October 2017 Tip of the Month

Next Online Written Prep Course opens in October

Our popular Online Course contains over 400 written questions for the written exam candidate.  In addition, Dr. Das, ABC's Course Director has included 2-1/2 hrs of videos which include exam strategy, how to gauge your performance, interpretation of your CREOG scores, and most important of all - test-taking methodology!  If your goal is to improve your test scores (and who doesn't?) here is your chance to apply the CQRPE method. Course will open on October 18th and remain open until the June ABOG Qualifying examination.  Join us anytime!

For ABOG 2017 ORAL Exam Candidates

NOVEMBER Exam Candidates
OK, the exam is next month, so it’s time to pull it all together. You need to come out running with mock oral exams. Plan to meet with those who reviewed your case list earlier and ask them to give you a mock oral. It’s also time to call for reinforcements and recruit other sources, such as local and regional colleagues, academicians, subspecialists and generalists. After each mock oral, go back for a targeted review of missed topics. Make a new game plan and try it out with the next mock oral.
Don’t want to reinvent the wheel? Our Oral Exam FAQs itemizes those questions most frequently asked for specific topics.
Half of your exam is the case of the day. You can simulate the exam with our Structured Cases. It is an invaluable study guide that can be used for self-study or more importantly, have others quiz you so you can practice out loud. Speaking of practicing out loud, our Structured Cases Webinar Archives is divided into twelve sessions. Each session cover four cases-of-the-day. The faculty-led discussion of the answers and grading gives you that ah-hah factor to totally nail this portion of your exam. You’ll end up with 72 cases.
Did we mention mock oral exams? The number one regret of past candidates is they wished they had taken more mock oral exams. Although we’re a fan of using those familiar resources aforementioned, now’s the time to call in the “A” team, as in the ABC faculty. ABC offers Case List Reviews, Mock Oral Exams and our signature, one-of-a-kind structured cases by phone. We can take it up a notch by offering eye-to-eye mock oral exams on Skype, but you’ll need to provide the glaring, white light.
The icing on the cake is our Do or Die In Dallas session. Dr. Krishna Das, yeah - the lady who wrote THE book, Pass Your OB/GYN Oral Exam, will be in Dallas November 5th through 8th. She’s seen it all and can warm you up for your big day with last-minute polishing (or cramming for some) through private sessions on whatever you need … mock orals, structured cases, etc.

Test Taking Technique:  
The strategy for GUESSING depends on the exam component. If you are defending your case list, GUESS only if you are reasonably (80%) sure. For example, if you are asked, “What does the CA of CA-125 stand for?” Some possible answers might include:
  • If you don’t know the exact answer, but do know something about the topic, qualify your answer with what you do know, such as “I know it is a laboratory serum tumor marker for epithelial ovarian cancers. It is most helpful as a marker for recurrence of disease but has limitations as a screening tool. I cannot recall what the CA stands for, but I can readily look it up in our laboratory reference manual at my office”.
  • If it’s vaguely familiar, it is better to respond, “I cannot recall at this time”.
  • If you have absolutely no idea, then respond, “I don’t know”.
(FYI – The answer is “Cancer Antigen”)
On the other hand, if it’s on the structured cases section, come up with something … anything. If you just say “I don’t know” you will get ZERO points for that question; whereas, if you come up with something, you will at least get partial credit.  Remember - all the other candidates that day will be asked the same question and somebody is going to know the answer, so don’t leave that stone unturned, if possible.
There will always be some questions for which you do not know the answers. You may have easily passed the question, but the examiner will drive you to the point where you think you don’t know, simply to explore the depth of your understanding. Remember, it’s also a great strength to recognize when you have reached your limitations.

 

DECEMBER Exam Candidates

Your exam is in two months – crunch time and holidays. You WILL and MUST budget time for your family - remember them? Forewarned is forearmed, so don’t set yourself up for that guilt trip of studying vs. family. You can do both if you’re organized.
Half of your test is defending your case list. Send your case list NOW to your following local/regional consultants or colleagues for recommendations in DEFENDING your case list:

