As best as I can figure out so far...
There is an annual exam called the RISE (residency inservice exam or something like that) which you take every year and your performance is used to compare with other programs around the country, and to see how your performance improves as you go on, etc. I don't think the actual score you get is important to you, or relevant in your education. I think it's more of a guide for programs to see how well they are teaching.
No monthly exams anywhere I have seen. Some programs will give you study sets, etc. The only other exams I know of are Step III and the board exams you take to be certified.
I still haven't quite figured this all out though. Like I said, no tests so far. But you're right, learning for exams is a different skill. You have to learn minutae and associations that may not have significant relevance. But a lot of it is important.
