strategies for the abai exam

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Curtain Page Preparation Strategies for the ABAI Cert/Recert Exams Tao Le, MD, MHS Associate Clinical Professor Chief, Section of Allergy & Immunology Department of Medicine University of Louisville

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Page 1: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Curtain PagePreparation Strategies for the

ABAI Cert/Recert Exams

Tao Le, MD, MHSAssociate Clinical Professor

Chief, Section of Allergy & ImmunologyDepartment of MedicineUniversity of Louisville

Page 2: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Updated Presentation

www.slideshare.net/taolemd

Page 3: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Disclosures

• Editor, ACAAI Review for the Allergy and Immunology Boards

• Senior Editor, First Aid for the Boards review series (McGraw-Hill)

• Executive Editor, USMLERx.com

Page 4: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Disclaimers

• No affiliation with the ABAI

• ABAI makes no recommendations regarding test preparation resources or guidance

Page 5: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Learning Objectives

• To describe the ABAI certification and recertification examination

• To identify and select study and testing strategies for the ABAI examinations

• To identify and select appropriate study resources for the ABAI examinations

Page 6: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Brief History of the ABAI

• First administered in 1974

• First recertification administered 1977

• 10-yr certificates first awarded in 1989

• Offered annually starting 2005

• Certified roughly 120 allergists each year

• Roughly 85% of diplomates recertify

Page 7: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

ABAI Exam Overview

www.abai.org

  Certification MOCRecent Advances

Items 225 200 60

Time 7hrs (2 sessions) 4hrs (1 session) 6 weeks

Location test center test center ABAI Web Portal

Method computer-based computer-based computer-based

Passing Scoreabsolute minimum

absolute minimum

80% correct

Basic Science ~35% 0% 0%

Clinical Science ~65% 100% 100%

Page 8: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Anatomy of an MCQStem A patient who is HIV+ (peripheral blood

CD4+ count ≤ 200/µl) develops acute maxillary sinusitis.

Lead-In Which of the following organisms is most likely to be causative?

Options A. Pseudomonas aeruginosa

B. Listeria monocytogenes

C. Aspergillus fumigatus

D. Streptococcus pneumoniae

Page 9: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Question Structure

• Best single answer• No negatively phrased • 4 response options• Some questions have images• Trends towards:

– Short vignettes– Basic science and clinical integration– Multi-step questions – eg, clinical presentation dx

molecular defect?

Page 10: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Certification Exam Content

2009 2010

Basic Science 36% 38%

--Immune mechanisms 7 8

--Cells involved in immune responses

6 8

--Specific immune responses 6 9

--Laboratory tests 11 6

--Anatomy/physiology/pathology 4 4

--Research principles 2 2

Page 11: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Certification Exam Content

2009 2010

Clinical Science 65% 62%

--Hypersensitivity disorders 20 23

--Immunological disorders 15 13

--Pharmacology/therapeutics 14 10

--Specific diagnostic modalities 9 10

--Allergens/antigens 6 7

Page 12: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Certification vs. ITE

• No relationship between ABAI and AAAAI’s ITE• Similar style and construction• Similar content blueprint• Moderate correlation between ITE & Cert• Differences

– Different computer interface– ITE – 200 Q’s in 3.25 hrs– ABAI – 225 Q’s in 7 hrs

Page 13: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Recertification Exam Content

ABAI Clinical Items Recert(2009)

Cert (2010)

--Hypersensitivity disorders 44% 37%

--Immunological disorders 11% 21%

--Pharmacology/therapeutics

18% 16%

--Specific diagnostic modalities

14% 16%

--Allergens/antigens 12% 11%

Page 14: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Recert vs. Recent Advances

• Style and construction of test items are identical• Both with 100% clinical science coverage• Exams share no questions• Differences?

– Questions: 200 vs. 60 items– Content: established literature vs. clinical advances– Test situation: high stakes vs. open book/multiple attempts– Passing: 400 scaled score vs. 80%

Page 15: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Pass/Fail Criteria

• Norm reference standard– Until 2001– A fixed percentage always fails– Competent candidates could fail in a strong year

• Criterion reference standard– Implemented in 2003– Competency threshold predetermined– Theoretically, 100% can pass

Page 16: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Certification Pass Rates

Group 2011 2006-10***

Overall 88%* 81%

First-time 96%** 91%

Repeater 38% 33%

U.S. Grad 92%** 86%

IMG 63% 54%

www.abai.org

* All time high (since 1974)** 6 year high

*** Means are approximate

Page 17: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Recertification Pass Rates

www.abai.org

2011 99.6%

2006-10 97%

Page 18: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Score Report

• 3-digit scaled scores– Overall– By category– Range: 300’s – 600’s

• Overall passing threshold = 400

• Percentiles not reported

Page 19: Strategies for the ABAI Exam
Page 20: Strategies for the ABAI Exam
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ITE Score Report

• Percent correct– Overall– By category

• Percentiles reported– Overall– By training year

Page 22: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Text Resources• JACI Primers – revised, online, 120 questions • ACAAI Rapid Review for the ABAI – coming this spring

– Written by fellows, recent graduates who took the ABAI– Based on the ABAI outline

• A&I MKSAP – last revised 2002• Immunology texts

– Abbas – Cellular and Molecular Immunobiology– Janeway – Immunobiology – Choose one and stick with it

• Allergy texts– Middleton’s Allergy: Principles and Practice – source for many

questions– Patterson’s Allergic Diseases – more clinically relevant; new

edition– Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice – new edition

Page 23: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Question Resources

• Past ABAI Home Study exams

• Primer practice questions

• ACAAI FIT practice questions

• A&I MKSAP questions

• ABAI review questions

Page 24: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Other Resources

• AAAAI/ACAAI Live Review– Good framework– Not enough for cert/recert– Basic portion

• High-yield for cert• Low-yield for recert

• Review Online -- $$$ but great for catching the details in context

Page 25: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Preparation Tips

• Many ways to prepare

• Review ABAI exam blueprint

• Incorporate materials from training

• Use ITE/home study exam to pinpoint areas of weakness

• Establish a study schedule and stick with it

• Alternate study methods for variety

Page 26: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Preparation Tips

• Focus on:– Dogma– Nuances of management– Common dz uncommon/complicated presentations– Uncommon dz common presentations

• Focus on understanding vs. memorization early• Tie basic concepts to clinical correlations• Save crammable stuff for the end

Page 27: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

Test-taking Tips

• Know the CBT tutorial

• Know keyboard shortcuts

• Pacing should not be an issue

• OK to second guess

• Bad/ambiguous questions should be challenged

Page 28: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

High-Yield Topic Areas• Basic immunology

– Cytokines– Chemokines– CD molecules– Immune cells– Signal transduction

• Biostatistics and research principles• Immunodeficiency• Food/inhalant allergens• Asthma/allergy meds and disease management during pregnancy• Drug AEs and interactions• Images – pollens, molds, flow-volume loops, tympanogram• Variation may be tied to the make up of the ABAI board of directors

Page 29: Strategies for the ABAI Exam

• ABAI website – http://www.abai.org– Exam description – http://www.abai.org/exam.asp– Exam blueprint – http://www.abai.org/Outline.asp– Email – [email protected]

• JACI Primer – http://www.aaaai.org >> Members >> Education >> 2010 Primer

• ACAAI Board Review Corner – http://www.news-source.org/ACAAI/FIT-Archive2009.htm

Useful Links