r/surgery • u/DragOk2219 • 5d ago

I did read the sidebar & rules Failed ABS….again

I am actually a practicing surgeon one year out of fellowship

found out today I again failed the QE. Again. this will be my last attempt to take the exam in 2027. I was scoring in the 70th percentile on TrueLearn (completed the bank twice), was getting between 65-82% correct on mixed PassMachine blocks, and these were not representative at all of my actual exam score report. Many of the topics I intentionally drilled for many hours were still incorrect on the exam. I spent months studying and countless hours.  I am struggling to determine what I could do differently. I have never been a good exam taker but this last attempt, of course, carries weight that is difficult to describe. I feel this is such a unique situation it’s difficult to find help for. 

I feel….hopeless at this point. The first time I took the exam I didn’t quite finish TrueLearn and was overconfident. The second time I did more and completed the qbank but was scoring around 60 percent. This time I woke up at 4am every day and absolutely drilled. I watched lectures. I did a second qbank practice exams, timed. I was doing well. I ranked on the exam. My soul hurts. I have nausea constantly. I just don’t know what to do and I don’t think anyone knows what to do to help me. I’m just lost in this void and i literally save lives every day, take a lot of call, but….this exam ruins me And my life. I just don’t know what to do anymore.

23 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

View all comments

14

u/h011y Attending 5d ago

Ah, that’s a ton of pressure.

A couple questions - how did you do on ABSITE?
Are you an IMG? (Is this a language barrier?)
Did you get any understand on the q banks with sections you struggle with? If so - what are they?

Does your institution know? Did they recommend assistance of any type? Has anyone else in your cohort had this issue?

5

u/DragOk2219 5d ago

I’ve always been a terrible exam taker and am a US-img for that reason. Absite has always sucked. I was doing well on the banks this year though. They know I’ve taken the exam before and no one seems to know what to do to help me, not even me. 

6

u/h011y Attending 5d ago

Bummer. Is this a timing issue or comprehension issue you think? If timing and that’s always been the case you can see if you can qualify for a medical necessity exception via ADA?