The Three Pillars of Pediatrics Board Exam Prep You Need to Know

The Pediatrics Boards are known for being challenging exams with a pass rate of only 81% in 2021. Having failed on his very first attempt, Dr. Ashish Goyal, a board-certified pediatrician, is not immune to this.

By taking a different approach to the resources he used and outlook on the exam itself, Dr. Goyal was not only able to pass the exam on his next try, but saw an increase in his score by 100 points. 

This began his journey of creating Pediatrics Board Review, a resource that provides residents with the pediatric board prep methods that helped him pass in his second year. In this webinar, he joins us to share three pillars he provides to residents that can help make a huge impact come exam day. 

1. Content

One mistake that many residents make is spreading themselves too thin by using too many resources (books, videos, etc.). The best way to avoid being overwhelmed by the amount of information available is to stick with a primary source that you can trust that has all the core information needed to excel on the exam. Starting early is always recommended so that you have ample time to try a different resource if you find your first one is not effective for your learning style. 

2. Test-Taking Technique 

When it comes to practicing testing, don’t be afraid to test with multiple pediatric question banks. This helps to build your test-taking stamina while also solidifying complex content. You can start taking practice questions whenever you are ready to start building test-taking techniques. Be careful not to spend too much time on the answer explanations and overloading on too much information. Try to stick to reviewing incorrect material and questions you answered correctly but struggled between two answer selections. 

3. Commitment 

Residency can be busy, so committing to a regimen will help set you up for success. Study every day for shorter amounts of time early on to give yourself plenty of time to gauge your weak areas of study. In terms of how much review is needed, Dr. Goyal uses a number of factors to determine his recommendations for residents. For example, if you have not previously failed any of your board exams and are in a program that is considered ‘low risk’ for pass rates, you should attempt to go through your primary resource three times. This helps to reinforce all of the content long-term. Check out PBR’s calculator to see where you stand, and review a study scheduler built for first time test-takers. 

Remember, it’s never too early to start your exam preparation! Learn even more tips and recommendations from Dr. Goyal on how to pass your pediatrics boards the first time by watching the whole session below. 

About TrueLearn 

Use TrueLearn practice questions to test your best on your board exams with thousands of high-yield test items written by board-certified physicians. TrueLearn helps to track your individual performance to gauge where you stand amongst your peers and provide testing analytics to improve performance to outperform on your exam.