2025 – PAGE 07 – DID YOU KNOW THAT I FAILED THE BOARDS?

DID YOU KNOW THAT I FAILED THE BOARDS?

I took the ABP initial certification exam the year that I graduated from residency. I used multiple study guides to prepare. Because there was so much information in front of me (print and video), I only got through everything once.

I felt okay going into the exam. I thought, “I’ve been through the MCAT, three USMLE exams and an Internal Medicine board exam. I did fine in residency, and I studied really hard for two months. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Coming out of that exam room on test-day, I felt nauseous. I realized that I might have just failed my first medical board exam, ever! I was upset with myself for getting so scattered with all of those different study materials, but I was also annoyed because I still couldn’t think of a single resource that I could use as a primary study guide the next time around.

I went home and made notes about how I would study differently if I had failed. What topics would I concentrate on? What topics just don’t seem to be “testable”? What information is a waste of time to study?

When the results finally came, I failed. I estimate that I failed by seven to nine questions. I made key strategy changes based on my previous experience. I studied for hundreds of hours while still working a full-time job. I focused on efficiency, solid mnemonics for memorization and I stopped trying to learn “all of pediatrics.”

You never feel “great” coming out of a board exam, but the second time around I felt like I had a fighting chance. My score increased by 160 points on the old passing scale, and I estimated a pass by about 37–39 questions! Pretty soon, I even received another kind of letter from the ABP. The American Board of Pediatrics asked ME to write questions for the THEM!!!

I was really just happy to pass. Failing the first time had cost me extra time, money and energy that I would have preferred to spend with my loved ones.

Prior to creating the Pediatrics Board Review experience, I was ashamed that I had failed. Now, I’ve taken a horrible experience and I’ve created something that is helping residents and pediatrician across the country. I’ve also realized that failing the boards did not mean that I was a bad pediatrician. Nor did passing by such a wide margin mean that I am a great pediatrician.

I’M JUST AN AVERAGE PERSON WHO DID EXTREMELY WELL ON THE EXAM… AND THEN TOOK MY NOTES AND SYSTEMS AND TURNED THEM INTO THE PBR. No matter who you are, I know that you can pass your exam too. That’s why PBR comes with a 100% Money-Back First-Time Pass Guarantee.

It’s the easiest, most EFFICIENT, and only integrated board review SYSTEM to help you PASS the pediatric boards. So, rest assured that by joining the PBR family, you’re already on the right track to success.

JUST FOLLOW THE EFFICIENCY BLUEPRINT!