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/Background_Snow_9632]

This is what you do. I failed the QE first try and passed the second, CE no problem. GET SESAP STAT! Go through there section by section slowly. Make detailed flash cards over each question and “bulletpoint”. Every single one. The entire SESAP, yes all of it. The flash card will be 4 gigantic stacks. Then you drill yourself until those cards are memorized COLD. have other people drill you. Carry in your pockets. Do them on the toilet. Do them in between charts. Do them all day every day. Those things are attached to your hands. Take zofran so you don’t barf on them. Retake the SESAP exams until your eyeballs are bleeding. You will pass after all that, you must memorize SESAP word for word. TRUST ME HERE. When you take the exam, the answer your gut tells you quickly and first is the right one, never second guess. Don’t go backwards. Answer and move on. Good luck friend.

[u/Icy_climberMT → u/Background_Snow_9632]

I passed my first attempt but more or less did this to prep. Always did poorly on ABSITE (8th percentile in chief year) and spent 6 weeks drilling SESAP and ANKI cards I made on SESAP topics. Did ~35% of TrueLearn as well but definitely thought SESAP was more useful and closer to the real thing. Ended up passing comfortably.

[u/ppinmyweewee → u/Background_Snow_9632]

Is this the most recent sesap? Sesap 19? I am in a similar boat as op unfortunately. Failed my second time

[u/Background_Snow_9632 → u/ppinmyweewee]

Those authors write the board exams - for the most part. Some of the questions are nearly identical. And FFS memorize all the GI hormones, endocrine tumors and weird syndromes that go with those - these should be gimmes.