How to prepare for the Qualifying ExamSSAT Webinar

July 12, 2021

Yewande Alimi MIS | Bariatric Surgery Fellow

Clinical Scholar Department of Surgery

Stanford University School of Medicine

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DisclosureI have no disclosures

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Objective• What is the exam?• How to and when to register? • How to prepare?

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What is the qualifying exam? • Offered Annually

• PGY - 4s who meet all ABS criteria may sit for the exam in the beginning of their PGY 5 year (https://www.absurgery.org/default.jsp?certgsqe_pgy4)

• To be eligible, the PGY-4 resident must meet all ABS training and application requirements at the time of application to the QE, except for the required case numbers as noted abo

• Consists of 300 multiple-choice questions• In standard years:

• 8 hours long

• 4 115-minute sessions

• Optional 10 minute breaks• 40 minute break between 3rd and 4th sessions

https://www.absurgery.org/default.jsp?certgsqe

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Registration and Requirements • Application Form

• Fee To Apply: $525

• Fee for test: $1400

• Training requirements as detailed at https://www.absurgery.org/default.jsp?certgsqe_training

• Operative logs• Signature form from Program director• Documentation ACLS, ATLS, FLS, FES

• Accommodations due to COVID may be found at https://www.absurgery.org/default.jsp?faq_gshardship

• Medical License not required for QE

https://www.absurgery.org/default.jsp?app_gqe_inst

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Registration and Requirements NEW FOR 2021

• Once all items are submitted, you will be able to complete the second step and register for the exam while your application is undergoing review.

• After registering, you will also be able to schedule your test center with Pearson right away. Be advised that testing centers have limited capacity, are subject to social distancing requirements, and may fill up well before the exam date, particularly in urban areas.

• You should contact Pearson VUE as soon as your admission letter is posted to your portal page to reserve space at a testing center near you. If you delay, you will likely have to travel outside your geographical area in order to schedule the exam.

https://www.absurgery.org/default.jsp?app_gqe_inst

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Predictors for doing well?• Scores below the 35th percentile on the ABSITE at

any time during residency and scoring less than 200 on USMLE Step One1

• ABSITE scores are a useful predictor of QE scores and outcomes but do not predict passing the CE2

• While doing well on ABSITE, is a predictor of performing well on the QE; performing poorly on the ABSITE is not directly associated with doing poorly on the QE2

1) De Virgilio C, Yaghoubian A, Kaji A. Predicting performance on the American board of surgery qualifying and certifying exam: a multi-institutional study. JAMA Surgery. 2010; 145 (9): 852-856.2) Jones, Andrew & Biester, Thomas & Buyske, Jo & Lewis, Frank & Malangoni, Mark. (2014). Using the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination to Predict Board Certification: A Cautionary Study. Journal of surgical education. 71. 10.1016/j.jsurg.2014.04.004.

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Resources for preparation • Content Outline• Surgical Core (SCORE)

curriculum• http://files.surgicalcore.org/score_gs_

co_booklet_final.pdf

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Resources • Plethora of resources – texts, courses, etc

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How do many prepare? (and how I prepared)Annually

• Reading plan • Develop one that works for you

• Core text -- Cameron’s vs Greenfield – pick one that you like best

• Doesn’t have to be the two above but pick

• Keep notes that will serve as a resource for prep closer to the exam

• This is key as often re-inventing the wheel of preparedness is not ideal

• ABSITE preparation• Questions, Questions, Questions

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Crunch Time: 3-6 months prior to test date

• Follow up on your notes• Review your ”weak” areas on prior ABSITEs• Questions

• SCORE questions

• SESAP 17

• TrueLearn Questions

• Fiser Green Book

• More Questions

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Summary

• Play the long game –have a reading strategy well before your chief year

• Prepare a condensed study tool

• Questions, Questions, Questions

• More Questions