FREE General Surgery Board Review Questions and Answers 2026
Get ready for your FREE General Surgery Board Review certification. Practice questions with step-by-step answer explanations and instant scoring.
You are seeing a patient in the emergency department who banged his head after falling while skiing. He lost consciousness, according to his buddies who were with him, and they brought him to the lodge while dialing 911. He "woke up" while traveling to the hospital and briefly appeared to be in good health, but he is now unresponsive once more.
Which vessel is typically at fault given the diagnosis you suspect?
Explanation:
Epidural hematoma is most likely given the history of a head injury, loss of consciousness, lucidity, and subsequent decompensation. The middle meningeal artery is the vessel that is most frequently implicated in epidural hematomas, and hematoma evacuation is recommended. Because the blood lies between the dura and the skull, a biconvex-shaped hemorrhage is frequently seen on imaging. A deadly epidural hemorrhage can occur in up to 20% of cases. On imaging, subdural hematomas have a crescent-shaped appearance and hardly ever feature the typical epidural "lucid period." Instead, they experience agony and bewilderment that worsen with time. Bleeds from subdural hematomas are caused by the bridging veins. Practice with the free General Surgery Board Review practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
The inhaled anesthetic you intend to employ has an extremely high MAC. High minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) anesthetics typically:
Explanation:
The MAC is the lowest amount of anesthetic vapor required to inhibit a physical response in 50% of patients to a common surgical stimulus. Less fat soluble, less powerful, yet faster onset with higher MAC. (xanax) More lipid soluble, more powerful, but longer onset, when MAC is lower. This little story, which goes, "When MAC is LOW he is FAT and SLOW," is a helpful method to memorize it. Typical MAC values include: 104 Nitrous oxide * Halothane - 0.75 * Chloroform - 0.5 * Methoxyflurane - 0.16 * Xenon - 72 * Desflurane - 6 * Ethyl Ether - 3.2 * Sevoflurane - 2 * Enflurane - 1.7 * Isoflurane - 1.2 *
A 73-year-old man arrives at the hospital after falling while hanging Christmas lights on his roof. He claims to be experiencing right-side chest pain and shortness of breath. His right breath sounds have significantly decreased, according to a physical examination. The moment you insert a chest tube on the right, 850ml of blood start to flow back.
Which course of action in his management is best
Explanation:
Keep the tube suctioned while gauging the output. Hemothorax typically results in diminished ipsilateral breath sounds and muted percussion on that side. The pleural cavity of a typical adult male can retain 4 or more liters of blood, therefore exsanguination can happen even in the absence of any other outward signs of bleeding. The instantaneous return of 1500 ml would have been a sign of OR. Indications for exploratory surgery include bleeding with instability after all other causes of bleeding have been ruled out, output >250 mL/hour x 4 hours, or 2500 mL/24 hours.
How many cases of the diagnostic depicted in the illustration involve the pancreatic head?
Explanation:
The head of the pancreas hosts around one-third of the pancreatic pseudocysts, while the tail hosts two-thirds of them. The most frequent causes in adults are alcohol and gallstone pancreatitis, whereas the most frequent cause in children is trauma .
The below-shown diagnosis's most frequent life-threatening consequence is?
Explanation:
This is a Zenker’s diverticulum. All of the options listed are possible life-threatening complications, but the most common is aspiration.
You are visiting a patient in the SICU whose attempt to wean off the ventilator has been unsuccessful for the previous three days. The patient has a history of trauma, is tube-fed, and has been on a ventilator for ten days. In order to determine a respiratory quotient, you choose to order a metabolic cart (RQ). This patient has an RQ of 1.45. You advise the nutritionist that he requires:
Explanation:
RQ=CO2/O2 By producing an overabundance of calories and carbs to be turned into fat, overfeeding might result in patients needing artificial breathing and intubation for a longer period of time. A RQ>1.0 would arise from this. This process results in an increase in CO2 generation, which must be offset by an increase in the patient's respiratory effort. As a result, the respiratory system might become so worn out that weaning becomes challenging or even impossible. Since oxygen consumption rises while the body is turning stored energy into sugar, starvation would result in an RQ 0.7. (breaking down glycogen, adipose tissues).
