Everything You Need to Know About the ABOG Qualifying Exam

For aspiring OB-GYNs, the ABOG Qualifying Exam is a significant milestone in the journey to becoming board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Given by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), this exam evaluates the knowledge and skills needed by physicians in the field. In this blog, we will give you a comprehensive guide to all things ABOG Qualifying Exam!

What the ABOG Exam Covers

The exam covers a wide range of topics in obstetrics and gynecology, ensuring that candidates are well-rounded and well-prepared for their future roles. The exam is divided approximately into 33% obstetrics, 33% gynecology, and 33% office practice and women’s health. The percentage of questions in each subcategory is shown below:

Obstetrics

• 4%- Preconception/Prenatal/Antenatal Care
• 8%- Evaluation/Diagnosis of Antenatal Conditions 
• 18%- Intrapartum Care, Complications, and Obstetrical Procedures
• 3%- Postpartum Care

Gynecology

• 4%- Preoperative Evaluation
• 3%- Perioperative Care
• 8%- Postoperative Care
• 4%- Surgical Complications
• 9%- Gynecologic Emergencies
• 5%- Surgical Procedures

Office Practice

• 10%- Well-Woman Preventive Care
• 4%- Office Management – Medical Problems 
• 15%- Office Management – Gynecology 
• 4%- Office Procedures

The exam questions are designed to assess candidates’ knowledge, clinical judgment, and decision-making skills in these areas.

How Long You Should Study for the Exam

The amount of time needed to study for the exam will vary from person to person. Things to consider when deciding how long to study include your prior knowledge, personal study style, and your previous clinical experience. In general, we recommend anywhere from three to six months to prepare. Before you begin studying, take some time to do practice exams and assess your current level of knowledge. Use that information to identify your strengths and weaknesses so you can determine the amount of time needed in each content area.

How Many Questions Are on the ABOG Written Exam?

There are 230 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions on the exam. For most questions, all answer choices are plausible, but you are tasked with choosing the most correct answer. You have three hours and 45 minutes to finish the test, and there are no scheduled breaks.

What is the ABOG Pass Rate?

The ABOG Qualifying Exam is known for its rigorous standards, and the pass rate can vary from year to year. The first-time pass rate in 2022 was 91%, up from 90% in 2021.

What Happens if You Fail the Written ABOG Exam?

While failing the ABOG Qualifying Exam can feel dejecting, it doesn’t mean the end of your career goals. If you fail the exam, you are permitted to retake it. You must complete a new application and pay the exam fees again.

When the scores are released, ABOG provides a breakdown of your results in each category. Analyze the report, identify weaknesses, and reformulate your study plan. Consider seeking additional study resources, review courses, or consulting with mentors to address your areas of weakness.

Remember, failure is not the end of your journey but rather a learning experience that can make you a stronger and more resilient candidate.

Top 3 Things You Need to Know If You’re Taking The Exam

If you’re gearing up to take the ABOG Qualifying Exam, here are the top three things you need to know:

1. Know what to expect on exam day. The ABOG exam is administered at Pearson Vue testing centers. To help lessen testing anxiety, familiarize yourself with the center’s policies and procedures beforehand.
2.  Know how to apply your knowledge to clinical scenarios. During your studies, pay close attention to not just memorizing facts, but using your knowledge in managing obstetric and gynecologic care. According to ABOG, you should be able to obtain needed information, interpret and use data, implement appropriate care, manage complications, etc. These skills take practice, so dedicate ample time to mastering them.
3. Know the importance of practice questions. You simply cannot have a solid study plan without incorporating practice questions. Practice questions help you engage in active learning, rather than passive. They also help build your testing stamina, improve your time management skills, and help build your decision-making skills. When using practice questions, it is important to always review the answer rationale no matter if you got the question right or wrong.

Looking for an ABOG Question Bank?

The TrueLearn ABOG SmartBank comes with over 1,500 practice questions! Written by experts in the field, all questions are mapped to the ABOG Qualifying Exam blueprint. The TrueLearn platform tracks your progress so you can get a clear understanding of where to focus your study efforts. With our real-time national benchmarking, you can easily see where you stand compared to others taking the ABOG Qualifying Exam. We also offer a first-time pass guarantee, meaning you can rest assured that TrueLearn has your back!