First attempt I scored a 64%, which was frustrating because I'd been studying on and off for about 8 weeks. The problem was I was treating it like a memorization test when it's really more about applied judgment in scene investigation scenarios. Once I figured that out, everything shifted.
For round two I spent 6 solid weeks, about 2 hours a day, focusing on the ABMDI body of knowledge document and working through case-based questions. I also joined a study group through our county ME office — three other investigators who were also prepping. That peer discussion was probably worth more than any textbook.
The ABMDI practice questions I found online were decent for testing recall but didn't fully capture the judgment-call style of the real exam. Ended up scoring an 81% on my second try. The forensic pathology section and manner of death determination questions were the ones that tripped me up both times until I really drilled them.
Anyone else find the toxicology interpretation questions harder than expected? That section felt disproportionately weighted compared to what I saw in prep materials.
8 weeks is pretty typical from what I've heard. I did 10 weeks and felt over-prepared for some sections and under-prepared for others. The scene documentation questions were a lot more detailed than I expected.
I'm a coroner investigator with 4 years on the job and still found parts of the exam humbling. The written standards don't always match what we do in the field, which creates some weird cognitive dissonance during the test.
Worth it though — the credential opens doors, especially for federal contract work.
Second attempt here too — scored 77% after failing with a 61% the first time. The judgment-call framing you mentioned is exactly right. I kept second-guessing myself on manner vs. cause of death distinctions until I found a retired ME willing to walk me through real cases.
Congrats on passing! I'm scheduled for mine in 9 weeks and the toxicology section is exactly what's stressing me out too. My background is mostly scene investigation, not lab work, so some of those drug interaction questions feel very foreign.
Did your study group use any specific case collections or was it more discussion-based?