Taylor Duplessis is a fourth year medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. You can follow her on instagram, twitter, and linkedin.

The third year of medical school generally consists of 7 core clerkships – Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry. Grading for each clerkship consists primarily of clinical evaluations from either fellows or attendings, as well as performance on a standardized “shelf” exam at the end of each clerkship. The following will list common resources recommended to excel in each clerkship. Keep in mind it is not recommended for a student to use all of the resources given, instead select 2-3 that work with the student’s style of studying. 

Surgery

• UWorld question bank
  • There is a section on the question bank for Step 2 CK that is dedicated solely to Surgery questions. This section is very useful for shelf exam preparation.
•  Emma Holliday’s Review
  • This is an excellent 2-hour review done by a former medical student that goes through high yield topics in preparation for the shelf exam. 
  • The video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAmX6o7GPuY
  • The PowerPoint to follow along with can be found here: http://docshare04.docshare.tips/files/27385/273856803.pdf
• Dr. Pestana’s Surgery Notes
  • This book consists of the top 180 vignettes for the surgery clerkship. It is a really valuable review for not only the surgery shelf exam but for Step 2 CK as well. Within each vignette are embedded clinical pearls that will also serve to help students answer questions from residents/attendings while on the rotation. Dr. Pestana’s Surgery Notes is one of the most-used resources for succeeding in the surgery clerkship.
• Case Files Surgery
  • Case Files is helpful in preparing for the shelf exam as well as any lectures and quizzes that may also be required during the clerkship. The book includes 60 realistic cases with review questions and discussion to reinforce essential concepts. 
• Surgical Recall
  • This book is written in a question-and-answer format and is a useful rapid-fire review. Surgical Recall is more helpful for working in the hospital and includes practical information that you may be questioned on. If your school requires an oral exam for your surgery clerkship, this book is formatted to help prepare you for that.
• Toronto Notes
  • The general surgery section contains bullet-point information on the diagnosis and management of surgical diseases.
• NBME clinical mastery tests
  • The NBME offers four 50-question tests that are available for $20 each. These are shortened versions of the actual shelf exam, making them helpful in preparing students on what to expect when taking the shelf. These are better for gauging where you are in studying instead of being used as a primary tool. The exams help show you areas of strength and where you should focus your studying efforts. 

Internal Medicine

• UWorld question bank
  • There are over 1,300 questions in a dedicated Internal Medicine section. Some of the questions can be very specific, but they offer really good discussion for each topic. This should be the primary source for shelf exam preparation and should be started early in the clerkship. 
• Step Up to Medicine
  • This book is a useful comprehensive review for the shelf exam. There are over 1,000 quick tips and clinical pearls that help students perform well on wards and on the shelf exam. The book also includes board-style questions with discussion; this can be an excellent tool for Step 2 CK preparation as well. 
• Emma Holliday’s Review
  • This is a really good 2-hour review done by a former medical student that goes through high yield topics in preparation for the shelf exam. 
  • The video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oARp9g0db-0
• NBME clinical mastery tests
  • The NBME offers four 50-question tests that are available for $20 each. These are shortened versions of the actual shelf exam, making them helpful in preparing students on what to expect when taking the shelf. These are better for gauging where you are in studying instead of being used as a primary tool. The exams help show you areas of strength and where you should focus your studying efforts.

Neurology

• UWorld question bank
  • There is not a dedicated Neurology section on the Step 2 CK question bank; however you can filter based on topic and narrow it down to approximately 150 neurology-based questions.
• Case Files Neurology
  • Case Files is helpful in preparing for the shelf exam. The book includes 60 realistic cases with review questions and discussion to reinforce essential concepts. Case Files also helps students learn how to approach clinical problems and succeed in an in-patient setting. 
• Blueprints Neurology
  • This book goes through important topics and concepts in neurology. It includes diagnostic and treatment information as well as a question bank for students to test themselves.
• Pretest
  • This book includes 500 USMLE-style questions with accompanying answers and explanations. It is targeted at important information that is helpful for passing both the clerkship and shelf exam.  
• First Aid
  • First Aid has an entire neurology section that is helpful in preparing for the clerkship and shelf exam. Although First Aid touches on most of the important topics for neurology, it is very brief and lacks the level of detail necessary for the shelf exam. This should be used as a secondary resource. 
• NBME clinical mastery tests
  • The NBME offers four 50-question tests that are available for $20 each. These are shortened versions of the actual shelf exam, making them helpful in preparing students for what to expect when taking the shelf. These are better for gauging where you are in studying instead of being used as a primary tool. The exams help show you areas of strength and where you should focus your studying efforts.

