what percentage of questions do i need to get correct on the abs qualifying exam

Full general Surgery

August 27, 2020

ABS Qualifying Exam: Everything You Need to Know

Nicole Ilonzo, MD ABS Qualifying Exam: Everything You Demand to Know

What is the ABS Qualifying Exam?

The ABS Qualifying Exam (QE), besides known as the written boards, is a multiple-choice examination sponsored past the American Board of Surgery. The test is offered every July to board-eligible general surgery residents.

Who is Eligible to Take the ABS Qualifying Exam?

Board eligibility is extensively described on the ABS website. Requirements include, only are not express to, handling a minimum of 850 operative cases, including at least 25 teaching assistant (TA) cases and forty surgical critical care cases.

What is the Purpose of the ABS Qualifying Exam?

Successfully passing the written QE allows an ABS candidate to register for the oral Certifying Exam (CE). Passing both the written QE and the oral CE is the terminal step to becoming board-certified in general surgery.

What Is the Pass Rate for the ABS Qualifying Exam?

The pass charge per unit for the QE has been over ninety% for the past few years.

Please see the tabular array beneath for pass rates over the last five years. This data was obtained from the ABS website. The pass rate is based on percentile rank, which changes annually.

ABS Qualifying Examination Content and Construction

The QE is an eight-hr computerized (written) test. Unlike the ABSITE, which is taken at residents' home institutions, the QE is administered at authorized testing centers in the U.s.a.. It is divided into 4 sections, each with a time limit of an hour and 55 minutes. Sections cannot be revisited once they are submitted or the allotted time has passed. Ten-minute breaks are allowed after the first and third of these sessions, and a longer 40-infinitesimal break is allowed after the second session.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 the exam will be administered nigh over a 48-60 minutes period. The test will be divided into four one-hour sessions with a five-minute break between each session.

Like the ABSITE, the QE has an official content outline that determines the weight of each topic. For example, Patient Care makes up approximately 80% of the exam, while 12% of Patient Care questions autumn nether the subtopic of Abdomen. The questions are like in structure and topic distribution to the questions found on the ABSITE. The ABS recommends referring to the SCORE Curriculum Outline for General Surgery for further details on what is covered in each category.

It is important to note that QE questions tend to be more hard than those on the ABSITE, requiring greater application of noesis. The SCORE Curriculum categorizes topics equally either Core or Advanced. Expect to exist tested on more of the Avant-garde topics during the QE. Ultimately, the QE tests the breadth of knowledge accumulated over years of residency. It is challenging to "cram" for it, but answering as many questions as possible will refresh your memory and provide the tools you need to pass.

How Many Questions Are on the Test?

The exam includes approximately 300 multiple-choice questions divided into four sections. At that place are approximately 75 questions per section.

How Long Exercise I Need to Study for the ABS Qualifying Exam?

Residents who take the QE have previously taken the ABSITE or another in-grooming exam in their preceding years of surgical grooming. At a minimum, trainees will have taken four ABSITE exams or other in-grooming exams prior to taking the QE.

In most cases, the QE is taken after the trainee completes residency, but earlier he or she begins a fellowship or a new job. July, therefore, tends to be the about popular month to take the exam. Yet, the time leading up to the exam varies between trainees. Some fellowships brainstorm on July ane, which results in an overlap betwixt examination preparation and fellowship orientation. Fellowships that begin on August 1 provide a longer window for dedicated preparation.

The primal to effective training is time management and goal-oriented studying.  The fourth dimension allotted for grooming will depend on individual preference, just i-2 months of dedicated preparation should suffice.

The all-time way to prepare, especially if you lot've achieved > 30th percentile (considered a passing score1) on the ABSITE exams, is to continue with the effective study habits that have served yous well so far. This likely involved utilizing question banks such as TrueLearn, SESAP, and SCORE. Some residents report for the ABSITE from November to February and and then pick support studying for the QE in July.

For the vast majority of trainees, the timeline is as follows:

1. Complete the final ABSITE in January or February of chief year (or last year of residency).
2. Graduate from surgical residency, typically in June.
3. Take the QE in July.
4. Start fellowship on August 1.

After completing their final ABSITE and graduating, some trainees then immediately beginning studying for the QE. However, be aware that this is a busy transitional time.

Height iii Things Y'all Need to Know If You lot're Taking the ABS Qualifying Exam

1. Employ two resources to study. Continue using the combination of resources you lot've found to exist helpful when in training. The highest yield will come from answering questions: thus, completing two question banks is a good strategy. TrueLearn has a comprehensive question banking company dedicated to the QE. TrueLearn'due south ABS QE SmartBank, in conjunction with SESAP, which was created past the ABS, has guaranteed success for many examination-takers. Try to respond as many questions as possible!
2. Use the ABSITE taken during your terminal yr equally a manner to prepare for the QE. The easiest way to study for the QE is to study well for the ABSITE, ideally starting two months prior to the ABSITE test date. Performance on the ABSITE is a adept predictor of operation on the QE.ii Starting preparation ii months prior to the QE, especially if fellowship begins August i, volition provide ample time to do well on the test.
3. Fourth dimension direction is cardinal. In add-on to ensuring proper ABSITE grooming in your terminal year, start studying for the QE immediately after graduating from residency. During this busy transitional time, you may accept to juggle relocation, fellowship orientation, and the want to go on a well-earned vacation. Dedicate acceptable fourth dimension for preparation and complete as many questions equally possible.

References

1. Ray JJ, Sznol JA, Teisch LF, et al. Association Between American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam Scores and Resident Functioning.JAMA Surg. 2016;151(1):26-31.
2. Hancock KJ, Klimberg VS, Williams TP, Radhakrishnan RS, Tyler DS, Perez A. Full general Surgery Resident Use of Electronic Resource: 15 Minutes a Solar day.J Am Coll Surg. 2020;230(iv):442-448.

Written By: Nicole Ilonzo, MD, graduated from general surgery residency at Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Due west in 2019 and is currently completing a vascular surgery fellowship.

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