Exams in rotation?

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Most schools use the NBME Shelf exams. We had those exams for all the rotations, plus orals and other various exams depending on the specialty (Psych had a big 25 page paper, IM had EKG and Chest radiographs). So yes you do but usually only one every month to two months and I had very very few during the fourth year. Only in Ophthalmology, ICU and radiology did I have an exam.
 
So, given the arduous nature of some rotations, is it likely that one doesn't pass those exams? If so, what would happen?
 
Exams? Any exams? Well, I gotta couple: Oral exam tomorrow, Essay Exam Thursday, and shelf on Friday. Why else would I be procrastinating right now...

Incidentally, I'm doing OB. Also, failing exams equals repeating the clerkship (Some might let you repeat the tests if you were close).
 
Please forgive my ignorance, but what is a "shelf exam"?
 
After every rotation, including some electives, there is a "shelf". Paper test, 100 multiple choice questions in 2 hour time period. The questions are pretty long sometimes. PreTest books are quite helpful. Good luck in the coming years!
 
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