questions and
answers
Detailed
explanations for
right and wrong
answers
Targets what you
really need to know
for exam success
Student tested and
reviewed

ensure they match the style and

difficulty level of the exam.

This test contains far more internal medicine than one might expect, therefore it is
advantageous to have completed internal medicine before taking this exam.
Know IV fluid management, diagnosis of acute abdomen, trauma survey.
Be able to tell when a patient is truly in danger of dying (vital signs, etc)
There are a few questions on orthopaedics, vascular surgery, urology, etc.
Begin reading NMS at the beginning of the rotation if you wish to do extremely
well.
Use Case Files if you just want to pass.
If you can get obtain the Pestana notes, use them as well.
Do questions from PreTest, because the USMLEworld surgery questions focus too
much on subspecialty surgery and not enough on general surgery.

OTHER:

The common theme for subject exam preparation is doing timed practice
questions.
This is the only way to accurately simulate the actual exam.
In addition to questions, you must find a resource you like.
Most resources are good, you just have to find one or two for each exam
that fits your study style.

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