The latest installment of AGA’s Digestive Diseases Self Education Program® (DDSEP®) 8 not only helps prepare you for the in-depth gastroenterology and hepatology material on the GI board exam, but also for the test-taking process itself, thanks to a helpful piece by Suzanne Rose, MD, MSEd, and Norma Saks, EdD.
Dr. Rose, professor of medicine and senior associate dean for education at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and Dr. Saks, professor of the department of psychiatry, assistant dean for educational programs and director of the Cognitive Skills Program at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, compiled their experience and knowledge into a helpful and comprehensive list of test-taking tips for practitioners taking the GI board exams.
The article, “How to Prepare for the Gastroenterology Boards,” delves into each stage of test preparation, including studying, practice testing, and taking the test itself. Below are just a few summaries of the many tips they provide. You can access the full article by purchasing DDSEP® 8. To learn more about AGA’s DDSEP® offerings, visit http://buyddsep8.gastro.org.
Before the exam
Get to know the rules and familiarize yourself with the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) certification process. Make sure you allow enough time to prepare for the exam when you’re signing up, and also get familiar with the location, scheduling, and potential penalties of the exam.
Preparing for the exam
While studying, Dr. Rose and Dr. Saks recommend first identifying your strengths and weaknesses so that you can take the time to prepare where you need it. Also, make a study schedule and take practice tests so that you can better identify topics you should spend more time studying for. For instance, even though you might think something’s a test strength, practicing could help show you that you’re overthinking topics you’re most comfortable with. Also, consider working with a partner or larger group to help increase learning retention and keep you on track with your study schedule.
Taking the exam
In addition to obvious things like double-checking ABIM’s website before the test day and getting a good night’s sleep, the authors provide some helpful time management suggestions. Some topics they address include guessing, pacing yourself during the exam and how to best address those difficult questions. One big tip they offer: don’t leave questions blank, as those will automatically be counted as incorrect answers.
