Official ABIM Exam/study tools thread!

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Is there a big enough difference between MKSAP 17 and 18 to justify buying 18 if I already went through 17? Exam is slated for mid August.
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dfib slim said:
Is there a big enough difference between MKSAP 17 and 18 to justify buying 18 if I already went through 17? Exam is slated for mid August.
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MKSAP 18 is way better than 17. I had both. Also MKSAP 18 is updated version.
 
Hi Guys,

I am really hoping some of the admin can help me out with this. Our program is looking into buying Decker IP, and I have not heard or seen ANYTHING about it. I am recommending UWORLD ABIM in combination with online meded and MKSAP. I want our program to pick the best thing, so if any guidance can be provided at what you felt was most useful in prep for ABIM that would be great.

Does anyone have any experience with Decker IP?
 
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DrDreams said:
Seriously? I mean they are willing to because we are doing some major revamping...
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Seriously... for board prep it was the best thing...did mksap and would say you need to do those questions.
Did the abim course and it wasn’t worth much.

Have them do a course for your residents...many programs do...well worth it.

He is cocky... tells you all you need to do is read your awesome review notes over and over... but he is right.
 
I’m an incoming IM intern in a few weeks. Wanted to get an idea for what you guys recommend studying and starting when. I’ve read lots of posts saying MKSAP, medstudy. NEJM 360 etc but I feel like I’ve been overwhelmed with resources
 
Throwaway892 said:
I’m an incoming IM intern in a few weeks. Wanted to get an idea for what you guys recommend studying and starting when. I’ve read lots of posts saying MKSAP, medstudy. NEJM 360 etc but I feel like I’ve been overwhelmed with resources
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Pick one. Preferably the one that your program gives you free/cheap.
 
So I know this is probably kicking a dead horse but I would like to get some opinions for study endurance and test fatigue. In reviewing the ABIM I guess it's 10 hrs long? I suppose it could be shorter but I don't know if I'll be the person who finishes much sooner. but my older peers who took ABIM said they got tired by block 3 or by 6 hours in. Is there an equivalent of an NBME practice test for ABIM that I can take for endurance practice beyond just burning through Uworld questions to mimic the feel of the exam? Or is this something that I should even worry about? It has been years since I've done USMLE and also I felt like back then the maximum for each block was 50 questions or 1 hour blocks.

I will have some time before I start my job so I can dedicate time to going through my MKSAP and Uworld and Awesome review notes. I want to know if there's something that would help mimic the feel of the exam in terms of length without having to burn through so many questions as the ABIM Uworld qbank is half the size of the USMLE qbanks.

Thanks in advance.
 
What's the best pure audio resource? I don't see any discussion of audio resources in this thread. Looking at the 10-yr IM recertification.

Also I saw someone mention that using UpToDate during an exam is allowed. I'm assuming that's just for some of the 2-yr MOC stuff and not the 10 yr?

Addendum: I didn't find very many audio programs, some are MedStudy (the iphone app gets terrible reviews), Audio Digest (a subscription-based program which has a board review module, +- reviews on the app, content not updated very frequently), the MKSAP 18 Audio Companion, and there are a few that just tape live presentations, but then the speakers refer to slides which doesn't make sense if one is only listening. Might be the case for audio digest too.
Someone in the forum rated the Frontrunners audio board review program very highly but it does not seem like it is produced anymore.
 
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kaycee18 said:
has anyon use nejm practice questions for abim? how helpful was it?
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What NEJM practice questions, the online question of the week? Or are those packaged and sold separately?

nannaKskywalk said:
So I know this is probably kicking a dead horse but I would like to get some opinions for study endurance and test fatigue. In reviewing the ABIM I guess it's 10 hrs long? I suppose it could be shorter but I don't know if I'll be the person who finishes much sooner. but my older peers who took ABIM said they got tired by block 3 or by 6 hours in. Is there an equivalent of an NBME practice test for ABIM that I can take for endurance practice beyond just burning through Uworld questions to mimic the feel of the exam? Or is this something that I should even worry about? It has been years since I've done USMLE and also I felt like back then the maximum for each block was 50 questions or 1 hour blocks.

