Are the American Academy of Pediatrics / AAP Prep Questions all you need to Pass the Boards

One of the common myths are that all you need to do to pass the boards is take 3 years worth of AAP Prep Questions and read the explanations and you will pass the exam.  This will help your test taking skills and identify your weak areas that require more studying. However, you will need to do more if your goal is to walk into the exam with the confidence that you have what it takes to answer every questions correctly.

In addition to the AAP Prep Questions , the AAP Offers More tools ! 

In addition to AAP Prep Questions, the AAP offers Pediatrics in Review which includes  Pediatric Board like questions at the end. These questions are closer in style and content  to the  pediatric board questions administered by the American Board of Pediatrics.  In addition the Pediatrics in Review themselves provide a good review of topics that the American Board of Pediatrics uses to come up with their questions and expect you to be familar with . 

Getting the content out of the Weeds 

Just like textbooks, the material in the AAP Prep Question explanations are often overwhelming with much of the content buried in a sea of time consuming non helpful narrative.  Most of what you need to know for the boards can be condensed to a fraction of the page count.  Even once it is broken down to a list you have to have full recall. Pediatric mnemonics can help and we will be doing a separate blog on this subject. However, if the mnemonics themselves are difficult to remember that defeats the purpose. Mnemonics are effective only if they are impossible to forget.  

Distilling the material to ready to eat content 

You can extract the important information from the textbooks or narrative top heavy study guides , including the explanation section of the AAP Prep Questions and Pediatrics in Review. Many pediatric residents find it easier if that material has already been distilled , sort of like preshelled pistachio nuts that are ready to eat. Our popular study guide Laughing your way to Passing the Pediatric Boards does just that.  Many readers have told us that using our book also gets their creative juices going and has helped them come up with their own pediatric mnenmonics automatically as they go through their review. 

Beware  textbooks on pediatrics, such as the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, Rudolph or Harriet Lane are great names but they are primarily clinical reference books and manuals and not very helfpul for efficient studying where pattern recognition is the key to successfully passing the boards.  Review books such as Laughing our Way to Passing the Pediatric Boards are specifically designed for board exam preparation. Combined with question banks like our focused  Laughing Your way to the Pediatric Question Bank are designed to supplement the resources of the AAP including their AAP Pediatric Prep Questions. Books that condense key information and provide companion practice questions will help you focus on what is important when taking AAP Pediatric prep questions. .Our Question bank specifically is designed with study mode broken down by subject serving as a pretest. You can then take the same question in mixed order  This serves as a  full-length mock exams that simulate the actual test conditions which many have found to be very valuable in preparing for the exam. 

Game on ! 

The key to passing Pediatric Boards is a well-rounded and disciplined study plan. The AAP prep questions would be one part of a game plan that is best for you. You should consider using multiple resources  but keep it limited rather than just going out and getting overwhelmed with too many resources. 

Additionally, consider consulting with your faculty or mentors for guidance on the most effective study strategies based on your individual strengths and weaknesses.

The effectiveness of AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) prep questions for preparing for the Pediatric Boards can vary from individual to individual. While AAP provides valuable resources for board preparation, it's important to consider a well-rounded approach to ensure success on the Pediatric Boards.
 

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