How to Prepare for the Qualifying Exam (Written Boards)

How to Prepare: You have been practicing the format of standardized exams in multiple-choice format your entire life. You have taken the ABSITE every year and at this point know how to study. Your efforts should primarily be directed on recall and practice questions as you will see on the exam. Similar to ABSITE, you should plan on doing a minimum of 1,000 questions. Use of ABSITE review books and larger textbooks can be used to supplement as needed, but the primary focus should be placed on practice questions.

The O.R. Strategy:

  • Start 1-2 Months Before the Exam
  • Primarily Focus on Practice Questions
    • Minimum of 1,000
    • SESAP & TrueLearn are the Two Most Commonly Recommended
  • Use Whichever Review Book & Textbook You Used in Preparing to Study for the ABSITE to Supplement
  • Use Our Review of Surgery for High-Yield Rapid Review of Subjects to Supplement

Written Board Review Resources

Review Books & Textbooks

  • There are not many textbooks/review books written for the sole purpose of the written boards. In general, residents and graduates will use the same review materials they used in studying for the ABSITE.
  • The Operative Review of Surgery (The O.R.) – For high-yield rapid review of all subjects. We recognize our obvious bias but are dedicated to making our product the most up-to-date, clinically relevant and simply best surgical review material available. There is no cost.

Question Banks: Qualifying Exam-Dedicated

  • SESAP-17 (Surgical Education and Self-Assessment Program) – 650 case-based practice questions. Produced by the ACS Division of Education. Cost is $263 for ACS members or $357 for nonmembers.
  • TrueLearn – 1,500+ practice questions. Similar to the ABSITE practice questions. Cost varies from $230 for 30-days to $429 for 12-months.
  • The Pass Machine – 1,500+ practice questions. Includes 44+ hours of lectures. Cost is $1,097 for 12-month access. *They also produce an oral board review series.

Question Banks: General/ABSITE

  • SCORE (Surgical Council on Resident Education) – 2,300+ practice questions. Same question bank used for ABSITE preparation. Most residents already have access through their residency program.
  • TrueLearn – 1,000 practice questions. Cost varies from $190 for 30-days to $369 for 12-months.
  • DeVirgilio C. Review of Surgery for ABSITE and Boards, 3e. 2022 – 1,000 practice questions in book format. Cost is about $99.
  • Other Banks:
    • ABSITE Quest
    • Decker Medicine
    • ABSITE Assassin

Additional Pages

What are the Boards?

How to Prepare for the Oral Boards (ABS-CE)