In this article, we’ll learn about pediatric board review courses being offered in 2023 and learn why live courses are broken. We'll also be sharing resources and recommendations for those looking into live board review courses, along with a review of the 2023 pediatric board review course createdby Pediatrics Board Review (PBR).
PBR was created by me, Ashish Goyal. As a pediatrician, I excelled when I increased my score by 160 points on the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Initial Certification exam. I was then asked by the ABP to write questions for them.
Now, as an author, my mission is to provide the best pediatric board review materials to residents and pediatricians. And I’ve been doing this successfully with PBR since 2011.
As physicians, we're trained to learn “everything” in our field, and we apply the same methodology to how we prepare for an exam. We start from the first sentence and take a top-to-bottom approach.
But these strategies do NOT work when you are studying for the pediatric boards.
That’s why at Pediatrics Board Review, we focus on creating a full, one-stop shop for you to focus your learning on three things. They include:
The specific topics that will be tested on the exam.
The strategy behind test taking, and how to deconstruct difficult questions with ease.
The tools, schedules, and systems needed to promote efficiency and accountability.
This article will be covering a LOT about what pediatricians just like you need to pass the pediatric boards (and how we have been providing that successfully for the past decade).
The system that we’ve created has been proven to be much more effective (and cheaper) than attending a 4-6 day long course where you're expected to learn everything about pediatrics. And if the thousands of happy pediatricians are any indication, using the PBR Certification Methodology is the way to go (but more on that later).If you are set on finding a traditional, live pediatric board review course, we do offer some advice and resources to help. Keep reading below to find a list of companies we've compiled who are offering live pediatric board review courses and the cost of attending. But, if you have 5 minutes, take the time to read this article because it will likely save you time, money, and energy.
Through this article, and through videos like the one below, you will begin to quickly understand why a “traditional” pediatric board review course can lead to failure. PBR is not a traditional board review company, and we focus on helping physicians in ways that have never been done before. In the video below, I share with you the arrival of the a new edition the PBR Core Study Guide, the Question & Answer books, our Test-Taking Strategies Course, and information around the differences between PBR and other board review courses that allow us to excel at what we do.
So hit “play” button below and watch this book “unveiling” video to get an excellent understanding of what makes PBR different than any other medical board review program.
Click here to get the full Pediatric Dermatology and Pediatric Gastroenterology chapters from THIS YEAR's EDITION of the PBR so that you can TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!
THE MAKINGS OF A GREAT PEDIATRIC REVIEW COURSE
What Makes a Great Pediatric Board Review Course?
Having been around pediatric board materials (and helping pediatricians pass!) for more than 10 years, I have found the key to any successful pediatric review course which boils down to 5 key elements:
CONTENT CONGRUENCY: Having materials that work cohesively together has been proven to better reinforce knowledge in our brains. This is compared to having several disjointed study materials with competing methodologies. Congruency promotes a smarter, not harder, studying experience.
BOARD RELEVANT MATERIAL (NOT ALL MATERIAL!): No course should try to shove as many topics as possible into your brain; that will only lead to overload! Pick a course that provides a laser focus on the topics that are known to be tested, and curates your study experience around those topics.
A FOCUS ON THE TEST-TAKING STRATEGY (JUST AS MUCH AS THE TOPICS): Everyone has a colleague, a friend, or a family member who is very intelligent, but tests poorly. When it comes to standardized tests, knowing how to test is just as important as knowing about the subject being tested! So, your chosen course should place a high emphasis on teaching you how to TEST well.
INTERACTION: A course that promotes interaction with both your peers and the instructor can lead to a better study experience. Trying to study in isolation for hours on end, with an instructor just talking at you, will only limit the amount of information you retain. It will also provide zero opportunity for you to gain clarification on the difficult topics you struggled with.
MULTIPLE RETENTION TECHNIQUES: Everyone learns at a different pace, so finding a course that utilizes several retention techniques to help you solidify what you are studying is key.
It was after working with several pediatricians on their board exams that I started to realize that there was a major gap in the medical education field that covered all 5 elements, and pediatricians were suffering the most because of it. This is why I created the PBR Certification Methodology over 9 years ago, and why it is at the core of everything that PBR offers.
A PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW COURSE WITH A 100% MONEY BACK FIRST-TIME PASS GUARANTEE
What is the PBR Course?
The PBR's 2023 pediatric board review course offers you a complete SYSTEM. We not only teach you about the pediatric topics you need to know for the boards, but we also teach you test-taking strategies and Deep Study techniques to ensure you have the BEST chance at passing your pediatric board exam. We also provide a peer-group for educational support.
You learn about test-taking strategies that allow you to answer board questions quickly and accurately (even when you're not fully knowledgeable about a topic).
You learn to create a streamlined study schedule to prepare for the boards that will liberate you from the confusion and overwhelm that you're currently experiencing.
You learn how prepare for each of these exams efficiently.
