ABPS Practice Test

The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) certifies physicians who hold a medical degree and a valid, unrestricted license. This page gives candidates free practice sets grouped by topic, worked explanations for sample questions, a study plan, and a plain summary of delivery, fees, deadlines, retakes and score reporting taken from the official site. Practice with the free American Board of Physician Specialties Certification practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (9 questions with answer explanations).

Free American Board of Physician Specialties Certification Study Tools

Interactive American Board of Physician Specialties Certification resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• American Board of Physician Specialties Certification flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• American Board of Physician Specialties Certification study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• American Board of Physician Specialties Certification cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

ABPS Exam at a Glance

What changed for ABPS in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Retake policy changed to Up to 3 attempts per exam (previously 3 attempts; 1-year wait plus remedial CME after a third failure).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Validity changed to 8 years (previously 8 years (expires December 31 of the eighth year)).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Renewal changed to CME, ethics coursework and recertification exam (previously Recertify every 8 years; CME (often 50 h/year), ethics course, recertification exam).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to Computer-based written exams at testing centers; oral exams virtual (previously Computer-based multiple-choice exam at test centers in the U.S. and Canada; oral exams held virtually).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility changed to Medical school graduate with valid unrestricted U.S./Canadian license (previously MD/DO degree, ACGME/AOA/RCPSC residency, unrestricted U.S./Canadian license).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Exam fee (Dermatology) changed to $750 application + $1,950 CBT (previously $750 application + $1,950 CBT exam).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Exam fee (Family Medicine) changed to $750 application + $1,950 CBT (previously $750 application + $1,950 CBT exam).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Exam fee (Internal Medicine) changed to $750 application + $1,950 CBT (previously $750 application + $1,950 CBT exam).^[2]

What the ABPS is and how it works

According to American Board of Physician Specialties, “no numeric scores will be reported to any candidate.”^[1]

ABPS board certification is for medical school graduates who hold a valid and unrestricted medical license in the U.S., U.S. territories, or Canada. The written exam is computer-based and given at testing centers. Some specialties also have an oral exam, which is held virtually.

Results are pass/fail only. The board states that no numeric scores are reported to any candidate. Written results arrive within 60-75 days, and oral results arrive in writing within 45 days of the exam date.

You are allowed 3 attempts to pass an exam. A written retake costs $800, and an oral retake costs the full oral fee. Initial fees depend on the specialty. For example, Family Medicine is $750 application plus $1,950 CBT, while Anesthesiology is $750 application plus $1,400 CBT plus $1,600 oral.

Certification is valid for 8 years and expires on December 31 of the eighth year. Renewal involves CME, ethics coursework and a recertification exam. CME requirements vary by specialty, so check your own specialty on the official site.

Exam dates, registration deadlines and fees can change. Confirm every detail at abpsus.org before you register. The practice questions on this page are written by us. They are not real exam questions and do not predict what you will see.

Worked examples: how to reason through ABPS questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which medication used for osteoporosis must be taken with a full glass of water and the patient must remain upright for at least 30 minutes after ingestion?

1. Raloxifene
2. Alendronate
3. Calcitonin
4. Denosumab

Answer: B. Alendronate

Explanation:

Alendronate is correct. It is a bisphosphonate, and if the tablet or acid lingers in the esophagus it can cause irritation and ulcers. That is why it is taken with a full glass of water and the patient stays upright for at least 30 minutes.

Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator, and it has no upright-positioning requirement. Calcitonin is given as a nasal spray or injection, so esophageal contact is not the concern. Denosumab is an injection, so it never touches the esophagus.

Rule to remember: when a drug has a dosing-position instruction, ask what local tissue injury it prevents. Oral bisphosphonates and the esophagus are the standard pairing.

Example 2

Question: What is the primary function of clinical guidelines?

1. To replace clinical judgment.
2. To ensure consistency and improve care outcomes
3. To eliminate documentation.
4. To increase treatment costs.

Answer: B. To ensure consistency and improve care outcomes

Explanation:

The correct answer is that guidelines ensure consistency and improve care outcomes. They are evidence-based recommendations that reduce unwarranted variation between practitioners and settings and support safer treatment.

Replacing clinical judgment is wrong because guidelines inform decisions but do not override a clinician's assessment of the individual patient. Eliminating documentation is wrong because guideline-based care still has to be recorded and justified, especially when you deviate from it. Increasing treatment costs is wrong because guidelines aim at appropriate, effective care, not higher spending.

Rule to remember: guidelines support judgment and standardize quality. They never substitute for either the clinician or the chart.

Example 3

Question: A patient with gout is started on allopurinol. What is the primary mechanism of action of this medication?

1. Blocks renal reabsorption of urate
2. Inhibits xanthine oxidase to reduce uric acid synthesis
3. Promotes urinary excretion of uric acid
4. Blocks urate crystal deposition in joints

Answer: B. Inhibits xanthine oxidase to reduce uric acid synthesis

Explanation:

Allopurinol inhibits xanthine oxidase, the enzyme that converts hypoxanthine and xanthine into uric acid. That lowers uric acid production at the source, so the right answer is the option about reducing synthesis.

Blocking renal reabsorption of urate describes uricosuric drugs such as probenecid, not allopurinol. Promoting urinary excretion of uric acid is also a uricosuric effect, and it works on the kidney rather than on production. Blocking urate crystal deposition in joints is not how allopurinol works. It lowers the urate supply that feeds crystal formation.

Rule to remember: sort gout drugs by whether they reduce production or increase excretion. Allopurinol belongs with production.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Read the ABPS FAQ, the fee page and the exam schedule for your specialty so you know your delivery format, deadlines and retake rules before you study.

Next, take a short, untimed set from each topic on this page to find where you are weakest. Do not worry about the score at this stage. Write down every missed question and the reason you missed it: a knowledge gap, a misread stem, or a wrong guess between close options.

Then spend most of your time on the weak topics. Pharmacology, diagnostic testing and clinical procedures reward repeated short sessions. Documentation, ethics and healthcare systems questions reward careful reading of what the question is really asking. After each set, read the explanation for the questions you got right as well as those you missed, because a correct guess teaches nothing.

In the final stretch, switch to mixed sets under timed conditions to match the computer-based format. Keep a short list of rules you keep forgetting and review it daily. Because the exam is pass/fail with no numeric score, aim for steady accuracy across all topics rather than strength in only a few.

Sources & last verified

1. American Board of Physician Specialties — passing score, score release (official source). “no numeric scores will be reported to any candidate.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
2. American Board of Physician Specialties — exam fee, retake fee (official source). “Anesthesiology | $750.00 | $1,400.00 | $1,600.00” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
3. American Board of Physician Specialties — retake policy, validity, renewal, delivery (official source). “Candidates are allowed three (3) attempts to pass an exam.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
4. American Board of Physician Specialties — registration deadline, next exam date (official source). “October 31, 2026” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
5. American Board of Physician Specialties — next exam date (official source). “Anesthesiology, Diagnostic Radiology, Family Medicine Obstetrics (Surgical Qualification), Orthopedic Surgery: November 6-7, 2026” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.