Case list component

Reviewer

OB

MFM, generalist

GYN

GYN ONC, Urogyn, generalist

Office

Generalist, REI, FP, IM

Make sure you give them a strict deadline, say two weeks; and set a date now to discuss their recommendations. The ABC faculty can also review your case list one-on-one at the fall course or can provide a Comprehensive Case List Review.
We offer a November 14-19 Review Course, timed perfectly for your exam. Even, or perhaps especially, if you’ve to take another review course, this will be so well worth your while. We offer a streamlined exam-focused review in only five days. For the past four years, we’ve covered 99% of the exam topics. There will be no doubt as to what you need to study with three short weeks remaining before your exam. If you can’t come to us, let ABC make a house call and you can order the course, recorded on audiovisual and audio.
Our Oral Exam FAQs itemizes those questions most frequently asked for specific topics.
Half of your exam is the case of the day. You can simulate the exam with our Structured Cases. This is an invaluable study guide that can be used for self-study or more importantly, have others quiz you so you can practice out loud. Divided into 12 one-hour sessions, our Structured Cases Webinar Archives provide you with 72 cases and are available for you to access as much as you want, right up to your exam. 
The ABC faculty is available to provide specific services in mock oral exams, case list reviews and structured cases - both at the course and later by phone.
Finally, we’ll be there in Dallas with you.  Dr. Michelle Tucker will host our Do or Die in Dallas December 3rd through 6th. She can warm you up for your big day with last-minute polishing (or cramming for some) through private sessions on whatever you need … mock orals, structured cases, etc.

Test Taking Technique:  
This is an ORAL exam, so get used to talking out loud. The following topics are super high yield: vaginal breech delivery, management of shoulder dystocia, postpartum hemorrhage, the course of the ureter, and dictate a vaginal hysterectomy. Practice answering the questions to these “know-cold” topics out loud in the mirror, or better yet, to anyone who will listen.
Did you come to our April or September course? Well y’all come back now, here? We invite you to come back to Charlotte, NC, during our November 15-19 course for 1 or 2 days specifically for face-to-face mock orals. If you bring your binder back, we’ll let you sit through lectures for free while awaiting your next mock oral.

 

JANUARY Exam Candidates

Think you’re coasting, eh? A common regret is to get caught up in the holiday festivities and procrastinate studying until afterward. Big mistake because – duh - at that point, the test is in three weeks.
Avoid tricks by sending your case list around Halloween to your following local/regional consultants or colleagues for recommendations in DEFENDING your case list:

Case list component

Reviewer

OB

MFM, generalist

GYN

GYN ONC, Urogyn, generalist

Office

Generalist, REI, FP, IM

 Make sure you give them a strict deadline, say two weeks; and set a date now to discuss their recommendations. The ABC faculty can also review your case list one-on-one at the fall courses or can provide a Comprehensive Case List Review.

Come to our November 14-19 Review Course to get crackin’. ABCs November 14-19 Interactive BOARD Review Course is the perfect time for you. Our research has consistently shown that your pass rate is higher if you incorporate strategy with content. Therefore, our Oral Exam Workshop, which is devoted to strategy, is now included with the course. You can take off the next week for Thanksgiving.
Half of your exam is the case of the day. You are so lucky that your exam is in January, as you can pace yourself listening to our Structured Cases Webinar Archives! Each one-hour archive covers 4 high-yield topics, so you’ll end up with 72 cases!
If the webinar was a rude awakening, you can get even more practice with our Structured Cases. This is an invaluable study tool that can be used for self-study or more importantly, have others quiz you so you can practice out loud.

Study Tip:
You MUST know your case list COLD! For every patient, make a copy of the case from your case list, draft a clinical summary, identify the patient management issues, compile the compendium references on the issues, and your clinically oriented review. Viola! Now you know her stone cold.
Did you come to our April or September course? Well y’all come back now, here? We invite you to come back to Charlotte, NC during our November 16-20 course for 1 or 2 days specifically for face-to-face mock orals. If you bring your binder back, we’ll let you sit through lectures for free while awaiting your next mock oral.


Subspecialty Fellows Sitting for their 2017 ABOG General Oral Board Exam

By now, you’ve experienced that rude awakening of just how much you forgot in your off-specialty subjects. That’s where they get the expression, “If you don’t use it, you lose it”. Our review course is IDEAL for fellows, as we tell you just what you need to know; then you can joyfully repress it again after your test. Even if your exam is not until January, there is A LOT to relearn, OK, for some of you, to learn.
We strongly recommend you come to our November 14-19 Review Course to gather all the material you will need for 90% of your test. For those of you who attended a previous course, but your exam is not until December or January, we’ll even let you come back to the November course for a day or two just to take mock oral exams. Heck, bring back your syllabus and we’ll let you sit through the lectures for free while you are waiting for your next mock oral exam.
Don’t want to reinvent the wheel? Our Oral Exam FAQs itemizes those questions frequently asked for specific topics and covers ALL of the case list categories.
Half of your exam is the case of the day. You can simulate the exam with our Structured Cases.  They are invaluable study guides, especially for subspecialists, so you can challenge yourself with your off-specialty subjects. Our Structured Cases Webinar Archives are ideal for subspecialists, as you can listen specifically to those off-specialty topics - ouch, better to find out now than on your exam!
You can always reach out for a comprehensive case list review on all, or just your off-specialty sections, of your case list for anticipated questions on your cases. Finally, we encourage you to tap into our Do or Die In Dallas. Our faculty will ready you for last minute polishing or cramming.

