Top 16 Questions About Emergency Medicine Qbanks & Exams

Researching the best emergency medicine board review methods and exam details can be overwhelming. Rather than doing the time-intensive search yourself, you’ll find the answers to common questions here. This post will help clarify what types of board review options exist, which one(s) are right for you, and what you need to know to prepare for the ABEM in-training exam, initial certification exam, and ConCert exam. Is there a question you’d like to see here? Let us know and we’ll get the answer for you.

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Should I use a Qbank?

There are many ways to study for the exam, such as live courses, self-directed study, and Qbanks. You need to choose the option that’s best for you. We’re a Qbank company, so we (not surprisingly) think Qbanks are an excellent way to prepare for your test, but we know they’re not for everyone. The article How to Choose the Best Emergency Medicine Board Review will help you answer these questions:

1. Do I need to use a Qbank?
2. What criteria should I use to make a decision?

Which EM Qbanks should I compare?

If you don’t have the time to read through the “How to Select a Qbank” article but know you’re interested in an emergency medicine question bank (Qbank), these are the companies we suggest trying. Compare them by signing up for a free trial and see which one is right for you:

• BoardVitals
• Hippo EM
• PEER
• Rosh Review
• TrueLearn

How do I study for the ABEM ITE or initial certification exam with a Qbank?

This detailed article about How to Increase your Emergency Medicine Board Exam Score includes our favorite study tips. Spoiler alert: you should determine your “unknown unknowns.” Here’s how you do that:

• Answer a question from a Qbank
• If you answer incorrectly, read the explanation
• Take notes about why the correct answer is correct, and make sure to take notes on anything in the explanation that you didn’t already know

If you do this for every question you answer incorrectly, and if you regularly review your notes and add information to topics as you do more questions, you’ll eventually determine your unknown unknowns. In return, you’ll uncover most of your blind spots that questions on the board exam can ask about. 

The “How to Boost Your Score” article also includes day-of tips like which grammatical mistakes to keep an eye out for to help you narrow down answer choices. Our goal is to help you succeed, so read as many of these tips as you can before exam day.

When is the ABEM ITE?

February 23–March 5, 2021, and Feb 22–28, 2022.

When is the 2021 ABEM initial certification exam?

November 8–13, 2021.

How long is the ABEM initial certification exam?

It has 305 multiple-choice questions divided into two sections, which each last 3 hours and 10 minutes. Including a break, the exam takes about 8 hours total.

Where can I find free practice questions for the ABEM exam?

You can access free practice questions with a free trial for any EM Qbank. The free trial includes practice questions that align with the ABEM blueprints and include comprehensive answer explanations and beautiful teaching images.

After practicing with these questions, if you decide you’re ready for thousands of additional questions to help you confidently prep for your board exam, you can easily upgrade to a full Qbank subscription for emergency medicine practice.

How can an EM Qbank help me after I pass my ABEM initial certification exam?

Rosh Review EM Qbanks can help you long after residency by providing CME and helping you keep your knowledge sharp with content for the ConCert exam and MyEMCert.

And in your Boost Box, you’ll find Beyond the Boards, a module of 50 questions designed for clinicians who want to go beyond board prep and learn about the newest literature, cutting-edge techniques, and up-to-date management principles.

How do I earn CME with Rosh Review?

If you sign up for an account that is linked to CME, here’s what you need to do:

1. Complete 1,000 questions in your Qbank

Once that’s complete, here’s how to claim and download your certificate:

1. Go to the Account Settings tab (only on desktop/laptop)
2. Select Claim next to the subscription package name (see an example)
3. Complete the survey
4. Download your certificate

You’ll earn 100 AMA PRA Cat 1 CME credits.

When is the 2021 ABEM ConCert exam?

April 5–26 and September 7–28, 2021.

How long is the ABEM ConCert exam?

It has 190 multiple-choice questions, which you have 4.75 hours to complete. The exam is online and open book, so you can take it at home.

Read about the Top 3 Critical Resources for the Open-Book ConCert Exam to review the best resources you can use from home.

How can I use a Qbank for the ABEM ConCert Exam?

The search feature can help you quickly and easily answer questions on the exam. Read and watch How to Use the Search Feature to Help Take the ABEM ConCert Exam for more details.

How can I prepare for the MyEMCert?

If you’re opting to use MyEMCert for your maintenance of certification, read How to Plan & Prepare to Pass MyEMCert to learn about the MyEMCert modules and how you can prepare for them. (Hint: the simplest thing you can do is practice emergency medicine.)

What happens if I fail my ABEM initial certification exam?

Life happens. Between practicing medicine, studying for the boards, having a personal life, and dealing with a global pandemic, it’s possible that you might not pass the exam. We believe in you, which is why your subscription comes with a pass guarantee: your subscription is extended for free until you pass your exam. Even if you didn’t use Rosh Review before taking your exam and you didn’t pass, we will give you a complimentary subscription until you pass. We’re here to stand with you throughout your career—not just sell you a product and move on.

How do I get a discount on Rosh Review?

If you’re part of a group purchase or program purchase, you’ll receive a discount based on the number of people in your group or program. Discounts are also available for active military and to attendees of certain conferences. Otherwise, we do not provide individual discounts. We believe in what we offer, and we strive to continually elevate our Qbanks rather than racing to the bottom with constant discounts. You can read about Rosh Review’s Discounts, Promo Codes, and Coupons for more details.

Are Qbanks worth the money?

Depends on who you ask! Some people do better with live courses, while some swear they wouldn’t have passed their exam without a Qbank and that the cost was reasonable and well worth it. Your best bet is to try a free trial and determine what’s right for you. And if you choose Rosh Review, we’ll be with you every step of your career.