I will have some time before I start my job so I can dedicate time to going through my MKSAP and Uworld and Awesome review notes. I want to know if there's something that would help mimic the feel of the exam in terms of length without having to burn through so many questions as the ABIM Uworld qbank is half the size of the USMLE qbanks.

Thanks in advance.
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Familiarity with test questions and test endurance are 2 separate things. The only way to increase test endurance is to increase physical stamina.
 
People starting fellowship, what is your study plan? I'm planning on taking it this August, however am very stressed about it as I'm very behind because of the whole COVID situation these last few months.
 
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zeloc said:
What NEJM practice questions, the online question of the week? Or are those packaged and sold separately?

there is a question bank by NEJM for the sole purpose of studying for ABIM boards.

Familiarity with test questions and test endurance are 2 separate things. The only way to increase test endurance is to increase physical stamina.
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there is a question bank by NEJM for the sole purpose of studying for ABIM boards.
knowledgeplus.nejm.org

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This FREE 10-hour CME/CE training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders satisfies the new one-time, eight-hour training requirement for all Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered practitioners. AMBOSS is now the home of NEJM
knowledgeplus.nejm.org knowledgeplus.nejm.org
 
So I am going through the ABIM tutorial but I am not quite sure. Is the IM calculator available for initial certification? I don't remember seeing it the first time i took this exams. Would be good to know if i need to memorize formulas.
 
kaycee18 said:
So I am going through the ABIM tutorial but I am not quite sure. Is the IM calculator available for initial certification? I don't remember seeing it the first time i took this exams. Would be good to know if i need to memorize formulas.
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No, you don't need formulas.
 
OndansetronWithMe said:
People starting fellowship, what is your study plan? I'm planning on taking it this August, however am very stressed about it as I'm very behind because of the whole COVID situation these last few months.
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My strategy is doing 60 questions a day from a qbank. Planning on completing two of them. Using MKSAP (I have 17, almost done with it, avg 65% so far, I did 500 q during residency intermittently) and UW or Medstudy (one of these, I bought both and trying to decide which one to do). I was planning on 4 days/week of study time to allow for fellowship hours and avoid burnout. l plan on reading the Board Basics book in the last month so it sticks.
I don't retain enough by watching videos or reading the MKSAP series of books so I won't be doing those. Hopefully this is enough.
 
Hi all! Long time lurker first time poster on this thread. I am a PGY-3 looking to finalize a study plan for ABIM. I have UWorld ABIM and did a casual pass during my PGY-2 year. My ITEs have been >/=70%. My plan was to continue doing UWorld and supplement with BB, but looks like MKSAP is more widely used. Should I use MKSAP instead? My preference would be to use and focus on 1 QBank. I tried a few MKSAP questions and honestly I hate it relative to UW. The stems are really long and the content seems way more specific. Thanks for the help!
 
DocOc1998 said:
Hi all! Long time lurker first time poster on this thread. I am a PGY-3 looking to finalize a study plan for ABIM. I have UWorld ABIM and did a casual pass during my PGY-2 year. My ITEs have been >/=70%. My plan was to continue doing UWorld and supplement with BB, but looks like MKSAP is more widely used. Should I use MKSAP instead? My preference would be to use and focus on 1 QBank. I tried a few MKSAP questions and honestly I hate it relative to UW. The stems are really long and the content seems way more specific. Thanks for the help!
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I answered this same question about a month ago and the answer remains the same...pick one, preferably the cheap/free one. With ITEs in the 70th %ile you're going to have to try hard to fail this exam.
 
If anyone would like to sell their u-world ABIM q bank pls DM me.
 
