ABIM Geriatric Medicine

The examination lasts approximately 10 hours and is divided into four sessions. Each session contains up to 60 multiple-choice questions, so plan for a long testing day with up to two hours of questions before each scheduled break.

Almost all items are single-best-answer multiple-choice questions built on a clinical vignette describing a patient scenario. A small number test specific knowledge points without a stem, and some require interpreting illustrative material such as electrocardiograms, radiographs or photomicrographs. Height, weight and temperature appear in both SI and imperial units.

In 2026 the exam is scheduled for Nov. 10; registration runs Dec. 1, 2025, through Jun. 15, 2026, with late registration Jun. 16–28, 2026. The announced 2027 date is Oct. 26, 2027, with registration Dec. 1, 2026, through Jun. 15, 2027, and late registration Jun. 16–28, 2027. Late registration requires a non-refundable fee, and all deadlines fall at 11:59 p.m. ET.

You get 100 total minutes of break time that you can divide between three breaks; any break taken after a test session is deducted from that total. Separately, there is an optional tutorial of up to 30 minutes, up to 10 minutes for instructions and the pledge of honesty, and an optional survey of up to 10 minutes at the end.

The pass-fail decision is based on performance across the entire examination, and the minimum passing score reflects an absolute standard set by the designated ABIM Specialty Board rather than a curve. Unanswered questions count as incorrect, so answer every item. Results are released within three months of the last exam date, with an email directing you to your Physician Portal score report.

The ABIM geriatric medicine page summarized here does not state a retake policy, retake limits or waiting periods, so no figure can be given with confidence. Review ABIM's certification policies along with the exam fees and refund policies, or contact ABIM directly, before assuming when a repeat attempt is permitted.

Open the exam blueprint first and note the target percentage each content category carries, then allocate study weeks proportionally. Run the ABIM tutorial so the question interface and laboratory reference-range formatting feel routine. After that, practice full clinical vignettes, because the overwhelming majority of items test decision-making inside a patient scenario rather than isolated facts.

Yes. You may request a rescore for a $250 fee by submitting a written request within six months of the results release date, including your name, ABIM ID, the examination to be rescored, and a check payable to the American Board of Internal Medicine. Rescore results are mailed within eight weeks of receiving the request.

Yes. Special accommodation exam windows are reserved for physicians with a documented disability requiring a special testing schedule under the Americans with Disabilities Act: Nov. 16–20, 2026, and Oct. 25–29, 2027. The registration windows match the standard dates, including the June late-registration period and its non-refundable fee.