The PBR Certification Methodology Includes…
The Clarity Expander: One of the toughest obstacles to overcome while studying for the pediatric boards is clarity. This means having a firm understanding of what you do (and do not) need to know in order to pass. For example, did you know that theAAP PREP questions are NOT the best study questions? Or, that you should NOT try to study every single topic laid out inthe American Board of Pediatrics content outline? Or, that if you failed last year, you should NOT tailor your studies to address low scores from your score report? PBR’s system is the only proven system to help you gain clarity on these nuances so that you study smarter, not harder!
The Retention Maximizer: Maximize your chances of content retention through common sense explanations, innovative “DOUBLE TAKE” topics which are repeated throughout the Core Study Guide, PBR “PEARLS” that are almost guaranteed to show up on the exam, story-based mnemonics, and concise content.
The Repetition Amplifier: Utilizing a multimodal approach to studying through hardcopy books, online videos, downloadable MP3s, mobile access, an online picture atlas, and other creative techniques allow you to review the same core materials in multiple ways. By promoting studying via multiple modes, our system encourages deeper learning to help you while studying for the pediatric boards!The Strategic Approach: Learn Test-Taking Strategies that allow you to systematically approach, process, and answer board-style questions on standardized exams. There are rules that you can learn to help you “beat the boards” and pass your exam. There is also a structured approach to processing every single board-style question in order to make the experience error-free and robotic.
The Network Experience: Do NOT study in isolation. Utilize the support of hundreds of pediatricians in the PBR Discord Community to help you quickly answer your board review questions. You can also work with Team PBR to create a study schedule specifically designed for you, and you can attend live webinars with content experts to help blow past complicated questions that are slowing you down. Just press the “ASK THE EXPERT” button. Then, you can focus on your studying while we do the research. Again, you should not have to do this alone, and the PBR community is here to support you.
WHY WE DON’T OFFER A TYpical, LIVE PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW COURSE
Why Typical, Live Pediatric Board Review Courses Won’t Work in 2023
Beyond the fact that they are incredibly expensive, the typical live courses are not set up to give you a strategic study method to pass the boards. In fact, the entire system is broken.Here is a comparison chart for you to see the difference between a typical board course, and PBR:
Your TYPICAL Board Review Experience
The PBR Board Experience
You purchase a hard copy study guide and attend an 8 hour long live course
You buy 2-3 additional resources from other companies for reference, because you don’t want to miss any topics (and if you’re really ambitious, you’ll keep a copy of Nelson’s close by)
Studying is sporadic at best, and all-consuming at worst. You study alone for several hours, not following any particular study schedule
You get through only a handful of board review questions, finding some too difficult to narrow down to one answer. And with no time or energy to track down the answers you need, you put them off
When you get to the actual board exam, you get so flustered by the actual questions asked that you have difficulty answering questions on topics you actually know well
You get a suite of materials focused on teaching you topics that are known to be tested on the exam and have resulted in passings scores that are well above the national average
You are provided a comprehensive study schedule that can be customized to fit your personal schedule
You receive access to the exclusive PBR Discord Community, where you can get questions answered in real-time by both fellow test takers and board alumni
In addition to the test subjects, you have access to our LIVE Test-Taking Strategies Course that is packed with teachings about techniques to tackle standard test questions, teachings to maximize your knowledge retention during your study sessions, and more!
When you get to the exam, you feel calm, prepared, and ready to pass!
Does the “typical” experience sound familiar? It definitely does to me because that's exactly what I did when I failed the pediatric board exam the first time I took it.
I was SHOCKED. But, I eventually uncovered multiple secrets to help me pass the initial certification exam and increase my score by 160 points.
Then, through my many trials and errors, I created a SYSTEM that has gone on to help so many pediatricians pass the exam.
This system has not only helped first-time test takers pass the boards on their first attempt; it has helped high-risk pediatricians FINALLY pass after multiple failed attempts. Every year, we get tons of testimonials from pediatricians that finally pass after as many as seven failed attempts!
PBR is about maximizing your learning experience through a proven system that helps you pass the boards.
For anyone who has failed the pediatric boards before, or anyone who has struggled to get above a 222 on the USMLE Step 1, our Test-Taking Strategies & Coaching courseis a breath of fresh air. Also, while live courses that cover “all of pediatrics” are of little benefit, a LIVE, 2-Day Test-Taking Strategies Course is the most leverageable option to accelerate someone's understanding of the test-taking techniques and topics needed to become a test-taking NINJA!
THE MOST EFFICIENT PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW COURSE 2023 HAS TO OFFER
What are the Pediatrics Board Review (PBR) Resources?
At the center of the PBR system, you will find the Pediatrics Board Review Core Study Guide and the Pediatrics Board Review Q&A book. We focus on the idea of having congruency across all of our resources. So, all of our pediatric study materials are born from these two resources. This is done so we can help you get the repetition and reinforcement needed as you go from one PBR resource to another.
PBR's CORE STUDY GUIDEThe PBR Core Study Guide is your content Bible. No more buying 3-4 different study materials to hodgepodge a study schedule together. We have done the curation of content for you! If it's not in your PBR Core Study Guide, then YOU DON’T NEED TO STUDY IT.