Study Strategy:
Time is short. Remember you are sitting for your general boards, NOT your subspecialty boards. Starting now, don’t study anything in your subspecialty - focus entirely on your off subjects. You do not need to study to the exhaustive, minutiae detail that you are used to for your subspecialty. It will not score you any more points and is a waste of precious study time. Our Test Topics Manual will provide you with a template for an exam-focused review.


For ABOG 2018 ORAL Exam Candidates

You cannot apply for the 2018 oral exam until February 1, 2018. However, if you wait this long to enter cases, you’re already EIGHT months behind, since the collections started JULY 1st. BIG MISTAKE! Call or e-mail ABOG now to get your case list software.

Don’t fret about details of how to enter the data. You’ll change your mind at least a half dozen times before it’s all said and done. For all GYN patients, begin a habit of collecting H&Ps, operative notes, pathology reports and discharge summaries. For all OB patients, keep a file of the prenatal forms, delivery notes, discharge summaries and postpartum notes. Don’t worry about the office patients yet. Take a stab at entering the data on the case list forms and just use your common sense.
Rest assured, we will offer our Case List Construction Workshop during our April 2018 review course. Start today to create a good habit of collecting and entering cases.
For those who are OCD, order your copy of Pass Your Oral Ob/Gyn Board Exam by Dr. Das for a complete step-by-step guide. Start today to create a good habit of collecting and entering cases.

You can do it … we can help

Chief Residents Planning a Subspecialty Fellowship & ABOG General Oral Board Exam

Subspecialty fellows are permitted to select 20 patients from their Chief resident year for their off-specialty case list. In other words, GYN Oncologists, REI and Urogynecologists will need an OB list and MFMs need a GYN list. Thus, make sure to hold onto that residency log!
Refer to the ABOG Bulletin as to how those 20 patients are selected. To be on the safe side, we recommend you collect at least 30, so you can strategically select the final 20 later. For those patients, keep a file of the following: for the GYN patients, collect the H&Ps, operative notes, pathology reports and discharge summaries. For the OB patients, keep a file of the prenatal forms, delivery notes, discharge summaries and postpartum notes. Don’t worry about the office patients at all, as you may compile this only during your fellowship.

Test Taking Tip:
You’re almost halfway through your academic year and you will never rotate again on certain subspecialties. It’s critical that you track those for which you will need to collect cases and strategically choose those during the rotation. Better yet, keep a list of all the cases so you have the luxury to choose which ones you want to keep. You want your case list to reflect a depth and breadth of general OB/GYN. Remember, once you leave your residency, it becomes a logistical nightmare to go back and collect cases.


Subspecialty Fellows Planning for their 2018 ABOG General Oral Board Exam

You can now sit for your general oral boards anytime during your fellowship. Furthermore, you can only take the general oral boards once during your fellowship. If you somehow neglected to collect cases in your off-specialty from your chief year, begin to piece together how to gather those cases from your residency institution. GYN Oncologists, REI and Urogynecologists will need an OB list and MFMs need a GYN list. If you take call for these off services, you can use those cases.

Test Taking Tip:
You’re almost halfway through your case list collections. I’m not worried at all about your subspecialty cases, rather your off-specialty cases. Do you even have them? If you do, then well done! If not, begin figuring out how you’re going to get them. Ideally, see if you can get some cases that you actually manage, as in the present, not past, tense. See if you can take call or staff the residents on your off-specialty. If that’s not possible, start coordinating with your past residency to recapture those cases.

 

For ABOG & AOBOG 2018 WRITTEN Exam Candidates

The exam is in 6 & 8 months respectively. For you ABOG folk, the $1470 application and examination fee is due THIS month - by October 18th. A late fee of $345 kicks in until November 17th, followed by a really swift kick of an $825 late fee until December 17th. No applications are accepted after December 17th. For those of you taking your AOBOG exam, the $1175 examination fee is due by February 19th.
Since ABOG no longer reports your objective score on the exam, you have no idea if you sailed through or missed passing by one point. So, unfortunately, now the only correlate is the CREOG in-service-training exam. If you’re a chief resident, you must use this as a gauge to predict board performance, so you must/should prepare for this.
For those wanting to score big on their CREOGs, or to explode out of the gate for their written board exam, come to our November 15-19, 2017 Review Course. This is an excellent opportunity to gather your exam-focused study material and let us put you on a customized study plan for the next six months.
Knowing the content is only half the strategy; the other is applying it. Our education specialists, Martin and Jane Jolley, will conduct their signature Test Taking Skills Workshop on November 15th. If you have not scored > 200 on your CREOG in-service training exam, failed your written board exam, or have just wished your score reflected your knowledge, this workshop is a must. In just 2 months you can perfect their method and test drive it on the January CREOG exam. Faithful users typically score one standard deviation or 20 points higher! Just imagine the possibilities for your board exam!

