Everything to Know About ABOG Qualifying Exam Prep in 2024
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When I first started studying for the ABOG written exam, I felt overwhelmed and nervous. So much of residency is about surviving, learning essential skills, and getting through each week or month while acquiring so much knowledge in the hospital, OR, and clinic. However, this firsthand clinical experience typically isn’t enough to pass or do well on the written exam, which relies more on your medical knowledge. Here’s everything you need to know about preparing for the ABOG Qualifying Exam in 2024.
Naturally, the endless amount of material you need to master to become a competent OB/GYN becomes overwhelming, as you’re simply doing your best to get through residency. I had to get started somewhere to prepare for my specialty board exam and searched for a Qbank with spaced repetition, immediate explanations in tutor mode, and a way to see tangible improvement over time.
I tried one other question bank when studying for the CREOG exam but found it lacked in all the areas I looked for in a Qbank. I had seen some of my EM colleagues studying with Rosh Review and decided to try it.
I started studying with the Rosh Review ABOG Qualifying Exam Qbank in November of my chief year and am so glad I did. Being an OB/GYN chief is extremely demanding and often leaves you with little bandwidth for other things in your life, but I found that the Rosh Review Qbank was easy to use on my phone (like when I put my kids to bed or walked to work) or on desktops in the clinic or hospital. I did as many questions as I could, which sometimes meant 10 questions a day, sometimes 100. I gave myself grace and was able to incorporate studying into my life, rather than planning around it.
My exam date was at the end of June, so I set out to complete the entire ABOG Qbank by April and flagged questions I felt I needed to review more extensively. I also kept a running Google Doc with topics and explanations to review frequently. There’s also something about writing that helps us remember things, so I printed out some figures or algorithms directly from the explanations. Then, I annotated them and reviewed them whenever I could.
From April to June, I reviewed and repeated all the questions I’d previously answered incorrectly. Then, I reviewed and repeated all my flagged questions. I especially liked creating longer quizzes of 70–100 questions leading up to my exam date to improve my stamina. I also purchased the Mock ABOG Qualifying Exam in my Qbank Boost Box before my exam to simulate my exam day, making sure there were no surprises on the structure or content during the real thing.
What kinds of questions are on the 2024 ABOG Qualifying (written) Exam?
The exam consists of multiple-choice questions that cover approximately 30% obstetrics, 30% gynecology, 30% office practice and women’s health, and 10% cross-content. The number of questions varies each year. See the 2024 ABOG Qualifying Exam blueprint for a list of topics within these areas.
How long is the 2024 ABOG written board exam?
Approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes.
When can you take the ABOG Qualifying Exam in 2024?
July 22, 2024.
What is the ABOG written exam pass rate?
In 2022, the total pass rate was 91%, and the pass rate for first-time test takers was 96%.
How can you prepare for the 2024 ABOG qualifying and certifying exams?
In addition to the Rosh Review Qbank, a comprehensive approach to understanding the exam content includes studying from PROLOG and one of the board study courses. I went through all six PROLOGs twice. I also signed up for Dr. Wall’s virtual course and was able to watch and listen to all 16 hours of recordings approximately three times.
My Top 3 Tips for Studying for the ABOG Qualifying Exam
- Give yourself grace while holding yourself accountable. It’s a balance.
- Be consistent. Creating a mental map of the exam content starts with reviewing it frequently and coming back to any concepts you missed.
- Be honest with yourself. Do you REALLY understand a topic, or are you clicking through to the next question? Going through the motions does not serve you!
When I finally took my ABOG written exam after months of preparation, I knew I passed before I even finished the exam. This was a full-circle moment for me—I was never a natural test-taker and had to work really hard to succeed.
My final piece of advice is this: Your worth is not defined by an exam. I think back to when I took the MCAT twice and felt like I had somehow failed. Now, I know anyone is capable of putting their mind to a goal and succeeding, regardless of whether you think you’re a good test-taker. When you create a study system that works for you (and stick with it), the more you learn and the better off you’ll be when you’re taking an attending call as a fellow or in your own practice.
Good luck!
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