{"id":13205,"date":"2025-07-17T19:50:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T19:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roshreview.com\/blog\/?p=13205"},"modified":"2025-09-19T17:06:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T17:06:24","slug":"what-is-the-format-of-the-psychiatry-board-exam-other-abpn-board-exam-faqs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roshreview.com\/blog\/what-is-the-format-of-the-psychiatry-board-exam-other-abpn-board-exam-faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Format of the Psychiatry Board Exam? (& Other ABPN Board Exam FAQs)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
There\u2019s no such thing as becoming too<\/em> familiar with the format of the specific American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) certification exam you\u2019ll be taking in September. By getting to know the overall format of your exam and the breakdown of each section, you\u2019ll be ahead of the game when it comes to exam prep! <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re not sure how to familiarize yourself with the ABPN exam you\u2019ll be taking, don\u2019t worry. This post will give you a good overview of both the ABPN general and the child & adolescent exams, so you\u2019ll be ready on test day. <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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Originally published December 2023 \/ Updated July 2025<\/em> by Dr. Roopma (\u201cRoop\u201d) Wadhw<\/em>a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarities Between the General Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Exams <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As we\u2019ll see, there are some key differences between the general and child & adolescent exams, but they also have some things in common. We\u2019ll begin by taking a look at some of the similarities between the two ABPN certification exams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exams are similar in terms of the types of questions on them, how they\u2019re scored, the exam dates, and how they\u2019re administered. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s examine these four areas in a bit more detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Types of Questions <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Both exams have two types of questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Stand-alone, multiple-choice, one-best-answer questions<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Linked sets with a vignette that has 2-10 related questions<\/strong>, sometimes requiring the selection of more than one correct answer<\/strong> (a small proportion of linked sets have an audio-visual (AV) component)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    2. Scoring <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    The way the exams are scored doesn\u2019t depend on the performance of your colleagues, but rather, a passing standard that\u2019s set ahead of time. Therefore, it\u2019s possible for all<\/em> examinees to pass. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can skip stand-alone questions and flag them to review later until completing each section. Linked sets must be completed in order and questions may not be skipped or subsequently reviewed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When a linked set requests the examinee to choose multiple answers to each individual question in the set, no credit is given unless all correct answers are selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Exam Dates<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    For 2025, the exam dates for both exams are either Monday, September 8th or Tuesday, September 9th.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Administration<\/strong> <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Both exams are held at Pearson VUE testing centers, which are located across the US and Canada (and other countries as well). You must first apply through your ABPN physician portal<\/a>\u2014pay attention to the application deadlines! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After it\u2019s determined you\u2019re qualified to take the exam, you may choose an available date, time, and specific Pearson VUE testing center<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Differences Between the General and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Exams<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Now let\u2019s look at some differences between the two exams. The exams vary in the number of questions, the overall time allotted, and, of course, the specific content.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s break these differences down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Number of Questions<\/strong> <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    The general psychiatry exam<\/em> has 425 questions,<\/strong> whereas the child & adolescent psychiatry exam <\/em>has 280 questions.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the general psychiatry exam,<\/em><\/strong> there are between 245 and 285 stand-alone questions <\/strong>and between 140 and 180 linked sets<\/strong> (including 12 to 24 with AV vignettes). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the child & adolescent exam,<\/strong> <\/em>there are between 227 and 233 stand-alone questions<\/strong> and between 47 and 53 linked sets<\/strong> (including 5 to 8 with AV vignettes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Time Allotted<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    The general psychiatry exam<\/em> <\/strong>is 8 hours and 30 minutes.<\/strong> This doesn\u2019t include seven optional breaks (for a maximum break time of 60 minutes). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For the child & adolescent psychiatry exam,<\/em><\/strong> 5 hours and 30 minutes<\/strong> are allotted and there\u2019s an additional maximum break time of 30 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Specific Content<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    The content of the <\/strong>general psychiatry<\/strong><\/a> and <\/strong>child & adolescent psychiatry<\/strong><\/a> initial certification exams can be found on the ABPN website.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Preparation<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Demonstration exams for both the <\/strong>general psychiatry<\/strong><\/a> and <\/strong>child & adolescent psychiatry<\/strong><\/a> exams are also available on the ABPN website. They\u2019re very helpful for familiarizing yourself with the computer-based interface, the available functions (e.g., flagging questions to review before submitting final answers), and checking out linked question sets with and without AV components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    If you’re looking for additional help preparing for either of the psychiatry certification exams in 2025, check out my other blog post, How to Create a Study Plan for the 2025 ABPN Psychiatry Board Exams!<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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    10 Tips for Taking the Psychiatry Board Exams<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Now, I\u2019ll share some tips with you that\u2019ll help make exam day go as smoothly as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here they are, in no particular order: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Consider booking a hotel. <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    If the Pearson VUE testing center is not located near you, consider traveling to a hotel the night before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Make sure you know the route and it\u2019s clear.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re driving, check the route for any construction delays and consider a trial run from your hotel or home the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Relax the night before your exam.<\/strong> <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Don\u2019t study the night before. Relax instead! You\u2019ve earned it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Consider going alone if you\u2019re traveling. <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Although it can be tempting to combine sightseeing with your exam if you\u2019re traveling to a new city, it\u2019s best not to take others with you as this may distract you from what you\u2019re trying to accomplish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5. Read everything before answering.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Read the entire question and all the answer options before making your selection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    6. Your first instinct is probably right.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Go with your first instinct. It\u2019s usually right when it comes to answering test questions that you\u2019ve prepared for! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    7. Move on if you don\u2019t know the answer. <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    If you really aren\u2019t sure, select the best answer and also flag the question for further review after you finish the other questions. Don\u2019t get stalled, as it will just feed your anxiety. Move on instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    8. Answer every question.<\/strong> <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Make sure to answer every question, even if it\u2019s a guess, because you might guess right and there\u2019s no penalty for guessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    9. Do your best on subsequent questions in a linked set.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Don\u2019t panic about linked items if you realize you got a preceding question wrong, just do your best on each subsequent question in the linked set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    10. Go with SSRIs or CBT.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Finally, if you don\u2019t know the answer, you\u2019ll increase your odds of getting the question right by selecting SSRI or CBT, since they\u2019re ubiquitous first-line treatments for a variety of psychiatric disorders!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Ready, set, go!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    You\u2019ve come this far\u2014you can do this! Remember to trust your instincts while answering every question and that passing, rather than perfection, is the goal. Before you know it, you\u2019ll receive notification that you\u2019re now ABPN certified in psychiatry or child and adolescent psychiatry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Looking for more (free!) content to help you pass your psychiatry board exam? Check out these other posts on the Rosh Review blog<\/a>:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n