Tips and strategies to help you take the longitudinal assessment

2. Know your knowledge gaps

With the distribution of question categories in mind, your next step is to identify your knowledge gaps. You don’t have to be perfect in every area. While the ABFM doesn’t disclose how many questions out of 300 you must answer correctly to pass the exam, it’s estimated to be around 60%. Strive to achieve at least that percentage correctly in each area when answering practice questions. 

If you’re consistently getting fewer than 60 to 65% of your answers correct within a specific topic area, you’ve found a knowledge gap. However, if you're consistently in the 65% or higher range, additional time studying or answering questions on those topics likely won’t yield better overall exam results.

One way to self-assess is through the AAFP board review questions. These questions mirror those on the board exam and are freely available to all members. Keep in mind that answering unguided practice questions on their own is a less efficient way to study for the exam overall. However, they can help you identify knowledge gaps.

• Pre-test: Answer 25 practice questions
• Study: Across a few weeks or months, focus on your weaknesses.
• Post-test: Answer another 25 practice questions and compare

Feedback and Scoring

You will receive immediate feedback on the question whether your answer is correct or incorrect. In year two, and once you have answered at least 75 questions, your ABFM scoring report will include an estimated scaled score based upon your responses through the end of the most recent completed quarter. The scale is 200 to 800 and the Minimum Passing Score (MPS) is comparable to the one-day exam. Additional questions on the topic of scoring can be directed to the ABFM. 

3. Know yourself

Up to 25 FMCLA questions are available to take on the first day of every quarter and refresh on the first day of the next quarter. You have the flexibility to answer all 25 questions at one time, or space them out as multiple shorter sessions during the quarter. With an average of 92 days to complete 25 questions, there are three main ways to approach the FMCLA each quarter: 

• Micro approach: Answer one or two questions every few days. 
• Batch approach: Answer multiple questions at once over a handful of days.
• Exam approach: Answer most or all of the questions over one or two days.

You will likely perform the best with one of these three approaches, but only you can select which choice yields the greatest results. Consider testing each approach out with practice questions to see which works best for you.

4. Know your resources

FMCLA is an open-book test, which means that you can use resources to help you through the questions—just like you might look something up in a patient visit.

Just remember that your time is limited to five minutes per question and it goes quickly when you are on-the-clock. 

Here are some steps to take as you prepare for FMCLA.

• Find the best resources for you: Make sure you have quick and easy access to trusted, reputable online resources such as the American Family Physician journal and  FP Comprehensive.
• Practice using your resources: FMCLA is a great opportunity to sharpen your investigation and evaluation skills—what resources are best in which scenarios? Which resources take too long to use to work in a test setting? Hone those skills with practice questions.
• Prepare your exam space to use your resources: When you take the assessment, make sure that you have everything that you need at your fingertips when you click the button to begin the question timer. 

5. Know test-taking strategies

Every question on FMCLA follows the same format: they are multiple-choice questions in the same style with five minutes to answer. 

Incorporating these tips can help with any question regardless of content.

1. Don’t process a question from the top to bottom: Work through the question by first looking at key pieces of information before getting additional context.
2. Don’t try to predict the question or answer. When you try to guess what will be asked or what the answer will be, you will waste time and energy.
3. Start by reading the question being asked and then reading the vignette: This narrows your focus and gives you tremendous insight into what information from the vignette will be crucial to extract.
4. Find your answer through the process of elimination: Eliminating weaker answers first helps make each question easier and less stressful to answer afterwards.
5. Skip “data blocks” and come back to them if needed: Most vignette-style questions can be answered by just using the text, so try that before reviewing tables of data, x-rays or images.
6. Stick with your gut: Time goes by quickly. If you are not 100% sure of yourself after researching, stick with your initial answer.