Test Taking Technique:
Since ABOG no longer reports your score for the written board exam, the only resource to gauge your performance is the CREOG in-service-training exam. Anyone, not just residents, can take the exam, and it is STRONGLY advised for those who are repeating their board exam. Don’t worry - the results come only to you. However, the one-page application and $120 examination fee is due by November 9th. Either e-mail Darya Valantsevich at DValantsevich @acog.org or call her at 202-863-2554 to register, but hurry because the deadline is November 9th.
After much ado, finally, the CREOG exam is on the computer. This is good news since the ABOG written exam has been administered on the computer since 2007. This will be great practice, as taking an exam on a computer is very different than with paper and pencil. If too much is at stake and you don’t want to experiment for the first time, take a test drive with our Computerized Diagnostic Tests


For AOBOG Oral Exam Candidates

For those preparing for their April 27-28, 2018 exam, you really want to get a head start by coming to our November 15-19, 2017 Review Course. Did you know that our syllabus even highlights the core topics? We also have an evening session that puts each core topic under the microscope and painstakingly goes through potential exam topics.  Our AOBOG Combo Package is specially designed to provide you with the best of both worlds. Attend our November review course, then start the New Year with our Oral Exam Webinar. Drs. Diane Evans, DO, Mitch Kahn, DO and Hazem Kanaan, DO guarantee to get you through the core topics by the April test dates. If you sign up for all 3 sessions, you will receive a FREE ½ hour telephone mock oral exam! Since its debut in 2011, we’ve been batting a 99% pass rate for webinar attendees. Have you heard about the new 4th Station with visual images? Talk about striking fear into your heart! Oops, do you have no idea what this is? We have a new product - tah dah! - Cleverly called “4th Station” that is now available for purchase. Don’t be caught by surprise. 

Test Taking Tip:
For those taking their Oral exam October 20-21st, 2017 – Good Luck! Take advantage of our Structured Cases Webinar Archives. The webinar covers AOBOG core topics! This is a fantastic opportunity to polish your oral exam skills. Remember you only need 75% to pass each core topic and 73% total to pass the exam. Don’t let the worry about what you missed interfere with your focus on the next question.

 

ABOG Maintenance of Certification

Part II Lifelong Learning
ALL 45 articles are due by December 15th.   I know a rare few of you haven’t even done any. If you’re desperate, you need to pass 80% of 120 questions, so that’s only 30 of the 45 articles; however, you only get 25, rather than 35 Category I CME credits.
Remember also that you must have enrolled in at least one practice module each year. If you have not, that can also be grounds to yank your certification - YIKES!
For those of you in your third year, you should have started the Safety Course. You cannot enter it until you have completed 60 questions from the 1st or 2nd quarter articles. The Safety Course is accessed only online, so if you’re one who likes to print out the articles and questions, you’re out of luck.
Part III, Secure Written Exam
For those of you in MOC Year 6, you must register by November 15th and pass a written exam by December 15th. We have three products to help you prepare for and pass your written exam. For those of you who have always tapped into a review course as you prepare for your board certifying exams, you’ll take great comfort in our five-day November 15-19 Review Course. This is not the same type of review course as in the past. Just as you’ve evolved and practice evidence-based medicine, our course is designed for the adult learner, is exam-focused, and all lectures follow the national ACOG guidelines. Heck, you’ll walk away with loads of everyday practice tips, too.
You are accountable for Safety and Professionalism. Remember you completed the Safety course in your third year, but you could not print out the articles. Fortunately, ABC had the foresight to create a Safety Course Manual as well.
Finally, the Board has acknowledged that an emphasis will be placed on both the Compendium and the articles. So don’t you think the highest yield will be those MOC articles that overlap with the Compendium?
Oh, just in case you think you’re coasting after you pass your written exam, think again. You still have to read the 2017 articles. No rest for the weary!   

