Description

First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 is the high-yield review book that most medical students keep open during their dedicated Step 1 preparation. This page offers the 2025 edition, the 35th, by Tao Le and Vikas Bhushan, published by McGraw Hill in February 2025 (864 pages in print). The publisher presents it as a blueprint for preparing for the exam, condensing the basic science content tested on Step 1 into one compact, cross-referenced volume you can annotate and revisit until test day.

Who should use First Aid for the USMLE Step 1

• Second-year medical students entering their dedicated study period for Step 1.
• Preclinical students who want to use it alongside their coursework from the first year onwards.
• International medical graduates preparing for the USMLE pathway to residency in the United States.
• Students repeating the exam who need a structured framework to rebuild their revision.

First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 works best as a hub: you read your question bank explanations and lectures, then consolidate what you learned in its margins. If you are new to this approach, our article on active recall for medical students explains how to turn passive reading into retrieval practice.

How the book is organised

The book is well known for its dense, outline-style presentation of high-yield facts, supported by tables, diagrams, clinical images and mnemonics. It opens with guidance on exam preparation, then reviews general principles (such as biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, pathology and pharmacology) before working through the organ systems, and closes with a rapid review section for the final days. Use the online FlipBook preview on this page to check the full table of contents and the page layout before you buy.

About the 2025 (35th) edition

First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 is revised every year, which is why students refer to it by its year. This page offers the 35th edition, published by McGraw Hill in 2025. Before you buy, check which edition your school, tutor or study group is using: page references and some content change from one year to the next, and newer annual editions may already be available. Since 2022, Step 1 has been reported as pass/fail, but it remains a required milestone, so working from a recent edition is a sensible choice.

How to study with First Aid for the USMLE Step 1

1. Annotate, do not just read. After each block of questions, add the missing details to the relevant page so the book becomes your personal summary.
2. Follow the organ systems in parallel with questions. Read one system, then complete questions on that same system the same day.
3. Review on a schedule. Plan short, repeated passes through the rapid review pages rather than one long reread.

Always compare your plan with the official content outline and exam information published by the United States Medical Licensing Examination program, which defines what is actually tested.

Format, preview and access

A fixed-layout PDF keeps page numbers identical to the printed book, which matters when classmates and tutors quote pages. Read PDF vs EPUB for medical textbooks for the details.

Books to read alongside it

• Netter’s Cardiology, 3rd Edition: illustrated chapters to understand the cardiovascular topics behind the summaries.
• Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 7th Edition: a reference when you want more context on laboratory tests met in clinical vignettes.
• Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 10th Edition: a fuller textbook explanation of drug classes when a summary is not enough.
• Current Diagnosis & Treatment Cardiology, 6th Edition: clinical cardiology for when you move towards clerkships.

For pharmacology in particular, see our guide on how to study pharmacology.

Frequently asked questions

Which edition is sold on this page?

The 2025 edition (35th edition) by Tao Le and Vikas Bhushan, published by McGraw Hill. Check whether your program recommends a more recent annual edition.

Is First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 enough on its own?

Most students combine First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 with a question bank and their course materials. It is a review framework, not a replacement for practice questions.

Are question banks or online resources included?

No. You receive the book as a PDF eBook only; publisher platforms, question banks and videos are not included.

How quickly can I start reading?

Access is available after payment confirmation. For practical details, see our FAQ.