ABP - ITE

American Board of Pediatrics In-Training Examination

The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) In-Training Examination (ITE) enables residents to assess strengths and weaknesses in general pediatric knowledge at the time of the exam; assesses progress from year to year; compares performance on a national level and by peer group. In addition, you can use this to reflect on areas for your targeted studying and growth and your program directors can use the results of the ITE to explore themes and assess the need for academic mentoring.

ITE is designed as an abbreviated version of the ABP certifying exam and is based on the same content outline. It allows residents to familiarize themselves with the ABP exams and is to some extent a good predictor of their performance on a certifying exam.

Timing: Annually in July, but results not available until the mid/late September

Mandatory unless on external elective, vacation or leave of absence.

Post-Call: Residents who are post-call may defer the exam by a few days, but advanced notice is needed and the exam must be completed within the ABP exam dates window (exact date range changes from year to year, usually 2nd week of July).

'Successful' Outcome

R1 (Transition to Discipline - TTD)

A standard score which provides “50% ABP Likelihood of Success” in actual certifying exam

R2 (Core of Discipline - C)

A standard score which provides 66% ABP Likelihood of Success in actual certifying exam
Minimum 50 point increase in SS, unless the SS is 300 or greater

R3 (Core of Discipline - C)

A standard score which provides “75% ABP Likelihood of Success” in actual certifying exam
Minimum 50 point increase in SS, unless the SS is 320 or greater

Program Response if 'Successful' Outcome not Achieved

R1 (TTD)

The resident is required to write the ABP ITE the following year (meaning they cannot be scheduled for vacation or away elective at that time (Block 1).
R1s achieving <100 SS will be counseled to improve their basic knowledge
These are not intended to be punitive measures, but rather a means of ensuring that the resident gets ongoing objective feedback about performance, and experience in MCQ.

R2 (C)

Resident is required to write the ABP the following year.
Resident will not be granted vacation leave or an external elective for Block 1 of the next PGY-3 year unless commitment is made to return to write the examination
If the resident has themes on review of EPA assessments by the Competence Committee in Medical Expert role in that academic year targeted learning plans will be developed.
Academic advisors will be assigned if the SS is <100. R2s not achieving a 50 point increase in SS, or with a SS of < 200, will be counseled on targeted knowledge improvements.

R3 (C)

If the resident has themes on review of EPA assessments by the Competence Committee in the Medical Expert role in that academic year targeted learning plans will be developed if the SS is <250.
R3s not achieving a 50 point increase in SS, or with a SS < 300, will be counseled to improve their knowledge.

R1- R3

Any resident who fails to show improvement on the ABP-ITE exam will be reviewed by the CBD Competence Committee and reported to the faculty-only members of RPC.
Failure to show improvement in multiple assessment areas may guide the RPC regarding decisions of learning plans.

How can you use your results?

How does the program use aggregate results?

We review results annually and look for content areas from year to year that our program excels in or struggles in to inform curriculum CQI.

Page updated

Report abuse