Test Taking Tip:
You must pass the exam by December 15th, and you get a total of five attempts. SIGN UP FOR THE EXAM NOW for the day after our November review course.
The written exam is on the computer. Many of you have never taken an exam on the computer and it’s not the same as a beloved written book. Your old friend, the pencil, is obsolete. Do not wait until the day of the exam to discover this.  Go to www.pearsonvue.com/abog ahead of time for a tutorial to familiarize yourself with how to take an exam on the computer. If you’re still not one to be ill-prepared, try out our computerized questions. Go to www.americasboardreview.com > Written Exam > Test Question Bank jolleytestprep.com/store > OB/GYN Diagnostic Tests. Many of the questions were based on the MOC articles and are formatted like your exam. The best part is each has a narrative explanation of the answer, providing instant gratification.
Unlike most computer banks that require a 12-month subscription, the ABC bank is a pay-as-you-go. You may simply need only one bank of 105 questions to feel comfortable. It’s no coincidence that your exam is only 100 questions, too!

            

AOBOG Recertification Written Exam, Osteopathic Continuous Certification in Obstetrics & Gynecology (OCC)

The OCC written exam is now offered twice a year at Pearson Vue centers.  The spring exam is during a week in March 12-17, 2018. Applications for the March 2018, exam will be available September 1st.   Or you can wait until the fall and sign up to take the September 24-29, 2018 exam. Although the recertification written exam has now been phased out, you must take a formal proctored written exam in either year 5 or 6 of the OCC cycle.  If you’re a generalist, it’s a walk in the park. If however, you have limited your practice (eg. GYN only, laborist, subspecialist, etc.) then it’s not a walk, but a triathlon. You’re going to need to train, so we suggest our November 15-19, 2017 Review Course for a comprehensive, exam-focused review.
Additionally, you must complete 5 Practice Performance Assessments (PPA) in each 6 year OCC cycle. These 5 PPAs must be completed by September 15th of the year your certificate expires.

Tip:
You can access the PPA modules through a link on the aobog.org website to the O-CAT website. Since these modules take some time to complete, it is highly recommended that you begin a module in the first or second year of your OCC 6-year cycle. You need 5 per 6 year cycle to maintain your certification.
You can do it…we can help. 

For ABOG 2018 FPMRS ORAL Exam Candidates

ABC FPMRS Webinar, Thesis Reviews, Case List Reviews and Mock Orals to begin this fall! Starting in October, potential Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery oral board candidates can get the guidance they need through online webinar sessions with structured cases, have a fresh set of eyes review their thesis and case list materials, and also have phone or in-person mock oral exams.

Case List Tip::
You have time to compile, but it is always a good idea to get your master list of surgical and non-surgical cases pulled. If you have a helpful administrative liaison in the finance department, they can run a report with patient names and the ICD 10 bb codes, which will give you a great organized start to compiling your list. Additionally, you can use that list of diagnoses to identify cases for your office categories very quickly. The ABC FPMRS Webinar will also have some great templates and tips for creating a list that is in line with ABOG standards, so you won’t have to experience the anxiety-provoking process of amending your list.
 

For ABOG 2018 MFM ORAL Exam Candidates

Take a deep breath - you’ve made it past the first big hurdle and got your thesis submitted. Congratulations! Now it’s time to focus on finishing that case list and formulating a study plan. Speaking of that study plan… We’ve done all the hard work for you with our MFM Interactive Board Review Course, which will be held November 17-19. Dr. Stephanie Martin has created an innovative and integrated program to address those high-yield weaknesses common to all. We cannot repeat a 3-year fellowship in 3 days, but we will help you master the topics that are key to success on the oral exam. Each day, we will tackle MFM topics such as critical care, maternal medical complications, genetics, and ultrasound, utilizing a structured case format similar to your oral board exam, but facilitated by the faculty. We will also cover Case List preparation, board exam tips, designing a study workshop and statistics.  The format is carefully designed for the seasoned adult learner preparing for an oral exam and promises to be focused, productive, non-adversarial and fun.

Case List Tip:
The case list isn’t due for another 4 months, but this is also a good time to make sure you are entering the data and checking to make sure you have patients that represent all of the different categories you need to fill for the case list. If you find that you are missing some patient experience types, now is the time to find ways to get more clinical exposure so you can be sure to get those last rare conditions covered.

For Royal Canadian 2018 exam candidates

For those wanting to score big on their CREOGs or to explode out of the gate for your written board exam, come to our November 15-19 Board Review Course. This is an excellent opportunity to gather your exam-focused study material and let us put you on a customized study plan for the next six months.  Registrants in the past have said our November course is great timing for their May exam. 

«Excellent cours! La documentation est trēs facīle ā suire et ēnarmēment de sujets. Merci! » ELL

 

 

 

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