FPMRS Board Exam 2014 How to prepare for it? Sam Siddighi, MD, MS Chief, section of FPMRS Director of Fellowship Program FPMRS Loma Linda University Health FUUS 2014 Disclosures • Financial Relationships • Erudyte Inc: CEO • Intuitive Surgical : Proctor • AMS: consultant • Boston Scientific: funding to institution for research (I'm PI) • EMED: funding to institution for research (I'm PI) FPMRSBoardReview.com Exam day • June 27, 2014 • 8 am – noon (3 hrs 45 min) • Pearson VUE FPMRSBoardReview.com Test‐taking Wisdom • Read carefully • Take your time • Don’t just guess • old wisdom “choose C” is incorrect FPMRSBoardReview.com Test‐taking Wisdom • Don’t spend too much time on 1 question • Flag and come back – Remember / learn new info – Jogs memory – Subconscious still working on it FPMRSBoardReview.com Test‐taking strategy • Don’t change your answer UNLESS • Reasons to change answer: – “Aha” moment – Misread question 1st time – Learned something new FPMRSBoardReview.com Test‐taking strategy • Not tricky • Don’t over‐think • Most current recommendations FPMRSBoardReview.com Test‐taking Psychology • 2 choices similar  both PROBABLY wrong • 2 choices opposites  one is PROBABLY correct • Narrow down to 2 choices – Think which of these is a worse answer – Then pick the other FPMRSBoardReview.com Anatomy of question • A‐type – 1 best answer – Most likely – Least likely • 4 choices • Short vignettes 2013 FPMRSBoardReview.com Question types 2013 exam No Yes • CT scan • Pathology slides • MRI • Photographs • X‐ray • Anatomy drawings • Ultrasound • Numerical calculations FPMRSBoardReview.com Exam morning • 7‐8 hrs sleep • Caffeine (if usual drinker ; don’t over‐do) • Protein rich breakfast • Take protein rich snack • Dress in layers • Don’t be late to testing center FPMRSBoardReview.com Pearson VUE testing center • Two areas – Check‐in desk and locker – Cubicles with computer • Security – Cameras, palm prints, photo, 2 IDs • One‐page agreement FPMRSBoardReview.com Calm your nerves! FPMRSBoardReview.com Topics they liked on 2013 • Neurophysiology • Research and Biostatistics • Pelvic anatomy • POP‐Q FPMRSBoardReview.com Biggest Mistakes • Procrastinating • Not studying / understanding research • Not emphasizing basic sciences FPMRSBoardReview.com FPMRSBoardReview.com Explanations are key! FPMRSBoardReview.com Study Mode • FPMRSBoardReview.com – Go through it twice FPMRSBoardReview.com Conceptualization of knowledge FPMRSBoardReview.com Increase your score • Focusing on areas of weakness • Board Exam mode – Find areas of weakness • Write down missed question # FPMRSBoardReview.com FPMRSBoardReview.com • > 1000 Questions & Detailed explanations • Photos / Radiologic images • Covers the topics • Saves you time! • 24/7 access • Any computer or iPad FPMRSBoardReview.com After you pass board exam • Module 4 – Up to date literature in FPMRS – MOC articles – Cochrane reviews – Guidelines • Module 5 – Business and legal aspects of FPMRS FPMRSBoardReview.com