part I will get harder next year?

[cherryalmond]

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Are the people who are exempt from taking the orals (like the current pgy3's) going to be getting a different written test (part I) than those who still have to take the orals?
I heard that the written part is going to get harder since there will be no orals which worries me.
I'm taking the exam next year but I still have to take the orals so am I going to be taking a harder written exam next year versus this year's test since next year the current pgy3's will be able to take the boards and the current pgy3s don't have to take the orals! they should be giving us different versions meaning I would be getting the same level of difficulty test as this year's test but a current pgy3 taking it next yr would be getting a harder test. Otherwise it's not fair!
any answers appreciated

 

[whopper]

I have heard nothing to support this. Not that it's not true, it maybe.

The ABPN does tell program directors the latest info. I'd ask your program director if there were any truth to this.

Even if the written boards were a bit harder, I'd rather have that than take the oral boards. During residency, about 3x per year, we'd have a board examiner come in and do practice oral board examinations on the residents, and guy x told the residents you had to do something specific or you'd fail.

Then guy y told the residents if you did the above you'd fail. Great, a catch-22, and all for the cost of $1300 + about $700 in travel fees, and about 3 days of your life where you could've earned $2400.

 

[cherryalmond]

I heard it from someone else who heard it from my program director! He said that since the current pgy3s do not have to take the orals, instead there will be 3 interviews they have to do to be graded by a board certified psychiatrist, and since those 3 interviews will be easier to pass the writtens will be harder. But my question is if they do get harder, would the abpn give out two different written part I exams because there will be some current pgy4s (who have to take the orals) who will be taking the exam next year so they should get an easier test. I guess there's no way to find this out.

 

[Doc Samson]

I heard it from someone else who heard it from my program director! He said that since the current pgy3s do not have to take the orals, instead there will be 3 interviews they have to do to be graded by a board certified psychiatrist, and since those 3 interviews will be easier to pass the writtens will be harder. But my question is if they do get harder, would the abpn give out two different written part I exams because there will be some current pgy4s (who have to take the orals) who will be taking the exam next year so they should get an easier test. I guess there's no way to find this out.

As far as I am aware, the ABPN has not announced that the written boards will be getting any harder. It's not like step 2 CK got any easier when they introduced 2 CS.

 

[psychattending]

To my knowledge there is no change in Part 1. Part 2 will be changing, though. Several parts of what used to be in the exam are now accomplished during residency training. Testing of assessment/plan, which was done in the old Part 2 orals, will still be in the new Part 2. The new Part 2 will be computer based, though. See the ABPN website for the most up-to-date information.