Family Medicine

• Case Files Family Medicine
  • Case Files is helpful in preparing for the shelf exam. The book includes 60 realistic cases with review questions and discussion to reinforce relevant concepts. Case Files also helps students learn how to approach clinical problems and succeed in an in-patient setting.
• Blueprints Family Medicine
  • This book goes through important topics and concepts in family medicine. It includes diagnostic and treatment information as well as a question bank for students to test themselves. 
• Pretest
  • This book includes 500 USMLE-style questions with accompanying answers and explanations. It is targeted at relevant information that is helpful for passing both the clerkship and shelf exam.  
• Family Medicine Question Resources at AAFP.org
  • Once at the AAFP website, go to CME and under Find AAFP CME by Topic select Board Review Preparation. On the next page, select Board Review Questions and then register. Registration can take time to approve, so do this early on. These are questions designed for Family Medicine Boards, not a clerkship shelf exam, so they are above the level required for students. 
• NBME clinical mastery tests
  • The NBME offers two 50-question tests that are available for $20 each. These are shortened versions of the actual shelf exam, making them helpful in preparing students for what to expect when taking the shelf. These are better for gauging where you are in studying instead of being used as a primary tool. The exams help show you areas of strength and where you should focus your studying efforts.

Obstetrics and Gynecology

• UWorld question bank
  • There are 300+ questions in a dedicated OB/GYN section. This is very helpful in preparation for the shelf exam. 
• APGO
  • A more extensive question bank with 500+ questions that are representative of topics tested on the shelf. Many OB/GYN departments offer a free subscription.
  • Access the question bank here: https://www.apgo.org/student/320-uwise-index.html
• Blueprints Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • This book goes through important topics and concepts in OB/GYN. It includes diagnostic and treatment information as well as a question bank for students to test themselves.
• Case Files Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • Case Files is helpful in preparing for the shelf exam. The book includes 60 realistic cases with review questions and discussion to reinforce key concepts. Case Files also helps students learn how to approach clinical problems and succeed in an in-patient setting. 
• Online MedEd
  • This is an extensive website that offers many free videos that cover necessary topics in both obstetrics and gynecology. The videos provide a general overview of important concepts as well as highlights key clinical pearls.
• NBME clinical mastery tests
  • The NBME offers four 50-question tests that are available for $20 each. These are shortened versions of the actual shelf exam, making them helpful in preparing students on what to expect when taking the shelf. These are better for gauging where you are in studying instead of being used as a primary tool. The exams help show you areas of strength and where you should focus your studying efforts.

Pediatrics

• UWorld question bank
  • There are 550+ questions in a dedicated Pediatrics section. This is very helpful in preparation for the shelf exam.
• Emma Holliday’s Review
  • This is a really good 2-hour review done by a former medical student that goes through high yield topics in preparation for the shelf exam. 
  • The video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mFF-WlLuQU
• Case Files Pediatrics
  • Case Files is helpful in preparing for the shelf exam. The book includes 60 realistic cases with review questions and discussion to reinforce important concepts. Case Files also helps students learn how to approach clinical problems and succeed in an in-patient setting. 
• Blueprints Pediatrics
  • This book goes through key topics and concepts in pediatrics. It includes diagnostic and treatment information as well as a question bank for students to test themselves.
• NBME clinical mastery tests
  • The NBME offers four 50-question tests that are available for $20 each. These are shortened versions of the actual shelf exam, making them helpful in preparing students on what to expect when taking the shelf. These are better for gauging where you are in studying instead of being used as a primary tool. The exams help show you areas of strength and where you should focus your studying efforts.

Psychiatry 

• UWorld question bank
  • There are 200+ questions in a dedicated Psychiatry section. This is very helpful in preparation for the shelf exam.
• First Aid for Psychiatry Clerkship
  • This textbook is very well organized and covers all topics tested on the shelf. The book is an easy read and includes other helpful information, including how to conduct a mental status exam.
• Case Files Psychiatry
  • Case Files is helpful in preparing for the shelf exam. The book includes 60 realistic cases with review questions and discussion to reinforce important concepts. Case Files also helps students learn how to approach clinical problems and succeed in an in-patient setting. 
• Pretest
  • This book includes 500 USMLE-style questions with accompanying answers and explanations. It is targeted at important information that is helpful for passing both the clerkship and shelf exam.  
• Emma Holliday’s Review
  • This is a really good 2-hour review done by a former medical student that goes through high yield topics in preparation for the shelf exam. 
  • The video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzK0PDENoOU
• Online MedEd
  • This is an extensive website that offers 21 free videos that cover important topics in psychiatry. The videos provide a general overview of important concepts as well as highlight key clinical pearls.
• NBME clinical mastery tests
  • The NBME offers four 50-question tests that are available for $20 each. These are shortened versions of the actual shelf exam, making them helpful in preparing students on what to expect when taking the shelf. These are better for gauging where you are in studying instead of being used as a primary tool. The exams help show you areas of strength and where you should focus your studying efforts.