There are over 40 question banks and 1,200 available questions in the PM&R QBank. While this may seem overwhelming, breaking down the questions by topic can help you to effectively study.
First, we recommend that you take the 325-question Mock Exam as a pre-test. While this is intimidating and will take time, it will establish a knowledge baseline and help you fill in gaps in understanding. Once completed, you should spend time reviewing this test and identifying areas of strength and weakness.
Next, you should spend an allotted amount of time on each topic. For example, decide to spend 3 days studying brain injury. During those three days, you should focus on the Brain Injury QBank, and other brain injury related study materials. After answering a question YOU SHOULD REVIEW EVERY LISTED REFERENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE QUESTION EVEN IF YOU ANSWERED CORRECTLY. You do not have to necessarily read the entire reference, but feel comfortable with the information presented in it.
At the end of your specific topic study period, you should retake the topic QBank and see your progress. You should mentally be able to explain the answer you choose to prove that you understand the concept behind your answer choice. If you disagree with an answer choice, please email us so we can review.
The Master Exams should be taken after you review a group of similar topics. This mimics a more comprehensive exam, without being overwhelming. Considering that you should have already reviewed these topics, you should perform well on the Master Exams.
Finally, you should re-take the 325-question Mock Exam. These questions are pulled from the over 1,200 questions that you should have completed and will test whether or not you learned the material well. Keep in mind that this will not include all of the same 325-questions that you completed during the pre-test. You should perform significantly better than the pre-test.
Using these methods and incorporating other study resources as time allows will give you your best chance at passing your exam. Just remember that concepts are important, and these PM&R QBank questions are meant to make sure that you understand these concepts. If you do, there is no reason why you should not pass.
How to Study from the Oral Case Bank
You absolutely must practice oral mock exams in order to pass the Part II ABPMR exam. There is no doubt about it. You may have done well on Part I and feel confident in your knowledge, but being in front of an examiner and having to explain your thinking process is a whole different story.
These cases are designed to simulate the oral exams as seen on the ABPMR website.
We recommend studying with a partner if possible, but if you can’t, the design of the oral cases allows you to study alone. Read the question prompt as if the examiner is asking you the question, and then respond as you would to the examiner. It is best to talk it out, or record your response with your phone. You may also wish to try group studying. During the real Part II exam, there may be moments when information is not available. In these oral exam cases, if you ask for information that is not provided, similar to the real exam, assume that the information is “not available.”
Practice these cases in a real mock format, and you will feel much more comfortable in May.
Wishing you success,
Jacques Courseault, M.D., CAQSM
Founder/CEO
