Oral Board Exam

The American Board of Ophthalmology administers the oral board exam twice a year to young ophthalmologists who pass the written board exam.  Their website outlines the requirements, schedule, description of the exam, and even gives a sample question for preparing for the oral board exam.

If you’re like me, the oral board exam is a very daunting and mysterious test.  It is highly structured, well-organized, but shrouded in secrecy to the point where no one truly knows how well they did after the test.  The scoring system is not well-defined, and the prep books and courses all give a somewhat nebulous “this seems to work” approach to the test.

Obviously, even though I’ve taken the test I’m still not allowed to say much about the test itself (sorry!).  Still, a few of my friends have asked me how I prepared for the oral board exam, so this article will focus mostly on the various steps I took to study.  As with all of my study plan posts, keep in mind that my approach is not necessarily the optimal approach for you.  Only you know how you study best.  Another disclaimer is that the views expressed about the oral board exam are my own opinions, and therefore may not necessarily reflect the true intent of the ABO or AAO.

Key Dates

Location

Online

Cost

$1,950.00 for regular registration ($2,250.00 for late registrations between July 2 and August, space permitting)