You are looking at a 34-year-old, 100-pound patient who has just been admitted. Both of her arms and her entire back, from the neck to the buttocks, are burned.
What IV fluids will be prescribed in your entrance orders?
Explanation:
The patient has burned 27% of her body (9% for arms, 9% for upper back , and 9% for lower back). Use the Parkland Formula (MEMORIZE THIS!!): 4mL x Weight in kg x % burned Replace fluid 4ml/kg x kg of pt x %burned, replace half over first 8 hours and the rest over the next 16. This should be calculated from time burned, not time of admission.
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General Surgery Board Review: upcoming dates and official changes
- Updated Oct 22, 2026: Exam fee (Certifying Exam (GSCE)) is now $1,550 exam fee (previously $1,550 exam fee).
- Updated Oct 22, 2026: Exam fee (QE/CE Admission Exam) is now $550 application fee (exam fee TBD) (previously $550 application fee (exam fee TBD)).
- Updated Oct 22, 2026: Number of questions (Qualifying Exam (GSQE)) is now About 300 multiple-choice questions (previously About 300 multiple-choice questions).
Facts verified Oct 22, 2026 against American Board of Surgery. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
- The ABS General Surgery Qualifying Examination has about 300 multiple-choice questions. (American Board of Surgery)
- The ABS General Surgery Certifying Examination has no preset pass/fail rate; the result is based on the combined evaluation of the six examiners. (American Board of Surgery)
- The ABS General Surgery Certifying Examination fee is $1,550. (American Board of Surgery)
- The ABS General Surgery QE/CE Admission Exam has a $550 application fee, with the exam fee still to be announced, and both must be paid to register. (American Board of Surgery)
- After passing the GSQE, candidates get up to three attempts within three years to pass the ABS General Surgery Certifying Examination. (American Board of Surgery)
- Approved applicants get up to four attempts within four years to pass the ABS General Surgery Qualifying Examination, which is offered once per academic year. (American Board of Surgery)
- Candidates have no more than seven academic years after finishing residency to pass both ABS general surgery exams (GSQE and GSCE). (American Board of Surgery)
- ABS Continuous Certification costs $285 a year, which covers one assessment every other year and access to its reference materials. (American Board of Surgery)
- The ABS General Surgery Certifying Examination is a virtual oral exam taken over Zoom, with two examiners in each session. (American Board of Surgery)
Facts verified Oct 22, 2026 against American Board of Surgery. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
General Surgery Board Review Exam at a Glance
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Qualifying Exam (GSQE)) | About 300 multiple-choice questions | American Board of Surgery |
| Passing score (Certifying Exam (GSCE)) | No preset pass rate; aggregate of 6 examiners | American Board of Surgery |
| Exam fee (Certifying Exam (GSCE)) | $1,550 exam fee | American Board of Surgery |
| Exam fee (QE/CE Admission Exam) | $550 application fee (exam fee TBD) | American Board of Surgery |
| Retake policy (Certifying Exam (GSCE)) | Up to 3 attempts in 3 years | American Board of Surgery |
| Retake policy (Qualifying Exam (GSQE)) | Up to 4 attempts in 4 years; once per year | American Board of Surgery |
| Validity | 7 academic years after residency to certify | American Board of Surgery |
| Renewal | Assessment every 2 years; $285 annual fee | American Board of Surgery |
| Delivery (Certifying Exam (GSCE)) | Virtual oral exam | American Board of Surgery |
| Delivery (Qualifying Exam (GSQE)) | Pearson VUE testing centers | pearsonvue.com |
| Eligibility (Certifying Exam (GSCE)) | Pass GSQE + full unrestricted U.S./Canadian license | American Board of Surgery |
| Eligibility (Qualifying Exam (GSQE)) | Completed ACGME/RCPSC general surgery residency | American Board of Surgery |
| Score release (Certifying Exam (GSCE)) | Within 10 business days | American Board of Surgery |
| Score release (Qualifying Exam (GSQE)) | About 4–6 weeks after the exam | American Board of Surgery |
Facts verified Oct 22, 2026 against American Board of Surgery. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Free General Surgery Board Review Study Tools
Interactive General Surgery Board Review resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
- Free Surgical Foundation Question and Answers — 7 questions with answer explanations
- General Surgery Board Review flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
- General Surgery Board Review study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
- General Surgery Board Review cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review
Important: The General Surgery Board Review exam covers multiple domains. Create a study schedule that allocates more time to unfamiliar topics while maintaining review of strong areas.
