Best Study Books for the Step 2 CK 2024

This blog was originally published on June 22nd, 2022 and was updated by Dr. Ria Patel in July 2024.

If you are about to start your dedicated study period for the USMLE Step 2 CK, you may be asking yourself, “what are the best study books I should use to prepare for this test?”

Well, look no further! Here at EMP, we provide a comprehensive review of the best study books for Step 2 CK! Our tutors have personally used the resources listed below, and regularly advise students to use them.

Before we dive into the list of the top books, we want to start with a quick piece of advice. No single study book is sufficient to truly master the content of Step 2 CK. For Step 1, you may have used a book like First Aid. This is a fantastic resource and is nearly comprehensive for this examination. Unfortunately, we believe that a book of similar quality does not exist for Step 2 CK. While many of the books listed below are fantastic aids to accompany your studies, none of them will be sufficient to learn all of the content for this examination. In addition to a book, we highly recommend other resources, most importantly, a question bank. Feel free to use our 4-week Step 2 study planner to help you get organized with all of your resources.

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Nonetheless, a great book is critical to your success, so here are our recommendations.

White Coat Companion 

The White Coat Companion book is the Boards and Beyond text resource for Shelf exams, USMLE Step 2 CK and USMLE Step 3. It is an extremely comprehensive text that is organized by system. The content is delivered in a very methodological way, with tables and charts to help organize material. It covers material that is important for all clinical NBME exams and also Step 3. Due to this cross-coverage, the book is an excellent resource for Step 2 CK when used in conjunction with a question bank resource such as UWorld.

Step-Up to USMLE Step 2 CK 5th Edition 

Step-Up to USMLE Step 2 CK is a great resource that provides a fairly comprehensive review of the major concepts and diseases you will need to know to excel on the exam. Chapters are concise, with 30-40 pages per organ system, and use bullet points to make the information easy to absorb. There are great color figures to supplement your learning and this resource covers the most commonly tested topics. Like most of the books in this blog post, it is not entirely comprehensive. There are some details that you will only obtain by working through practice questions. However, if you need a book that packs a lot of info into a concise format, look no further.

Master The Boards

Master The Boards is similar to Step-Up to USMLE Step 2 CK in that it highlights the highest yield material and presents it in a way that will directly show up on the exam. The author makes it very clear what you need to know for the board exam and does so using flow charts, figures, and tables. But Master The Boards similarly is not comprehensive in nature and some sections can be a bit repetitive.

This book shines when it comes to providing flow diagrams and algorithms to guide you through complex clinical scenarios. You’ll also find practical tips to help you excel on the exam. While it’s not our top pick for a Step 2 CK resource, it’s a solid choice if you prefer a test-targeted approach. Plus, the accompanying podcast is a valuable supplement. In fact, we’d recommend it as a primary resource over the book itself.

First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CK

While First Aid for USMLE Step 1 is the gold standard for Step 1 content review, First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CK unfortunately is not. However, it is still a great resource that will greatly supplement a question bank, such as UWorld or AMBOSS.

If you’re familiar with First Aid for the USMLE Step 1, you’ll feel right at home with this book’s similar layout. It’s packed with mnemonics – more than any other book on this list – to help you memorize high-yield content. The Rapid Review section is also a valuable resource for last-minute studying. However, we do have one major critique: this book lacks the finer details you’ll need to excel on Step 2 CK. Think of it as a framework that requires supplementation. When paired with comprehensive video content, such as Boards and Beyond, and annotated notes, this book can be a powerful tool.

A Few Final Words

There are many other commonly used books on the market including Kaplan USMLE Step 2 CK Lecture Notes, USMLE Step 2 Secrets, and more. However, we wanted to focus on the resources that we and our students have personally used. It is always important to find a book that is best suited for your individual learning style. Additionally, do not be afraid to refer back to some of your USMLE Step 1 material like First Aid for USMLE Step 1 – this is an amazing resource that you can refer back to when you require a bit more insight into the basic science underlying a medication or disease processes.

As a final reminder, study texts for USMLE Step 2 CK will broaden your content knowledge and help you when it comes to answering questions; however, a book alone is not enough to ace this examination. You should combine using a book with doing board-style questions, watching videos, doing flashcards, and using any other resources that work for you.

Not sure what book, resources, or study plan is best for you? Feel free to reach out to us to set up a free consultation, and learn more about how one of our experienced tutors can work with you in preparation for your board exams!