Rescheduling ABS CE Oral Boards

[argama]

I graduated GS residency in July 2024 last year. I'm in fellowship and I admit I should have started studying 2 months ago but now I'm trying to cram for the ABS CE Exam for March 25 2025 in 1 month. I was looking at the ABS website and it says everyone gets 3 opportunities within a 3 year period to pass the exam.

I honestly do not feel prepared and I find it's very hard to study hardcore everyday as a fellow (Im sure everyone feels this way). I know they offer the CE Exam in November 2025....if I reschedule my exam now to take in November 2025, does that count as 1 lost opportunity against me?

And if it is a "lost opportunity" by rescheduling, should I just take March 2025 exam knowing I might not pass?

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[LucidSplash]

I graduated GS residency in July 2024 last year. I'm in fellowship and I admit I should have started studying 2 months ago but now I'm trying to cram for the ABS CE Exam for March 25 2025 in 1 month. I was looking at the ABS website and it says everyone gets 3 opportunities within a 3 year period to pass the exam.

I honestly do not feel prepared and I find it's very hard to study hardcore everyday as a fellow (Im sure everyone feels this way). I know they offer the CE Exam in November 2025....if I reschedule my exam now to take in November 2025, does that count as 1 lost opportunity against me?

And if it is a "lost opportunity" by rescheduling, should I just take March 2025 exam knowing I might not pass?

From the ABS website:

“Upon successful completion of the GSQE, applicants will be offered up to three opportunities within three years to pass the GSCE. The three GSCE opportunities begin immediately upon successful completion of the GSQE. If you do not take the GSCE when offered in a given year, you will lose an exam opportunity.”

So if this counts as a lost opportunity depends on when you passed the QE.

 

[argama]

I passed QE in July 2024...I'll email ABS but this might count as a "lost" opportunity. But a failure on the record is worse right?

 

[LucidSplash]

I passed QE in July 2024...I'll email ABS but this might count as a "lost" opportunity. But a failure on the record is worse right?

A failure doesn’t mean anything if you eventually pass.

 

[Smurfette]

You could see if you are able to take one of the oral boards review courses right before your date. They are helpful to getting you to practice the format and have similar scenarios to the real thing. Fellowship might make that tough, but they also have an interest in your ability to pass. Just a thought...

 

[LucidSplash]

You could see if you are able to take one of the oral boards review courses right before your date. They are helpful to getting you to practice the format and have similar scenarios to the real thing. Fellowship might make that tough, but they also have an interest in your ability to pass. Just a thought...

This is a good suggestion. I took one of these courses mainly to get the time off from fellowship to study. That was precovid and the course was in person, in the same city the CE was held in though, when CE was in person. But still, getting time off to take the course could be really helpful.

 

[dmal]

It's been a while, so ABS rules may have changed. I did QE in 2016, and was initially scheduled for the CE in Nov 2016. I ended up canceling and rescheduling a week before the exam. Biggest cost was financial- no refund and had to repay the entire scheduling and registration fee ( close to $2000?) to reschedule. I rescheduled for the following year. I have not seen it mentioned anywhere in my record that I had a "lost opportunity" due to rescheduling my test date.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

Eh, not taking it is the same as failing it (other than feeling worse about it and paying the money). They both are going to count as an "opportunity". No one is going to ask for your testing history at this point. As @LucidSplash says, all that matters is that you eventually passed it.

Honestly, depending on your clinical schedule, you could prep well enough to have a decent shot to pass it. It's not really about volume of knowledge. It's practicing how to take the test.

 

[argama]

I see...
the only caveat with failing the oral boards now is that if I failed the one in late March, they will not allow me to sit for another exam until 2026 (ie next March). They allow only 1 attempt per year.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

I see...
the only caveat with failing the oral boards now is that if I failed the one in late March, they will not allow me to sit for another exam until 2026 (ie next March). They allow only 1 attempt per year.

It's one per academic year. So if you were to fail in the fall, you can't take it again in March. Just not the other way around. You could always call and confirm that, though.