ABOS Part II Preparation Timeline: What to Do 100 Days Before the Exam

The ABOS Part II oral examination is held each July in Chicago. Approximately 800 candidates sit for it every year. Whether you're 100 days out or 60, having a structured preparation timeline is the difference between walking in confident and walking in hoping for the best.

This timeline is built around one principle: the activities that matter most for the oral exam are not the same as the activities that mattered for Part I. Adjust accordingly.

Phase 1: Case Organization (Weeks 1-4)

The goal: Get your case summaries organized, complete, and submission-ready.

This is the phase most candidates underestimate. Case organization — collecting records, drafting summaries, redacting files, ensuring documentation is complete — is where candidates typically spend 150+ hours. At your billing rate, that's significant lost income on top of the time investment.

Key priorities during this phase:

• Gather all operative reports, clinic notes, and imaging for your submitted cases
• Draft case summaries with a logical flow: workup → diagnosis → treatment plan → execution → outcome
• Document conservative measures that were tried or considered before surgery
• Include complications honestly — with your management approach documented clearly
• Submit early. The ABOS deadline is firm. Once it passes, you cannot upload additional materials.

Remember: your case summary is your presentation. The structure you create now is the structure you'll present from on exam day. Getting it right during this phase saves you from scrambling later.

Phase 2: Practice the Format (Weeks 5-10)

The goal: Build composure through mock oral exams and out-loud practice.

This is the phase that separates candidates who pass from those who don't. Reading prepares you for Part I. Practicing the oral format prepares you for Part II.

Key priorities during this phase:

• Start mock oral exams with mentors or colleagues who will push back on your decisions
• Practice walking through your case summaries out loud — not silently reading them
• Practice your response for when you don't know the answer: “I'm not certain, but my approach would be...”
• Present each core case multiple times. Ten repetitions builds more composure than one pass through all your cases.
• Practice handling interruptions — answer directly, then continue where you left off
• Review the ABOS scoring rubric (available at abos.org) and self-score your practice presentations

Phase 3: Refinement (Weeks 11-14)

The goal: Sharpen your weak areas and build exam-day confidence through targeted practice.

Key priorities during this phase:

• Focus on your weakest scoring areas from mock exams — if composure keeps breaking, do more reps under pressure
• Review subspecialty-specific content for your case mix. Trauma and spine cases tend to generate the most examiner questions — know your classifications cold.
• Do final mock exams under full exam conditions — timed 30-minute periods, realistic pushback, honest feedback
• Review the natural history of disease for each of your cases: what would happen if the patient did NOT have surgery? This is a common examiner question.

The Final Week

• Don't cram. If you've followed the timeline, your preparation is done. Last-minute studying adds anxiety without adding competence.
• Reduce stress sources. Clear your clinical schedule as much as possible. Don't take call. Protect your mental energy.
• Handle logistics early. Book your hotel near the exam center. Know where you're eating. Eliminate all day-of friction.
• Rest. A well-rested surgeon with 80% of the material will outperform an exhausted surgeon with 100%. Composure requires energy.

The Most Common Timing Mistake

Most candidates spend too long in Phase 1 and not enough time in Phase 2. They perfect their case summaries but never practice presenting them under pressure. On exam day, they know the material but can't perform under scrutiny.

Set a firm deadline for Phase 1. Even if your summaries aren't perfect, transition to practice. An imperfect summary presented with composure scores better than a perfect summary presented with panic.

Where Are You Now?

With the July exam approaching, the question is: which phase should you be in? If your cases aren't organized yet, start Phase 1 immediately. If they are, start mock exams this week.

The candidates who pass aren't the ones who started earliest. They're the ones who spent their time on the right activities at the right time.