ABOMS study plan

ABOMS · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Qualifying Examination)

Map the Qualifying Examination blueprint into a written topic checklist with weighted time allocations
Audit current knowledge by completing a baseline self-assessment across all listed topics and scoring each area
Establish a daily 60-minute study block and a spaced-repetition system for high-yield facts
Compile a one-page list of primary reference sources to use throughout the plan

A dated topic checklist with baseline scores and a scheduled weekly calendar

Week 2

Summarize core principles of wound healing, hemostasis, and surgical infection control into condensed notes
Explain fluid, electrolyte, and nutritional management decisions for the surgical patient in writing
Differentiate local and general anesthetic pharmacology, dosing limits, and adverse reactions
Practice 40 board-style items on these topics and log every missed concept

A 10-page condensed notes packet plus an error log of missed concepts

Week 3

Outline the diagnostic workup, imaging interpretation, and staging approach for odontogenic infections
Describe the surgical management sequence for fascial space infections and airway compromise
Compare benign odontogenic cysts and tumors by clinical, radiographic, and histologic features
Complete 40 practice items and re-test all prior error-log entries

A comparative table of cysts and tumors plus an updated error log with re-test results

Week 4

Review dentoalveolar surgery indications, complications, and third molar risk assessment
Summarize maxillofacial trauma evaluation and fixation principles by anatomic region
Draft verbal explanations of two trauma cases as if presenting to an examiner
Complete a 50-item mixed practice set under timed conditions

A timed practice score report with a written remediation list for weak areas

Week 5

Construct structured case presentations covering orthognathic, TMJ, and reconstructive scenarios
Articulate informed consent, risk disclosure, and complication management in spoken form
Practice answering follow-up probe questions aloud and record them for self-review
Refine a personal framework for organizing any case presentation within 3 minutes

Three recorded case presentations with a self-scored rubric and revision notes

Week 6

Present cases in pathology, reconstruction, and cosmetic surgery using the same framework
Demonstrate reasoning about multidisciplinary management and referral decisions aloud
Identify and rehearse answers to common judgment and ethics scenarios
Conduct a mock oral session with a colleague or recording and document feedback

A mock oral feedback summary with three prioritized improvement actions

Week 7

Re-run the full baseline self-assessment and compare against week 1 scores
Close remaining gaps by re-studying the top five weakest topics from the error log
Complete two timed 50-item practice sets and review every rationale
Deliver two full mock case presentations end-to-end without notes

A comparison scorecard showing baseline versus current performance

Week 8

A completed pre-exam review sheet and final simulation score

Week 2: Baseline topic checklist is complete and at least 30 practice items have been logged with rationales reviewed

Week 4: Timed mixed practice set completed with a documented score and remediation list

Week 6: At least five recorded case presentations completed with self-scored rubric feedback

Week 8: Current self-assessment scores exceed baseline in every domain and final simulation is complete