UWorld USMLE Step 1 & 2 (2025): The Bible of Boards
Best for: Best Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Price: from 319 USD/course
Pros
- Explanations: The best in the business. They teach you the medicine, not just the answer.
- Interface: Identical to the real NBME interface.
- Images: High-yield diagrams and pathology slides.
- New Features: Medical Library and ReadyDecks flashcards.
Cons
- Price: Expensive for a QBank ($559 for 1 year).
- No Lectures: It is purely questions and explanations.
The Bible of Board Prep
In the world of medical education, there is UWorld, and then there is everything else. It is widely accepted that your USMLE score is directly correlated with how many UWorld questions you have done.
The “Learning Tool” Philosophy
Most students treat QBanks as a way to test themselves. UWorld is designed to teach you.
- The Explanations: This is where the magic happens. A single UWorld explanation can cover physiology, pathology, and pharmacology in one cohesive narrative. They use custom medical illustrations that are often better than what you find in Netter’s or Robbins.
- The Wrong Answers: UWorld explains exactly why the distractors are wrong, often teaching you high-yield concepts about other diseases in the process.
New Features for 2025
UWorld has recently added features to compete with Amboss:
- Medical Library: A built-in reference library (similar to UpToDate but for students) that links directly from the questions.
- ReadyDecks: Over 2,000 pre-made flashcards based on the most tested concepts. This saves you from having to make your own Anki cards from scratch.
Step 1 vs. Step 2
- Step 1: UWorld is critical for understanding the “why” (mechanisms). With 3,600+ questions, it covers every possible angle.
- Step 2 CK: UWorld is even more critical here, as the clinical vignettes are very similar to the real exam.
Verdict
You have no choice. Buy it. The 360-day plan ($559) is the standard for M2s entering their dedicated study period.