Pediatrics Board Exam 2014

[TwixIcecream]

Hi guys,

I am starting a new thread for the pediatrics certification 2014... Anyone preparing to take the exam this October 2014, let's post here our burning queries, and motivate each other during this 4 month long journey.

I for instance have been doing PREP questions, while reading and adding notes to Kaplan's master the boards for ABP. I feel its a pretty concise but thorough review book with just the amount of details we may need to know in order to eliminate the choices on the exam. I can't decide if I wan't to invest in PBR, or read laughing your way?

Any recent exam takers please advice on the books and materials to use at this point in the preperation. Does anyone know which subjects/topics are higher yield for ABP?

ID, Abx, Growth and development......

I am also looking for a dedicated study partner. If any one interested please email or skype me.
my email: [email protected]
my skype: bcstudybuddy

Thanks, and happy studying

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[phoenix]

Hi there,

Thanks for starting this thread Twixlcecream.

I graduated from Peds residency in 2012 and have been in fellowship the past two years. I don't see a lot of general pediatrics issues in fellowship, so I'm not only worried that I have forgotten a lot, but also that I'm not up to date on current recommendations and treatment guidelines. I have the previous edition of the Medstudy books (5th edition) but was wondering if I should purchase the newer edition that was just published....Does anyone know if new edition is very different or is the Medstudy website overstating just how many updates were made (so that they could scare people like me into buying the new one)?

Thanks in advance......

 

[TwixIcecream]

Hi there,

Thanks for starting this thread Twixlcecream.

I graduated from Peds residency in 2012 and have been in fellowship the past two years. I don't see a lot of general pediatrics issues in fellowship, so I'm not only worried that I have forgotten a lot, but also that I'm not up to date on current recommendations and treatment guidelines. I have the previous edition of the Medstudy books (5th edition) but was wondering if I should purchase the newer edition that was just published....Does anyone know if new edition is very different or is the Medstudy website overstating just how many updates were made (so that they could scare people like me into buying the new one)?

Thanks in advance......

I graduated last year, and can't think of that many updates in the past 2 years. I know there were some updates on the approach to a first UTI episode in pediatric patients and the when to start abx, order Usx and VCUG. The need of starting abx in cases of VUR Grades III - V has been a controversial issue and continues to be one.

Also, a few updates on pap smear scheduling in adult females. I say adult because it is no longer started at age 18, or 3 years after the onset of sexual activity. I believe now we (adolescent specialist) do them at age 21, and its no longer an annual screening.

I'm trying to recall more from residency, and really can't think of much that may have changed in the past 2 years, so don't be too too worried Phoenix. I plan on doing PREP question 2011-2014, and usually if there has been updates in guidelines they are added in to PREP as a Q. Hopefully this will make up for any gaps in our knowledge..

As to whether or not to get the new Medstudy editions, honestly I don't have much opinion. I have never used the previous editions. Hope this helps. Stay motivated and good luck on the preparation journey. Happy studying

 

[JR2010MD]

Has anyone taken the content specifications and just answered the questions 1 by 1 ...... I took my boards for the 1st time last yr and was unfortunately unsuccessful. I was able to get off 1 week from work but my clinic is super demanding and I generally have little time at night to study. I was thinking that having the answers to each question would be very helpful and keep me organized since time is of the essence. I did 5 yrs of prep, the Medstudy review course online, and LYW (but not thoroughly b/c I ran out of time) Thoughts???

 

[jennsmithmd]

Hi there,

Thanks for starting this thread Twixlcecream.

I graduated from Peds residency in 2012 and have been in fellowship the past two years. I don't see a lot of general pediatrics issues in fellowship, so I'm not only worried that I have forgotten a lot, but also that I'm not up to date on current recommendations and treatment guidelines. I have the previous edition of the Medstudy books (5th edition) but was wondering if I should purchase the newer edition that was just published....Does anyone know if new edition is very different or is the Medstudy website overstating just how many updates were made (so that they could scare people like me into buying the new one)?

Thanks in advance......

I'm definitely a huge PBR fan b/c it helped me pass after I had failed once. I'm not sure about Kaplan, but MS and LYW were horrible for me. One was like an encyclopedia, and the other like a comic book. About your question, the ID and Developmental chapters were phenomenal. There's a LOT of developmental milestones on the boards, and the PBR's section on that was awesome.

good luck with the decision and the boards everyone!

 

[phoenix]

Thanks jennsmithmd...Coincidentally I purchased PBR a couple days before you posted. I have been trying to get through the MedStudy books, and just felt like I wasn't absorbing anything. It just couldn't hold my interest. I would spend 30 minutes on 3 pages and then couldn't remember anything I had read. It's hard for me to put all my faith in PBR since I don't know anyone who used it. It's good to hear you passed with it the second time around, but I am worried about using it as my only resource like he says- especially since I really haven't done any gen peds in 2 years. I have the MedStudy flashcards and will go through those, as well as PREP questions. With so little time left though I don't really have time to review anything else.

 

[optimus08]

Just a question regarding PREP. Approximately what % are you getting correct at first attempt? I was shocked to see average score of over 75% when infact I'm scoring only 65% currently. Its so dissapointing..

 

[Socrates25]

When I took the test, my word of advice is to take 1 source like LYW and memorize it as much as possible. Also look at a picture atlas. That should be good enough to pass.

