MKSAP for Students 3: Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program [With CDROM]

This book is the best question book you will ever use third year. It was dead on for the NBME in IM. I used a review book, then case files, then did all these questions twice and honored the NBME (first in my class to do it because we only have 8 weeks of IM instead of 12 weeks). There is no reason to look anywhere else for IM questions prior to the test.

Please note that MKSAP 3 it out. That said, I didn't feel the info in MKSAP 2 was outdated, and moreover the questions are different from MKSAP 3. There were several things I liked about MKSAP. It covered a variety of illnesses and grouped them by symptom (so if you felt weak in pulmonary you could easily find sections applicable to that field). The American College of Physicians wrote it, which is quite comforting. It references appropriate research articles for every Q & A. Also, like a shelf, it forced you to make tough decisions. In reality, you order just above every lab and whatever imaging you need to cover yourself. Board questions, though, make you choose the best test from what you would always order. I preferred using the CD-ROM with the book (well made) as I could do questions much faster rather than flipping through a book. One slight criticism was the seeming repetition of certain concepts (asthma treatment protocols).

Studied only with MKSAP week before IM shelf didn't get all the way through but received a very good shelf score, not excellent, but knew well what I did go over in the text. (Used up-to-date for clinical management when cases came up on ward) otherwise only did q's in MKSAP & didn't read much. Although, I did use Kaplan Step 2 IM videos for entertainment, Dr. Conrad Fisher is a riot & Dr. Kornbluth rock!

MKSAP is an excellent source for your third year clerkship. The style of questions exactly mimics the style of the shelf exam. All the major objectives are reviewed in detail. The difficulty of the questions can be frustrating at times, but do not be discouraged. Your efforts will pay off when it comes time for the test...

This is a pretty good book, separated by topic (eg: DVT, CHF, Diabetes, cough, dyspnea, back pain... each with about 20 questions and THOROUGH explanations for each answer (and wrong answers). But the cool thing is that it comes with the exact same questions and explanations on the accompanying CD-ROM.This book has no extra frills. It's not entertaining... but it does provide another source from which my professors liked to borrow (steal) questions for their in-house exams!