Offered in hardcopy and online formats
Contains a Success Blueprint and Roadmap to Success which tells you exactly how to use the PBR resources
Has a strong focus on testable and tested topics
Includes hundreds of time-saving story and image based mnemonics,along with other memory aids
Contains online systems which allow for one-click access to HUNDREDS of high-yield images across the web
PBR's QUESTION AND ANSWER (Q&A) BOOK
This is NOT like other question banks. This is valuable, high-yield content that's just as valuable as the PBR study guide and should be used as part of your core content review. Use OTHER pediatric prep questions for PRACTICE. KNOW the difference between what to study versus what to use for PRACTICE.
Available in hardcopy and online formats
Extremely high-yield questions and answers
Contains detailed explanations and excerpts from PBR's Core Study Guide
PBR's ONLINE PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW VIDEO COURSE (OVC)Get the value and insight of a live conference from the comforts of your room. This is your “online version” of an in-person pediatric board review course, or a DVD course, except you can take it ANYWHERE because it's compatible with your internet-enabled phone or tablet.
Videos cover the entire PBR Core Study Guide and the PBR Q&A Book
Live summertime question and answer webinars featuring content experts to answer all of your questions
Online pre-webinar question portal which allows you to send in your questions as they come to mind
Recorded webinarsare available for replay
Learn from board-certified PBR alumni
PBR's PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW AUDIO COURSE
Maximize your efficiency by taking the audio course with you to the gym, the grocery store, your car, or the mall.
The MP3 course is available as a streaming OR a downloadable resource.
Load the downloadable version onto your favorite MP3 player, or listen to it on your computer.
Listen to the streaming version via your desktops or mobile device.
PBR's DIGITAL PICTURE ATLAS
Review 400 of the most high-yield and board relevant images QUICKLY through the power of the web and without having to flip back and forth in your Zitelli. This is also known as the Virtual Atlas of Pediatric Pictures (VAPP).
Accessible on your desktop, mobile device or tablet
Available in PDF or Online Format
Access all of the PBR images in ONE place with reference posts available for review
Quick access to the corresponding topic within the PBR study guide
PBR CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS GUIDEAs with everything in medicine, things change. To make the PBR materials as error-free and up-to-date as possible, we use all of your suggestions and error submissions to create a Corrections and Clarifications guide.
Here are the benefits of the Corrections and Clarifications Guide:
Receive updates in the world of pediatrics
Review a detailed list of corrections to our materials
Obtain an advanced look at NEW content that is going to go into the next edition
Get answers to questions that you have submitted to us for review or clarification
PBR's DISCORD COMMUNITY!A critical component to the success of so many pediatricians is PEER SUPPORT! Without it, your efficiency and your drive to study can plummet. The PBR Discord Community is a pediatric board review forum that is exclusively for PBR members.
The forum allows you to:
Ask questions about topics that are confusing you.
Share mnemonics and insights of your own.
Get educational and emotional support during one of the most stressful times of your life.
Increase your EFFICIENCY by leaning on others to answer your questions instead of going to the black hole of Google.
PBR's TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES & COACHING“Test Day” can be a terribly stressful time for the pediatric board exam. The key to avoiding test anxiety is to:
Have a solid foundation of knowledge.
Make the process of answering questions almost mechanical.
Your board exam is like a GAME with rules that CAN be learned. There are strategies you can to learn in order to master your question-answering technique. Through PBR's ONLINE Test-Taking Strategies & Coaching courses, you quickly learn how to identify answers EFFICIENTLY, leaving you with time to spare.
The online course is a MUST for everyone taking the Initial Certification exam, even if you are attending our Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course.If you've ever struggled with any medical board exam in the past, or if you did not score above a 222 on the USMLE Step 1 exam, we strongly suggest the Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course.
Learn how to answer questions with little knowledge on a given topic.
Learn shortcuts that allow you to answer certain questions WITHOUT reading any of the vignettes.
Learn why focusing on the ENGLISH (more than the medical concepts) can help you zero in on the correct answer choice when you're left with those final two options.
Get the Core Concepts in Test-Taking Strategies Webinar to learn the fundamentals of test-taking strategy.
Get 5 QUESTION PROCESSING webinars to go deeper into advanced test-taking strategies as you learn to process questions systematically.
Learn shortcuts, including what it means to have answer choices that are either very similar or complete opposites.
Learn techniques to address problems with diet, anxiety, insomnia, and test-day fatigue.
Get help creating your own test-day schedule. Learn what to do during your breaks, what to eat, what NOT to eat, how to remain as energized at the end of the exam as you were at the beginning of the exam, and much more!
We've helped pediatricians succeed after SEVEN failed attempts. Imagine what this program could do for you.
THE LIVE 2023 PEDIATRICS BOARD REVIEW TEST-TAKING STRATEGY COURSEIn addition to the online courses, I also offer live training to teach you test-taking strategies to help you pass the pediatric boards.
Compared to the online courses, the Live Pediatrics Board Review Test-Taking Strategy Course gives you a unique experience to get your questions answered and tailored to you. If you scored as high risk on the PBR Risk Calculator, this course would be the best way to ensure a pass on the boards.
