CREOG and ABOG Exams: Know the Stems

With your CREOG or ABOG Boards coming up, there are two important things to do as you begin preparing for the exams: start studying early and prepare with the right question stems.

1. Start Studying Early

The failure rate of those taking these exams increases the longer you wait to start preparing for them. Not only that, but as your exam gets closer and closer, your ‘exam stress’ may start to rise as well.

Additionally, studies have shown that procrastinating “can also take a toll on mental health and well-being.” None of these side effects of procrastinating will do you any good on exam day, so make sure you start your studying months in advance.

2. Know the Question Styles or STEMS

As you probably know, the CREOG and Board exams are administered by two separate entities. This means the style and length of questions for each exam are very likely to be considerably different between the two.

The CREOG exam, administered by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, tends to favor ‘vignette’ style questions. Its questions are usually longer and contain extra ‘fluff’.

In the example below you can see how the CREOG question adds extra details that more often than not have no real influence on the diagnosis of the patient. When taking practice questions for the CREOG, it’s important to be able to cut through the “noise” and only concentrate on the details that influence the treatment of the patient.

CREOG Style Question

A 38 year-old Caucasian, nulliparous woman, whose LMP was approximately 10 days ago, presents to her gynecologist for a follow-up visit.  She was recently diagnosed with a complex ovarian cyst without internal excrescences.  Her CA-125 is 100 units/mL and her family history is significant for a mother with breast cancer at age 50 and sister with breast cancer at age 40.  On exam, there is no palpable ascites and additional imaging fails to show signs of metastases.  Which of the following characteristic of this patient meets criteria to refer her to a gynecologic oncologist?

The OB/GYN board exam is administered by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  This exam uses a very straight-forward and to-the-point style of questions. Unlike the CREOG exam, you are presented with only the information needed make a diagnosis. Many people find this exam easier, albeit just as stressful if not more, than the CREOG.

ABOG Board Style Question

In a 38 year old woman with a complex cyst with a slightly elevated CA-125 and a family history of breast cancer, which of the following is a reason to refer her to a gynecologic oncologist?

Be Prepared

We offer OBGYN question banks for both the CREOG and ABOG Qualifying Exam. The question stems in each SmartBank reflects the stem-style of the actual exam you are preparing for, so you can be confident going into exam day.