ABIM Geriatric Medicine Board Certification Practice Test

Begin your preparation earlier, allowing ample time for a comprehensive content review to refresh foundational knowledge. Focus initially on core geriatric syndromes (e.g., frailty, falls, incontinence, polypharmacy) and major disease updates in cardiology, neurology, and psychiatry. Integrating current clinical guidelines with your existing experience will be key. Consider forming a study group with peers or utilizing board review courses to re-engage with the material systematically.

Pharmacology, particularly medication safety and deprescribing, is a significant and cross-cutting theme. You will be tested on the Beers Criteria, anticholinergic burden, renal dosing, adverse drug events, and managing polypharmacy within complex clinical vignettes. Expect questions that require identifying inappropriate medications, recommending safer alternatives, and understanding pharmacokinetic changes with aging.

The exam integrates both seamlessly. While deep clinical knowledge is essential, you must apply it within contexts like care transitions (hospital to home), nursing home regulations, interdisciplinary team management, Medicare coverage, and ethical/legal issues surrounding capacity and advance care planning. Clinical questions often include a systems-based layer, such as determining the most appropriate site of care or coordinating with other providers.

Yes, the exam may include visual stimuli such as photographs of skin conditions, pressure injuries, or functional aids, and sometimes brief videos depicting gait disorders like festination or ataxia. You should be prepared to recognize common geriatric-relevant visual findings and interpret their clinical significance.