PBR is the first medical board review company to offer a comprehensive course on test-taking strategy and “deep learning.” We have helped pediatricians become MASTER test-takers so that they can increase their chances of passing the boards exponentially.And with our new, Zoom-based live course, the live course can be attended from the comfort of your home without the expense of travel or lodging. Be sure to check our live page to see when both the in-person and Zoom courses are available.
ALL OF THE PHYSICIANS BELOW PASSED AFTER GOING THROUGH THE TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES COURSE
A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM TO HELP YOU PASS THE BOARDS IN 2023
The “No Brainer” Package: Everything You Need to Pass the Initial Certification Exam
PBR was created to help others avoid failure and frustration. Pediatricians get frustrated about overwhelming and incongruent resources. They also get frustrated by overwhelming costs.
PBR has been part of the solution by pioneering newer, faster, and more effective strategies to educate pediatricians. The Online Video Course, the Virtual Atlas of Pediatric Pictures, the live summertime webinars, and the members-only Discord support area are just a few ways we've changed how doctors think about board review.
I want you to focus on the CONTENT, the COMMITMENT and the TECHNIQUE needed to pass the boards. Not the chaos around multiple resources, or the expense related to a resource that could be helpful.
That's why we recently created the No Brainer package. It includes 100% of our multimodal content-based resources to help you build your fund of knowledge through our All Access Pass. It also includes the option to have Team PBR create up to three 90-Day Personalized Study Schedules specifically for you to help with accountability and commitment. And it also includes our Full Online Test-Taking Strategies Course to help you with your test-taking technique. All for less than the cost of a single board review video course.
The enrollment fee for the NO BRAINER package is almost 50% OFF and it offersall of our knowledge base resources. Plus, it’s less than the cost of a single, traditionalvideo course.
It's what you “should” get for the Initial Certification exam. Learn the pediatric content AND the test-taking strategies to pass. Plus, get up to 3 Personalized Study Schedules created by Team PBR.
12 Months of Access
Core Study Guide in Hardcopy and Online Formats
Q&A Book in Hardcopy and Online Formats
MP3 Audio Course in Downloadable and Streaming Formats
Pediatric Picture Atlas in Downloadable PDF and Online Formats
Online Video Course Covering All 31 PBR Chapters
“ASK THE EXPERT” Question Portals for All 31 chapters
Live Q&A Webinars with Content Experts for All 31 Chapters
Test-Taking Strategies Core Concepts Webinar
Test-Taking Strategies FULL Online Course
A 90-Day Personalized Schedule created by Team PBR Based On Your Work Schedule, Pace of Reading, Risk Profile & Much More
2nd 90-Day Personalized Schedule
3rd 90-Day Personalized Schedule
Free Expedited Shipping
Discord Community Access!
100% Money Back First-Time Pass Guarantee
WHAT PBR MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY
Tears of joy are wonderful. No thank you could ever be sufficient for all the support and guidance from Ashish and PBR over the past couple of years. Ashish who truly cares and believes in each individual person and helps guide them. I honestly used to laugh at the people who said they improved by 30 or more points, didn't think it was possible. It’s more than possible with PBR and can't thank Ashish enough! I failed each of the past 3 years not even getting within 5 points of passing. I never ever thought of quitting or giving up. I went all in with PBR including the core study guide (8X!!), all access pass including the videos and audio, live test taking strategies course and a 2 hour 1-on-1 session with Ashish after having a moment of revelation. LISTEN to this man. Follow his advice word for word. I finally PASSED on the 4th attempt! I improved my score by 42 points!!! It takes an army to go through this. I had to sacrifice being with my family, but we did it together. I hope and pray everyone reading this that's ever failed or struggled with test taking in general to not give up hope. It can be done. Cheers!
Dr. Russell Zwiener Board Certified Pediatrician (2018 Member)
Ashish, I did it. I can't thank you enough for creating an amazing system to keep me on track with my studying… the live weekend test taking course was well worth it. Doing the technique during the test kept me focused and allowed me to eliminate wrong answers. Thank you for all the great advice, sticking to the material, memorize, memorize, memorize then practice practice practice. After 4 failed attempts it was exhilarating to finally read the words, “we are PLEASED to announce you PASSED!” I will definitely recommend your program.
God Bless
Dr. Yessenia Castro-CaballeroBoard Certified PediatricianAll Access Pass MemberLive Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course Attendee4 Prior Failed Attempts
I am an intelligent driven pediatrician who took her Boards for the first time because her job paid for it and told her to “see what it was like.” No studying – just walked in and took it. And failed – shocking at the time – not shocking now.
The second time I took my boards – I studied – I used multiple sources – and I failed. Scoring the same as the first time. Again – what the hell happened?
The third time – I took a Board Review Course in Washington DC. I stuck with Cleveland Review. I practiced questions – but not enough (I know that now). And I took the test again – and failed by 10 points. I was in shock –
The fourth time – I found PBR – I loved it. I practiced questions (thousands – but no AAP or Medstudy – just board vitals and exam master). I took the online PBR test taking strategy course. And I failed – by 4 points. Again shock set in.
