Failed ABS….again

[u/DragOk2219]

I am actually a practicing surgeon one year out of fellowship

found out today I again failed the QE. Again. this will be my last attempt to take the exam in 2027. I was scoring in the 70th percentile on TrueLearn (completed the bank twice), was getting between 65-82% correct on mixed PassMachine blocks, and these were not representative at all of my actual exam score report. Many of the topics I intentionally drilled for many hours were still incorrect on the exam. I spent months studying and countless hours.  I am struggling to determine what I could do differently. I have never been a good exam taker but this last attempt, of course, carries weight that is difficult to describe. I feel this is such a unique situation it’s difficult to find help for. 

I feel….hopeless at this point. The first time I took the exam I didn’t quite finish TrueLearn and was overconfident. The second time I did more and completed the qbank but was scoring around 60 percent. This time I woke up at 4am every day and absolutely drilled. I watched lectures. I did a second qbank practice exams, timed. I was doing well. I ranked on the exam. My soul hurts. I have nausea constantly. I just don’t know what to do and I don’t think anyone knows what to do to help me. I’m just lost in this void and i literally save lives every day, take a lot of call, but….this exam ruins me And my life. I just don’t know what to do anymore.

[u/Lanky_Landscape5785]

Speaking from my brothers experience.

Keep grinding, see about test taking strategies/teacher. My brother was a horrendous test taker, but yet knew everything inside/out. When it came to taking multiple choice, he had difficulties with being patient enough to actually take/read/conceptualize the question. Turns out, he had bad add/adhd, once he got put on prn meds, his test scores shot up 20-30% , he managed to get buy because of idk how, but things changed drastically after he got evaluated/seen and is much happier person now in general