The PREP questions are quite a bit different than the real test questions because the real test questions are much more open ended. PREP questions give you too many details where you can narrow things down easily. The real test questions dont give you as much data to rule out wrong answers. It is much of a "gestalt" type of answer on the real test than it is on PREP if that makes any sense.

On PREP questions I was able to rule out 4 answers immediately on most of them. On the real test, I frequently found myself having to decide between 2 or 3 answers at the end because it felt like there wasnt enough info given to distinguish between answer choices.

 

[phoenix]

ughh....Socrates25, your response just exponentially increased my anxiety level. Thanks for the advice you gave though.
How do the board exam questions compare to those from the in-service exams taken during residency?

In response to optimus08, when I combed through the message boards before it looked like the consensus was to aim for 75% on PREP- which I'm not even close to at this point.

 

[optimus08]

Thanks a lot for ur input Socrates25. I think main problem I'm facing which I'm sure first time takers are facing is whether to trust one source like LYW, PBR or medstudy. I have all of them and glancing over everything which obviously kills lot of time. To add the confusion, each material has topics which are unique.. Guess, I'll stick to LYW and PBR..

 

[marcus8]

That's about what I'm getting on PREP. Remember, people can answer the questions open-book or with peers. It isn't an accurate reflection of a true test. Also, I've found several mistakes in the 2014 questions.

 

[optimus08]

Do you mind sharing mistakes? ru getting 75% on PREP.. What percent is needed for passing the exam

 

[optimus08]

Child with epigastric pain, Serology + for H Pylori, What is the next step. I'm confused... LYW says stool Ag test, PREP says endoscopy/biopsy. Question in PREP also had option of Stool Ag test! What would be correct answer?

 

[Avila]

After reading this forum, and other about people advising how to study for this test. I think that I have to share my experience.
I passed the 2014 pediatric board, while being in my first year of fellowship. It was not an easy task.
What I did was: started studying on april 2014. Before that, whenever I was able to read medstudy, I did it.
On April, I started to study whenever I had a chance. Mostly every weekend or day off, I will take time to study. I will go through specialties, and I tried to correlate my study with whatever rotation I was on. That really helped.
For my official study, I did not use medstudy much. Too dense for me.
I purchased Laughing your way and I had 6 years of prep questions
If there was a question about contents from LYW, I will see what medstudy would say and memorize that.
I memorized milestones last week before exam. I asked someone else to ask me. For me, that was the only way to know if I really knew them or not. I tried to associate as many milestones as I could to kids I knew.
I went through Zitelli two nights before.
I purchased the 2012 medstudy videos. In some of my fellowship rotations, I was unable to study at all for weeks. I used to listen to them while I was driving. That was great!
Overall, I went through LYW x4
Prep: All in tutorial x2-3, last 6 years. First time taking them, I was in the low 70's. There was I think 2011, that I got 64% if I am not wrong, and I remember how awful I felt that day. I left 2 years for the last 2 weeks, so " I could prove to myself how much I knew". Otherwise, I would use the other years as practice exams.
I took 9 days before my test off work. That was wonderful. It really gave me time to study hard.
I did not study the day before the exam.
You will feel a lot of temptation to go through a bunch of different materials, lectures, and qbanks. This is what I used, and I will say, that for me it was more than enough.
I really studied hard for this study. Starting June, I rarely had a "day off" I was always studying, every weekend that I was not on call, and whenever possible during weekdays.
It is not an easy test guys. Take it seriously. I admire people who did not have to study much to pass it. I proposed myself to get it out of my shoulder my first time, and I really put a lot of effort to it.
I hope this helps.

 

[eddy34]

You are right Avila. If you are not well prepared for this exam the probability of passing is very low. Study for only one book ( I used LYW) and do as many prep questions as you can (at least 4 years back). Only believe in your prep score during your first pass 'cause when you try multiple times you answer it correctly just for repetition. The most important usage of the preps is the context of each question and its critique.
For those in Fellowship remember that the majority of the questions are from general pediatrics and no subspecialties.
Good luck for the 2015 test takers.

 

[dr.Sailor]

Hi All..
Thank god I PASSED! First time taker. Above average score. My experience:
1) Duration: I started studying in August..hard studying a month before the exam. Studied totally alone. Attended no courses.
2) Material:
-PREP Questions: Did 3 years, good for knowledge but not really similar to the real exam questions. PREP Qs are too lengthy compared to the real exam.
-LYW: Read it twice. Average yield I would say, although it is very popular resource for many I know.
-MedStudy: Did the questions only. High yield.
-BoardVitals: Did almost 80% of the question bank. Average yield although I would say but higher in ethics questions compared to other resources.
- Zitelli Atlas: Went over most of the pictures, moderate to low yield. Got few pictures on the real exam and were not that difficult.
***My advice; Do A LOT of questions, and go over MedStudy Qs explanation at least twice. Make sure you score above 75% of the practice questions. You will pass guarantee.

 

[smartdoc1234]

Hi guyz, what is PBR. please elaborate. Thanks.

 

[Stitch]

Hi guyz, what is PBR. please elaborate. Thanks.

Pediatrics Board Review: http://www.pediatricsboardreview.com
A number of people on this site have used them and enjoyed it. I didn't, so I can't comment but I think they provide a good deal of support and a solid review.