I mustered up the courage to take it again. I met with you to dissect where I went wrong. I came to Atlanta. I followed your advice – even though sometimes I didnt like it 😉 You encouraged me to get my eyes checked (double vision issues that I never truly addressed except with thicker prisms) and recommended Frannie. Then my world changed – not only in respect to passing my boards – but my actual life – My vision was a disability that I have been living with for years and I didnt even realize it. The doctor I met for vision therapy (where I felt skeptical at first) showed my what my world was missing. My visual fields were so restricted I was tunneling my vision. I was reading with only intermittent use of my left eye (my brain was shutting it off bc of the doubling). My comprehension on questions was limited and I had to read and reread questions to simply understand them. I started visual therapy and it has been life changing. And I have you to thank for your perseverance and support. I have God to thank for aligning our paths. And I have Frannie to thank for the nudges and phone calls and emails of encouragement.
Thank you Ashish – for changing my world – you are meant to continue PBR for those smart physicians who are being belittled by an organization that is meant to support us. Thank you for the Atlanta class – I met the most amazing study partner and we both passed – Just thank you! I would love to have the opportunity to help you with PBR if you are looking for physicians… We can only be stronger together.
Kate Johnson-Clark Board Certified Pediatrician (2018)All Access Pass MemberPersonalized Schedule UserLive Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course Attendee4 Prior failed attempts
Ashish I passed!!. I passed. After so many many attempts.
I am thankful for your team. For the personalised schedules… and how will I forget the Atlanta test-taking strategy course?.
Aside from the fact that a lot of your strategies were eye opening and super helpful, it hit me that I was not alone. Through the years of depression, of doling out money for the exams and the near-passes (few pts below 180), I found some strength to believe that I wasn't dumb and that I could pass!. And I drew strength from the fellow attendees that day, and from you Ashish. You believed we could pass!!
I could go on and on. You have NO idea how the yrs have been for me. I only know it was my faith in God that kept me going, determined to get to this. My husband has been such a solid, solid rock beside me through this. He's right there , sometimes just listening on those nights when I'll cry and wonder; where did I go wrong?, what am I doing wrong every year? Am I soooo poor at test taking?…..
Let me just stop by saying THANK YOU Ashish for what you do. Please keep doing it. People may say; well he makes money for it. But no dear, that sacrifice of your time, the passion you bring with each teaching session and webinar, the constant unwavering faith in those you mentor……. NO you don't put a price tag on that!
For that I am grateful. You make an impact in people's lives.
Please do say thanks to your entire team as well.
I thank God for bringing PBR my way.
Dr. O. E. Board Certified Pediatrician Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course Member 6 Prior Failed Attempts
Everything I’ve mentioned above is just a small overview of why PBR is again the most popular pediatric board review course in 2023. I’m so excited for all the new members currently studying with us, and can’t wait to see how many new pediatricians we have come October. If you're not a member yet, what are you waiting for? Click the image above and signup now!
Comparison Chart of 2023 Pediatric Live Courses + Costs
Alright, now if you went through this entire article and still would prefer to head to a live course, as promised, here is a list of live pediatric review courses available for 2023, in addition to their cost and the estimated expense of travel, hotel, and ground transportation.
At the end of the day, this article is meant to help you have all the information necessary to find a partner in studying for your pediatric exam, so I do hope you find what you are looking for (even if it’s not with the PBR family!).
But, please note that the course dates for all of the companies below is extremely late in the year. If you’re preparing for the initial certification exam, you need to start studying yesterday!
LIVE COURSES
PRICE
FLIGHT, HOTEL, GROUND TRANSPORTATION
MedStudyAugust 5-10, 2023 (Tentative)Crystal City (Washington DC) or Online
$1499*
ADDITIONAL EXPENSE can be expected for two-way plane tickets or roundtrip gas, 5-night hotel stay, plus LOST WAGES.
UCLA ReviewAugust 29 – September 1Online
$500 – $950*
ADDITIONAL EXPENSE expected in the form of LOST WAGES.
ADDITIONAL EXPENSE for two-way plane tickets or roundtrip gas, 5-night hotel stay, plus LOST WAGES.
Michigan Live ReviewAnn Arbor, MI
$850 (in 2018)
Estimated at approximately $1600 of ADDITIONAL EXPENSE plus lost wages.
* Prices above are as of 2022-11-25.
“NO BRAINER”
It's what you “should” get for the Initial Certification exam. Learn the pediatric content AND the test-taking strategies to pass. Plus, get up to 3 Personalized Study Schedules created by Team PBR.
