I'm writing this because I wish someone had written it for me two years ago. Failed the ABR Core Exam in 2023, failed again in 2024, and I honestly considered dropping out of residency over it. My program director sat me down and we had a brutal honest conversation about my study approach — turns out I'd been doing almost everything wrong.
The biggest shift was switching from passive reading to active retrieval. I'd been highlighting Radiology Review Manual like it was going out of style, but I wasn't actually retaining anything. Started using a solid ABR practice test bank religiously, doing 40-50 questions every single morning before rounds. Timed. No notes. Then I'd go back and read every explanation, even the ones I got right. That feedback loop changed everything.
Also finally sat down and built a proper study guide organized by modality rather than system — physics on Mondays, neuro on Tuesdays, etc. Passed in 2025 with a comfortable margin. Happy to share my full schedule if anyone wants it. What's everyone else's experience been with the Core vs. Certifying split?