Customer Reviews

Boarding Time: The Psychiatry Candidate's New Guide to Part II of the Abpn Examination

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I knew the boards were coming. I bought this book 6 months before part II, and studiously avoided opening it for the next 4 months. Okay, 5. 'Boarding Time' was, thankfully, a quick read, with a no-nonsense approach to the most common pitfalls encountered by candidates today. The segment on the top 10 reasons candidates fail was enlightening, and was useful in choosing a focus for my now-limited preparation time. Other helpful content included a sample structure for boards-style interviews, a concrete description of "What really happens" during boards weekend and the four categories upon which candidates are judged.

Less useful for me was the lengthy mock-oral examination transcript, including discussion between mock examiner and examinee. I have seen and done enough flawed mock orals, I would have preferred to see/read about an example of a clearly "passing" oral exam. For that you will have to search elsewhere.

Overall this was a good quick-reference to prepare for part II, and reduce anxiety as much as possible. If your skills are fresh and you are up on current diagnosis and treatment, you could certainly get away with just this book plus the usual texts.

It offers some helpful hints and how to think about the test, but I think you can get that by watching mock orals on tape or doing mock orals. It's out of date as it doesn't cover the new format with the 3 written vignettes and 1 video vignette. If you go to the ABPN website they have examples of each, and it is worth looking at them to get a feel for what they ask. Just to update, you go into the room, read or watch the vignette, and then they grill you about what you've read or seen. Each one lasts 12 minutes. Anyway, back to the book...if you are studying with friends get one copy and pass it around, but it isn't a book you are going to go back and read over and over. You can do without it, but if you are anxious and want to read as much as you can, it may be worthwhile. The writing style is pleasant, easy to read, and it is good bedtime reading or use it to take a break from other study material.

Edited to say I passed! They sent out the results in less than a month. I'm so happy I never have to do this horrid test again.

I hate exams and hate studying for exams and do much less than I should to pass them. Luckily, I did pass my Boards on the first try and I think in large part it was due to having read this book cover to cover. It is an easy read and contains a lot of good tips. Good luck.

Must read book before going for the "Big Day". After having read the book, I felt mentally prepared for the exam. That went a long way for me in passing the boards. It really smashes the anxiety of the unknown. And that is 90% work done to pass the coveted part-II. Good luck to all fellow-shrinks who are preparing for the exam.

Essential info for part II of ABPN. Especially latter chapters on formularion and presentation. Enjoy.

If you read this book thoroughly (I read it three times) and refer back to it after a couple of mock board exams- you are in good shape for the orals. This book provides helpful hints as well as practical information. Highly recommend this for those who have to go through the agony of an oral!

Useful, but sets improbable interview standards. Talks about the need to cut time and then goes on and on speaking of minutia to included. Very much a boards approved booster book -- no sense of criticism or irony about the validity and use of the boards, or that it might be useful or the meaning of life for everyone.

Used this book mostly for "this is what you need to say to meet the criteria the examiner is looking for". I was very glad I has reviewed it, mostly to remind myself (and now you) to include medical casues for what ever the symptom!) - suggest going over it twice, once a few months in advance for "holes" and again before the exam for a confidence boost. Good luck.

The oral boards are not that difficult, specially after clearing Part 1.
What you need to know is what they want, and you can find that in this little great book, so read this book a couple of times, practice a few mock exams and you ll be fine.
Do not spend thousand of dollars in prep courses, they are going to make it look more difficult of what it really is ( after all that s their selling point). I took one from a very prestigious university and the "take home" points are covered in Boarding..the rest is just a repetition of Part 1 material that of course you should know anyways.
Good luck, my fellow colleagues!
Diego

I know I don't have to take the oral board no more, but this book really tells you the tricks to do a better interview with patients.