12 Months of Access
Core Study Guide in Hardcopy and Online Formats
Q&A Book in Hardcopy and Online Formats
MP3 Audio Course in Downloadable and Streaming Formats
Pediatric Picture Atlas in Downloadable PDF and Online Formats
Online Video Course Covering All 31 PBR Chapters
“ASK THE EXPERT” Question Portals for All 31 chapters
Live Q&A Webinars with Content Experts for All 31 Chapters
Test-Taking Strategies Core Concepts Webinar
Test-Taking Strategies FULL Online Course
A 90-Day Personalized Schedule created by Team PBR Based On Your Work Schedule, Pace of Reading, Risk Profile & Much More
Well, friends, the results of the 2022 pediatrics board exam have been announced! This is always an emotional time for pediatricians. For us here at PBR HQ, it's also overwhelming because we get flooded with emails from the members who have worked so hard over the past year, and have now FINALLY passed the boards! The stories from our 2022 members have been wonderful. To have members say that we have changed their lives has been nothing less than humbling. Our members are also providing feedback on making the resources we have even better so that the PBR system continues to be the best pediatric board review available. While we are known for being the premier resource for anyone at moderate to high risk of failing the pediatric boards, the results below will help you see that if we can help pediatricians pass after SIX failed attempts, then helping you pass the pediatric board exam should be easy.
In this article, I’ll be covering:
The pass rate for PBR members and first-time test takers
Feedback from our board-certified alumni on how to pass the pediatric board exams
Reflect on the pediatric board exam results 2022
Next Steps if you FAILED the boards (and common mistakes to avoid to make sure you pass next year)
Free upcoming webinar on how to ensure you pass the 2023 pediatric boards
Test-taking strategy is often overlooked when you are preparing for your board exams, yet it can be the difference between passing or failing. Since there is no question that physicians are extremely bright, why is it that even great physicians often fail their board exams?
Answer: A good clinician is not the same thing as a good test-taker.
When I failed the boards the first time, I was confused. I felt like I had a good handle on the material, but I quickly realized that how you treat a board style question is very different than how you should treat a patient. But it was too late. I had the “standard” top to bottom approach to answering board-style questions, and I ultimately failed the board exam.
I simply did not know how to approach the questions on the test effectively.
And this isn’t uncommon.
However, during my 2nd attempt at the pediatric board exam, I had a strong focus on pacing and a strategic approach to questions. That led to me not only passing my boards, but I increased my score by 160 points! I scored above the national average, and after failing the previous year, the American Board of Pediatrics asked me to write questions for them.
The skill set needed to be a master clinician is completely different than the skill set needed to be a master test-taker and win this “board-game”. Developing this strategy requires training and education like any other skill that you have had to practice. But with practice, you can have dramatic increases in your score like this member of our test-taking strategy course.
Learn Test-Taking Strategies for Medical Board Exams
HOW CAN I WORK ON MY TEST-TAKING STRATEGY?
What am I supposed to do?
While having a strong knowledge base is important to pass the pediatrics boards, it will mean nothing if you are unable to apply what you know to the test.
If you consider yourself to be a test-taker with average (or below average) scores on standardized tests, then learning test-taking strategies can QUICKLY give you an advantage to increase your score, and pass the boards.
Plus, unlike studying for a single chapter that may be applicable to 5% of your exam, test-taking skills can be leveraged throughout 100% of this exam (and every future board exam that you ever take).
Study a ton, remember none. Sound familiar?
If you've previously done well on standardized exams, just follow the PBR “Roadmap to Success” and you will do great.
BUT, if you:
Struggle with standardized tests,
Get test anxiety,
Find yourself running out of time on exams,
Were told that you were “at-risk” of failing the boards based on IN-Training Exam scores,
Have taken a year off from studying for the exam, or
Scored less than a 222 on the USMLE Step 1
… then improving your test-taking technique is just as, if not MORE, important for you to study than the actual material.
Below you’ll find some of my top strategies I teach our PBR students to sharpen their test-taking skills before the board exam.
TOP TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES FOR MEDICAL EXAMS
NEVER process a question in a top to bottom manner. Processing the information in a different order will give you much more control and clarity over the question
Do not try to predict the question or answer. When you try to guess what will be asked, or what the answer will be, you waste time and energy as you think through hundreds of possibilities.
Start by reading the question being asked of you, and then reading the vignette. This narrows your focus and gives you tremendous insight into what information from the vignette will be crucial to extract in order to answer the question correctly.
Find your answer through the process of elimination. It’s easier, less stressful and more appropriate to eliminate weaker answer choices rather than choosing the first answer that seems to be correct.
Skip “data blocks” and come back to them if needed. Most vignette-style questions can be answered by just using the text, so try that before reviewing tables of data, x-rays or images.
Passing the the pediatric boards is challenging, but it's far from magic. In this article I'm going to introduce you to the 3 main areas you must focus on to pass the boards. If you don't, then even as a good pediatrician you will be at high risk for failing the boards.
By the end, you will have a much better handle on the general framework within which you will need to focus your energy. I predict that it's going to be quite liberating for you!
Let's start with a few stories…
Each year after the pediatric board results are released, I ask PBR members for feedback. “How was it for you?” The replies vary considerably, but there are specific overwhelming emotions which come through time and time again;
Relief
“a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I feel lighter and free.”
– “Dr. Wiseman”
Celebration
“My family and I celebrated all day long. We cried tears of happiness knowing the endless hours of studying are over AND payed off!”
