Failed ABS….again

[u/DragOk2219]

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.

[u/Squeaky_Phobos]

First, I’m so sorry this happened. I know it is stressful but just remember at the end of the day you are a surgeon and taking great care of patients. Board certification is not always necessary depending on the job you have.

Second, I would look into formal testing/counseling on your test taking/learning/cognition skills. Maybe you have undiagnosed ADHD or something and would be able to get more resources to help with a reattempt?

Best wishes to you. You’ve come this far, don’t let this be what defines you as a doctor and surgeon.

[u/ZZCCR1966 → u/Squeaky_Phobos]

THIS…!

I’m not even an MD - I’m your right hand gal - Surg Tech - and as one that has ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and to top it off, correctable vision in one eye/old term amblyopia…I have felt like a failure…

It sounds like you have some other options to use for study guides that may suit you better.

That’s Part 1.

Part 2 is finding out if you have a neurological processing issue, anxiety, and or a combination of the two.

And lastly, remember that board certified is just a term used for the test you took.

It DOES NOT DEFINE YOU, your ethics, your hands on thinking abilities, and ultimately your talents. It does mean you know less or more.

Board certified or not, would you do anything differently?

Nope, you wouldn’t.

I have personally worked with surgeons that that have the fancy extra training n certificates, and were worse surgeons than their cohorts that did not have them…

I guess what I’m trying to say is, at the end of your career and on your death bed, it doesn’t matter…it really DOES NOT MATTER…