Prepare for and Pass Your ABIM Board Exam
We know you know how to study. After all, you wouldn’t be where you are — preparing for the Internal Medicine board exam — if you didn’t. But your time is scarce, and medical knowledge is increasing exponentially. Continually honing your ability to learn and use your study time efficiently is paramount to success, both for passing the exam and keeping your medical knowledge current.
Studying for Internal Medicine Boards
We want to help! This is the first of a six-part series to help you prepare for your ABIM Exam. In each stage of this series, we will guide you in your exam prep with:
- Resources designed to enhance your study skills and help you create and implement an effective learning plan for passing the ABIM exam
- Evidence-based strategies that will accelerate your exam prep
- Key action items to ensure you sign up on time and prepare in the most efficient, effective ways possible
ABIM Study Schedule — What’s Your Timeline?
Exam dates vary based on whether you are taking the initial certification exam or the ABIM MOC Exam. Refer to the countdown tools to the left to determine how many weeks and days you have until your exam. Then select the first link below to review exam dates and registration deadlines, and make a plan to sign up on time to avoid late fees.
Once you’ve decided on your exam date, make a copy of and fill in the ABIM Board Study Planner Tool that includes key dates and formulas to help you understand your time table and get an estimate of how much time you’ll need to study for the ABIM exam.
Action Items / Resources:
- Get the exam on your calendar: ABIM Exam Dates.
- Register for the exam or add the registration deadline to your calendar.
- Make a copy of and fill in our customizable ABIM Board Study Planner Tool.
Part 1: Preparing for the ABIM Board Exam
Internal Medicine Board Preparation — Level Up Your Learning Skills
Taking some time to level up your learning skills will pay dividends in time savings and knowledge retention. For this reason, we’ve pulled together resources to help you apply the latest learning science and evidence-based practices as you study for the exam. Check them out and become an even more efficient and effective learner!
Action Items / Resources:
- Read How to Study for Boards: Avoid these 10 Common Mistakes PLUS 10 Tips and Strategies.
- Get the skinny on the science with The Neuroscience of Learning: Beyond Just “Making It Stick.”
- Learn about Microlearning.
- Find out about Spaced Repetition — The Most Effective Way to Learn.
Internal Medicine Board Study Plan — Create Your Roadmap
You’ve established your timeline and determined how much time you need to study. You’ve also spent some time taking stock of information that will help you level up your learning skills. Now it’s time to create a plan that prioritizes study topics based on the ABIM Blueprint, as well as areas where you need the most focus. This is also a good time to calendarize and block off time for studying in your weekly schedule. If possible, include extra time for unexpected events such as illness or unplanned work and personal commitments.
Action Items and Resources:
- Familiarize yourself with the ABIM Exam Blueprint
- Use the ABIM Board Study Planner Tool you filled out previously to prioritize study topics and allocate your available study time. Make adjustments based on your areas of strength and your knowledge gaps. (You can make personalized adjustments seamlessly with targeted feedback from NEJM Knowledge+ Internal Medicine Board Review.)
- Block off time for studying in your weekly schedule.
How NEJM Knowledge+ Internal Medicine Helps
NEJM Knowledge+ Internal Medicine Board Review uses advanced algorithms to eradicate learning gaps and deliver content precisely mapped to the ABIM Blueprint to create the perfect learning path for you. The algorithm automatically adjusts in real time to your strengths and knowledge gaps. Learn how our Adaptive Learning Technology can speed up your Internal Medicine board prep and build your metacognition to help you become a faster, more superior learner.
Part 2: Preparing for the ABIM Board Exam
How To Study For Internal Medicine Boards
If you’ve been following our guide so far, you’ve gathered a lot of data on how to study for Internal Medicine boards in the most effective and efficient ways. So, you probably know that answering internal medicine questions is one of the best strategies you can deploy. Use the resources below to learn more about Internal Medicine question banks and how to get free board review questions.
- Choose a Question Bank aligned to the ABIM Blueprint and with relevant, common clinical scenarios you encounter in everyday practice
- Sign up for NEJM Knowledge+ Question of the Week and get FREE board review questions delivered to your inbox
How NEJM Knowledge+ Internal Medicine Helps
NEJM Knowledge+ Internal Medicine Board Review has the largest ABIM question bank anywhere, with over 5,100 questions aligned to the ABIM Blueprint including single-best-answer multiple-choice questions (MCQs) just like the ones on the exam. Our Internal Medicine MCQs are in the same format as the ABIM exam and include the:
- Patient vignette or question scenario
- Lead-in or the question itself
- Answer options with one correct answer and several distractors
By answering questions like the ones on the exam you’ll not only learn rapidly, you’ll also gain the skills and confidence you need to tackle questions successfully on exam day. Learn how we develop our gold-standard Internal Medicine board review questions.
Internal Medicine Practice Exam
If you haven’t already, this is a good time to take an Internal Medicine practice exam. In addition to providing more opportunities to answer questions, a timed practice exam will simulate the real exam helping to reduce anxiety and build your confidence for test day. It will also give you a baseline and help you zero in on topics that need the most attention.
- Take a Practice Exam to get a ‘knowledge baseline’
- Review and update your ABIM Study Plan based on the results of your Practice Exam
How NEJM Knowledge+ Internal Medicine Helps
NEJM Knowledge+ Internal Medicine Board Review has two timed practice exams, each with 60 questions that mirror the format of the Internal Medicine board exam. After each exam, you’ll get detailed feedback on your performance broken down by subspecialty, as well as key learning points and citations. Learn more about NEJM Knowledge+ Board Review including the two practice exams.