The MOCA-Peds exam is the default option to meet your Part 3 requirement within each five-year MOC cycle. Pediatricians have found MOCA-Peds preferable to the ponderous and stressful standard proctored exam. MOCA-Peds (Maintenance of Certification Assessment – Pediatrics) may seem like an easier option, however, you’ll still need to study with efficiency. PBR can prepare you in an easy and painless way. We give you brief, targeted summaries of the exact topics you will see on the exam.
How Hard is it to Study for the MOCA-peds?
It’s not hard as long as you have the right resources. To become familiar with the content, we recommend the MOCA-PBR Study Guide & Test Companion. Remember, you’ll have access to the open-book and open-computer resources of your choosing. Be sure to use the right resources for you.
How to Study for the MOCA-Peds Exam?
Locate the American Board of Pediatrics topics for this year
Find a high quality guide, such as the MOCA-PBR, for this year’s MOCA-Peds topics
Review Your Study Guide at Least Once From Beginning to End
Have the Online Version of your MOCA-Peds study guide available during testing
Review the one-page list of topics on the day that you attempt MOCA-Peds questions
Have the online version of your MOCA-Peds study guide available during testing
Use all available open-book resources to answer each question within 5 minutes
Take notes on questions you missed because they may repeat in future quarters
Repeat this process for every MOCA-Peds exam
After you’ve reviewed the steps, you will undoubtedly have more questions. Our Reminders can help.
Locate the American Board of Pediatrics Topics for This Year
The topics change every year, but they are released in advance. You can typically locate them by clicking here. Trying to research every topic can be grueling as a full-time physician, which is why we recommend that you use a structured study guide to help you prepare.
Find a High Quality Guide, such as the MOCA-PBR, For This Year’s MOCA-Peds Topics
We recommend the MOCA-PBR Study Guide & Test Companion. PBR reviews the new topics and creates a new, high-quality study guide every single year. It's created with efficiency in mind so you can easily find the answers you're looking for.
Review Your Study Guide at Least Once From Beginning to End
Go through your complete study guide at least once toward the beginning of the year. This will give you a solid foundation for the questions that you will encounter over the four quarterly exams.
Have the Online Version of your MOCA-Peds Study Guide Available During Testing
The MOCA-Peds exam is open-book and open-computer. Keep your study resources handy!
Study Pro-Tip: If this year’s list of topics includes migraines, when you come across a patient with a headache, you can keep migraines at the top of your differential. This kind of test-taking strategy is considered key in passing the MOCA-Peds exams.
Review the One-Page list of Topics On the Day That You Attempt MOCA-Peds Questions
A quick scan of the MOCA-Peds topics will give you a tremendous edge. By reviewing just the topic names, you will remind yourself of the types of diseases and disorders that you are going to be tested on.
Have the Online Version of your MOCA-Peds Study Guide Available During Testing
Having your online study guide available during your questions will help you quickly find the answers. If you are using the MOCA-PBR Study Guide & Test Companion, the topic summaries are usually only 1-3 pages, and our online search function allows you to quickly find the answers to your questions. If you can’t find the answer in the study guide, use the clickable reference links located at the bottom of each topic summary.
Use All Available Open-Book Resources to Answer Each Question within 5 Minutes
You get a total of 5 minutes per question, and you can use any available resource to help you during the test. Our MOCA-PBR online edition allows you to quickly search for and find the answers to your questions. However, if you cannot find the answer through our study guide and reference links, keep other resources (e.g., UpToDate and Pediatrics In Review) open in additional tabs.
Take Notes on Questions You Missed—They May Repeat in Future Quarters
Be sure to take notes on any MOCA-Peds questions you missed or skipped. Plan to review those notes immediately before you take the next quarter’s questions because they are likely to be presented again if you missed a question or had low confidence in your answer.
Repeat This Process for Every MOCA-Peds Exam
Get ready to do it all again! You’ll need to complete MOCA-Peds for each MOC 5-year cycle, and you’ll need to study efficiently and strategically.
What are the Differences Between the Proctored MOC Exam and MOCA-Peds?
The proctored MOC is a 4-hour exam offered to board-certified pediatricians to fulfill Part 3 of MOC by the American Board of Pediatrics. The MOCA-Peds Assessment is an at-home, self-paced, open book option with approximately 20 questions per quarter which satisfies the same requirements.
Key Details for the MOC:
Administered in a testing facility
Closed book, 4-hour exam
Overseen by an authorized ABP representative
Can include ANY topic related to pediatrics
You only have 75 seconds to answer each question
You pay an additional fee to take this exam
Key Details for MOCA-Peds:
Open book exam
Take from your home, office, or anywhere you have online access
The cost is covered through your maintenance of certification enrollment fees.
You get 5 minutes per question
Answer one question per day, or all in one sitting.
How Do You Prepare For MOCA-Peds?
There is good news with MOCA-Peds! The ABP provides Learning Objectives and Featured Readings in advance. This “sneak peek” offers a huge advantage—you now have the ability to study the exact diseases and disorders that you will be tested on through MOCA-Peds.