- ✓Confirm your exam appointment and location
- ✓Bring required identification documents
- ✓Arrive 30 minutes early to check in
- ✓Read each question carefully before answering
- ✓Flag difficult questions and return to them later
- ✓Manage your time — don't spend too long on one question
- ✓Review flagged questions before submitting
General Surgery Board Review Practice Test Questions
Prepare for the General Surgery Board Review exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
General Surgery Board Review MCQ
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- +Validates your knowledge and skills objectively
- +Increases job market competitiveness
- +Provides structured learning goals
- +Networking opportunities with other certified professionals
- −Study materials can be expensive
- −Exam anxiety can affect performance
- −Requires dedicated preparation time
- −Retake fees apply if you don't pass
Pros and Cons at a Glance
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Validates your knowledge and skills objectively | Study materials can be expensive |
| Increases job market competitiveness | Exam anxiety can affect performance |
| Provides structured learning goals | Requires dedicated preparation time |
| Networking opportunities with other certified professionals | Retake fees apply if you don't pass |
Sample General Surgery Board Review Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free General Surgery Board Review practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
CMS Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals require that surgical patients receive a pre-operative assessment documented by:
- A. A licensed practitioner within 30 days before surgery, updated within 24 hours pre-operatively
- B. A registered nurse within 48 hours of admission
- C. An anesthesiologist at least 72 hours before any elective procedure
- D. The operating surgeon on the day of surgery only
Answer: A. A licensed practitioner within 30 days before surgery, updated within 24 hours pre-operatively
CMS CoPs require a history and physical completed within 30 days prior to surgery, with an update performed within 24 hours before the procedure.
A Richter hernia is defined as herniation of which portion of the bowel?
- A. The entire bowel circumference
- B. The antimesenteric wall only
- C. The mesenteric wall only
- D. A Meckel's diverticulum
Answer: B. The antimesenteric wall only
A Richter hernia involves only the antimesenteric portion of the bowel wall, so obstruction may be absent despite strangulation.
The Health Care Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA) provides peer review immunity to hospitals when conducting professional review actions, provided the action is taken:
- A. In the reasonable belief it furthers quality health care, with adequate notice and hearing procedures
- B. Only after a formal malpractice verdict has been rendered
- C. In response to a complaint filed with the state licensing board
- D. Exclusively through a Joint Commission-accredited process
Answer: A. In the reasonable belief it furthers quality health care, with adequate notice and hearing procedures
HCQIA grants immunity for professional review actions that meet four criteria: reasonable belief the action furthers quality care, reasonable effort to obtain facts, adequate notice and hearing, and reasonable belief the action was warranted.
The most common primary site of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is:
- A. Small intestine
- B. Colon
- C. Stomach
- D. Esophagus
Answer: C. Stomach
Approximately 60% of GISTs arise in the stomach; they originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal and are driven by KIT (CD117) or PDGFRA mutations.
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General Surgery Board Review Questions and Answers
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- absurgery.org — Test delivery, eligibility, passing score, retake policy, score release, time limit, score validity, exam format, exam information · verified Oct 2026
- pearsonvue.com — Test delivery · verified Oct 2026