OndansetronWithMe said:
People starting fellowship, what is your study plan? I'm planning on taking it this August, however am very stressed about it as I'm very behind because of the whole COVID situation these last few months.
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I'm so lost I just decided to screw it and pay for a board review course. I figured btwn getting through all off MKSAP and 5 days of lectures spaced out will get me where I need to be.
Idk if it helps but I've been trolling to see what average mksap scores ppl report before there actual board scores.
 
gutonc said:
I answered this same question about a month ago and the answer remains the same...pick one, preferably the cheap/free one. With ITEs in the 70th %ile you're going to have to try hard to fail this exam.
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Thanks! Is it common for people to use UWorld over MKSAP? Does anyone have experience in only using UWorld and not MKSAP? Just wanna make sure there aren't glaring deficiencies in UWorld which may make MKSAP the better/necessary resource.
 
DocOc1998 said:
Thanks! Is it common for people to use UWorld over MKSAP? Does anyone have experience in only using UWorld and not MKSAP? Just wanna make sure there aren't glaring deficiencies in UWorld which may make MKSAP the better/necessary resource.
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There are over 2000 posts in this thread alone. I think they are fairly evenly split between:
  • UWorld is all you need, everything else is stupid
  • MKSAP is all you need, everything else is stupid
  • Some other review course/QBank is all you need, everything else is stupid
  • Use all the things or you will definitely fail by 1 million points
Clearly, they can't all be right. Or perhaps they are all right.

Advice is unchanged.
 
I have Medstudy question bank for sale if anyone wants it. I thought I would get time to use it but doesn't seem like it.
 
It’s been quiet this year. How is everyone holding up? Ready for this beast of a test? I’m nervous but ready to have this over with! Hopefully the first time....
 
Anyone opt to do the 2 year knowledge check-in? Curious what study resources people are using to refresh stuff up.
 
ClingingDiff said:
It’s been quiet this year. How is everyone holding up? Ready for this beast of a test? I’m nervous but ready to have this over with! Hopefully the first time....
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Nervous as well. Have the exam next week.. Between the craziness of the last 6 months and starting a busy fellowship just ready to be done with this exam. I did UWORLD x1 and watched the Medstudy videos (all I have energy for at this point). Going through this forum I don't know how people have the time to study 8 hour/day for weeks to prepare for this exam.
 
Ready for it to be over as well. Did UWorld/MKSAP over the past few months, redid all incorrects, and now redoing sections I was weak on the first time though. Made anki cards for all of it, which has been my strategy since MS1. Hopefully it goes ok for all of us.
 
ClingingDiff said:
It’s been quiet this year. How is everyone holding up? Ready for this beast of a test? I’m nervous but ready to have this over with! Hopefully the first time....
Click to expand...

Checking in. test in less than 2 weeks!

My ITES around 70% all 3 years without studying.
MKSAP 18 finishing my first run through about 66% correct; will review my incorrects thoroughly. Will use MSKAP questions as my primary source, skimming board basics and reviewing my old step 2 CK/Step 3 notes from UW.

I've found MKSAP 18 questions to be super sub-specialty specific with occasional conflicting evidence. Also I've noted TONS of weird advanced oncology treatment questions... pretty sure even Onc fellows would struggle with these questions.

Looking forward to having this done!
 
ABIM in two weeks. I did MKSAP 17 twice (60% first time, 70% second time), MKSAP 18 (70%), and Awesome Board Review course 3 times. I am now running through UWorld (about 60% but only 13% of the questions done).

I did terribly on my ITE's cuz I didn't prep at all for them (8%, 17% and then 6% as a third year). Also my program had terrible didactics so I literally learned nothing until I started board prepping. What are my chances?
 
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Pudental said:
ABIM in two weeks. I did MKSAP 17 twice (60% first time, 70% second time), MKSAP 18 (70%), and Awesome Board Review course 3 times. I am now running through UWorld (about 60% but only 13% of the questions done).

