The Board Examination

This chapter is aimed primarily at candidates preparing for the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM's) certifying or maintenance of certification examination in internal medicine. However, candidates preparing for non-ABIM examinations also may benefit from the information, which covers various aspects of preparation for an examination, strategies to answer the questions effectively, and avoidance of pitfalls. The ABIM has stated that the certifying examination tests the breadth and depth of a candidate's knowledge in internal medicine to ensure that a candidate has attained the necessary proficiency required for the practice of internal medicine. According to the ABIM, the examination has 2 goals: the first is to ensure competence in the diagnosis and treatment of common disorders that have important consequences for patients, and the second is to ensure excellence in the broad domain of internal medicine.