Pro-Tips for MOCA-Peds:
Do NOT “wing it.” A goose chase with Google, UpToDate, Pediatrics in Review, and other online resources within the five-minute window will result in dead ends, anxiety, and failure.
Also NOT recommended: Poking around for resources related to the Learning Objectives and Featured Readings. Yes, you can study on your own with a lot of individual research, but oftentimes, this method yeilds a fruitless, frustrating, and unfocused hunt.
We Recommend: The MOCA-PBR Study Guide & Test Companion — online and/or hardcopy format. Each year we do the work and research for you. We dive deep into the ABP Learning Objectives and Featured Readings the moment they are published. This allows us to build concise study guides to capture the common and uncommon information that may be covered on the exam. Use the MOCA-PBR Study Guide and Test Companion as your resource tool. Our efficiency-focused online resources make it easy to search, easy to answer questions efficiently, and easy to PASS your MOCA-Peds exams.
What Happens if You Fail MOCA-Peds?
If you fail a MOCA-Peds quarterly assessment, nothing happens right away. Certification is maintained by passing at least 12 quarterly assessments within the first 4 years of your 5-year cycle. If you do not pass at least 12 quarters by the end of your fourth year, then you must pass the proctored exam by the end of the 5-year cycle.
Failure to meet your recertification requirements is a big deal, and will result in loss of your status as a board-certified physician and possibly the loss of your job. Many hospitals and clinics will only employ board-certified pediatricians.
Please don’t be discouraged—there is a clear-cut road to PASSING. With these high-yield tips and the MOCA-PBR Study Guide & Test Companion, you can PASS the exams easily!
What Else Do I Need to Know about MOCA-Peds?
Fast Facts
The MOCA-Peds Assessment is greatly preferred for its format and flexibility.
Answer approximately 20 questions per quarter, every quarter, for the first 4 years of your MOC cycle (16 quarters of questions).
You must pass at least 12 quarters to meet your MOC Part 3 (Exam) requirement.
The ABP will drop your 4 lowest-scoring, or skipped, quarters. Your score can only go up or stay the same.
If you get 100% for the first 12 quarters, you will have PASSED/satisfied your Part 3 requirement, and you will not have to go through MOCA-Peds for your 4th year.
You’ll see your raw scores (percentage of questions answered correctly) immediately after you complete each question.
Scaled scores, which consider the difficulty of test questions, are updated annually in mid-January.
You can answer one question at a time, or all of them in one sitting.
You get 5 minutes per question.
Take the exam at home, in the office, on your mobile device, or any place with internet access without a proctor.
You have the freedom to access the MOCA-PBR Study Guide & Test Companion, UpToDate, Pediatrics in Review, or other resources in this open-book test.
You’ll study a targeted number of topics selected by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) for the year. Instead of studying everything in the world of pediatrics, you only have to study the Learning Objectives and Featured Readings chosen by ABP. The 80 questions per year come from these study topics, and each year we create a new MOCA-PBR Study Guide & Test Companion to cover the new Learning Objectives and Featured Readings.
What are MOCA-Peds “Learning Objectives” and “Featured Readings”?
The American Board of Pediatrics provides approximately 40 Learning Objectives and up to 5 Featured Readings. Learning Objectives are the areas of pediatrics that you will need to read, study, and absorb. Featured Readings are typically medical journal articles or guidelines that you will also need to read. Learning Objectives and Featured Readings are usually published on the ABP website in the fourth quarter of the previous year.
Some examples of prior MOCA-Peds Learning Objectives include:
Differentiate between normal and abnormal variations in head growth and manage appropriately.
Evaluate and manage a child with an inguinal mass.
Some examples of prior Featured Readings include:
Management of Infants at Risk for Group B Streptococcal Disease. Pediatrics. 2019.
Acute Treatment of Migraine in Children and Adolescents: Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. Neurology. 2019.
Are you ready to take on MOCA-Peds?
At Pediatrics Board Review, we know MOCA-Peds. We created the first-ever MOCA-Peds study guide, and we have pioneered newer, faster, and more effective study strategies to help pediatricians just like you.
Our job is to help you study efficiently and worry less. In fact, we believe so strongly in our proven track record to help our members pass that we put a Money Back First-Time Pass Guarantee on it.
Ready to go for that clear-cut PASS? Then what are you waiting for?
As the pediatric board exam nears, I'm often asked the following questions:
Pediatric board exam time per question and pacing is something I struggle with. Can you help?
How many questions are on the pediatrics board exam?
What is the number of sections for the American Board of Pediatrics INITIAL board certification exam?
The information on the American Board of pediatrics website is a little confusing, so I've tried to clarify some things below. I try to address some of the more key information you will need on test day. In this article I'll talk specifically about the INITIAL pediatric board certification exam. You'll learn:
How many sections are administered for the initial certification exam
How many questions are on the peds exam
How many questions you can expect to see in each section
Passing the the pediatric boards is challenging, but it's far from magic. In this article I'm going to introduce you to the 3 main areas you must focus on to pass the boards. If you don't, then even as a good pediatrician you will be at high risk for failing the boards.