I did terribly on my ITE's cuz I didn't prep at all for them (8%, 17% and then 6% as a third year). Also my program had terrible didactics so I literally learned nothing until I started board prepping. What are my chances?
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You should be good. Those numbers are on par with passing. Uworld is good, but hard, don't let it discourage you.
 
Anyone have a uworld question bank they want to sell? I just completed mksap and need something for the next 2 weeks. Thanks!
 
Is there any practice exam like UWSA or NBME type for ABIM?
 
Wondering how the scheduled breaks work during ABIM exam. If I finish a session early, is it possible to use the extra time as break? Say I finish first session in 1h30m can I just leave session running and have an additional 30 min break time? or will this time be taken off from next session?
 
Dr.001 said:
Wondering how the scheduled breaks work during ABIM exam. If I finish a session early, is it possible to use the extra time as break? Say I finish first session in 1h30m can I just leave session running and have an additional 30 min break time? or will this time be taken off from next session?
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1. No need to cross-post this. -10 internet points for you.
2. Each section of the exam has a time limit. The entire day has a time limit (# of sections x time for each section + allowed breaks). If you finish a section in less than the amount of time you have, you can take a longer break if you want. But why would you do that? If you're powering through them in 50-75% of the time you're allotted, get the whole damn thing done faster and go home.

Why would you stick around in a dingy Prometric (or Sylvan, or whoever) testing center eating a Clif bar and a bruised apple when you could finish that s*** early and go out for a medium rare steak and a bottle of wine?
 
gutonc said:
1. No need to cross-post this. -10 internet points for you.
2. Each section of the exam has a time limit. The entire day has a time limit (# of sections x time for each section + allowed breaks). If you finish a section in less than the amount of time you have, you can take a longer break if you want. But why would you do that? If you're powering through them in 50-75% of the time you're allotted, get the whole damn thing done faster and go home.

Why would you stick around in a dingy Prometric (or Sylvan, or whoever) testing center eating a Clif bar and a bruised apple when you could finish that s*** early and go out for a medium rare steak and a bottle of wine?
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Sorry about cross-post, initially posted in the other thread, and then realized this one was better tailored to the topic. Anyways, deleted the other post! Hopefully, I can get at least 5 points back. LOL

Yeah, I guess you are right. Dunno if it's just my USMLE PTSD where I was just super stressed of time running out during all breaks I took. I like to be relaxed rather than worrying about the time running out, but I guess this exam is structured differently and 40 min seems fine in between each session.
 
gutonc said:
Why would you stick around in a dingy Prometric (or Sylvan, or whoever) testing center eating a Clif bar and a bruised apple when you could finish that s*** early and go out for a medium rare steak and a bottle of wine?
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This. The center where I took all of my USMLEs was next door to a sports bar with a huge patio. My only motivation to finish each exam was to be able to go next door, drink cold beer on the patio, and be the envy of the folks still taking their exams.
 
I was wondering this too. But so far I have found nothing like the NBME. I just ended up another q bank for assessment and practicing my time management; and used uworld/mksap for questions and learning.
 
drimo786 said:
Same question; haven't found anything yet. if anyone has any resources please let us know
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Nope. Pick a QBank, set it to test mode. Put 60-100 questions in there at random and hit start.

I know that MKSAP does this. I assume all the other QBanks do as well. A QBank that doesn't let you do it this way should be avoided.
 
Meh I'm fully expecting a delay that they will blame on covid (as if covid affects the scoring of this exam at all)
 
Anyone with advice for studying the ID material? Have done UWorld x2, and trying to supplement with the boards basics chapter but for ID it is so dry and I don't seem to be retaining the info very well. Thanks!
 
drleggo said:
Anyone with advice for studying the ID material? Have done UWorld x2, and trying to supplement with the boards basics chapter but for ID it is so dry and I don't seem to be retaining the info very well. Thanks!
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Do you know how to treat pneumonia? Cellulitis? Meningitis? If you can treat all 3, you're golden.
 
UWorld is kicking my ass. How does 64% two days before the exam sound?
 
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