Methods of preparing for the Certifying Examination in internal medicine and their efficacy

Candidates for the 1991 Certifying Examination were asked how they prepared for the examination. There were 2,780 respondents (32% of the eligible candidates). The responding candidates used a mean of 5.2 study methods and gave higher educational value ratings to methods used most frequently. Regression analyses showed no independent contribution of study method or effort to explaining the variance in score for first-time takers, and a 2% contribution for repeat takers. Program director ratings were the most important predictors of score for first-time takers and previous examination score for repeat takers. Intensive study is likely to produce at most a small improvement in performance.