--- title: The Link Between In-Training Examinations and Board Exams description: What, if any, is the link between in-training examinations and board exams? 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Let's take a look. [ David Beard ](https://challengercme.com/blog/author/david-beard) Oct 10, 2023 [board review](https://challengercme.com/blog/tag/board-review) [exam prep](https://challengercme.com/blog/tag/exam-prep) ### < [All Posts](https://challengercme.com/blog) Try Med-Challenger Start a free trial today and save! Pass-guaranteed board exam review with CME/CE credits built-in. Target weak areas, study smarter, stay on track. Act now and save. [BROWSE COURSES](https://fuse.challengercme.com/store) --- ### Share this article [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://challengercme.com/blog/articles/2023/10/the-link-between-in-training-examinations-and-board-exams&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://challengercme.com/blog/articles/2023/10/the-link-between-in-training-examinations-and-board-exams&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://challengercme.com/blog/articles/2023/10/the-link-between-in-training-examinations-and-board-exams&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://challengercme.com/blog/articles/2023/10/the-link-between-in-training-examinations-and-board-exams&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) ### Subscribe ### Subscribe ![In-Training Examinations and Board Exams](https://challengercme.com/hubfs/100923.jpg) The assumption often made within residencies and by residents is that In-Training Examinations (ITEs) mirror the board exams, providing a predictive framework for success in these crucial assessments. This article delves into the correlation between ITE performance and success on board exams across various medical specialties, shedding light on the accuracy of this common assumption. ## Correlation Analysis Research demonstrates a moderate to strong correlation between performance on ITEs and board exams. This finding underscores the predictive value of ITEs, suggesting that achieving higher scores on these exams could significantly forecast the likelihood of success on board examinations. The congruity in content and assessment objectives between ITEs and board exams further reinforces the relevance of ITEs in preparing residents for board exams. ## Specialty-Specific Insights In the realm of Family Medicine, a study showcased a positive predictive value of 0.72 between cumulative scores on American Board of Family Medicine ITEs over a three-year period and the American Board of Family Practice certification examination scores. This indicates that a trend of higher performance on ITEs over time could foretell success in board certification examinations. In the specialty of Otolaryngology, the Otolaryngology Training Examination (OTE) taken during residency was associated with the passage rate of first-time examinees on the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Written Qualifying Examination. This association accentuates the role of ITEs as indicators of readiness for board exams in this specialty. Within Infectious Diseases, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) ITE scores emerged as the strongest predictor of performance on the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Infectious Disease Certification Examination. This suggests that ITE scores can have a stronger predictive value compared to other variables like previous ABIM Internal Medicine Certification Examination scores and USMLE Step 1 scores. ## Warnings and Recommendations One of the best board preparation tools available to residents is usually their old ITEs. But do not put too much weight on their use as an exact predictor. There are several statistical problems with using ITEs as a predictor, as noted in the article [The ITE Scores - Use With Caution](https://challengercme.com/blog/articles/2023/09/residency-program-ite-ite-scores-use-with-caution).  - The ITE data population is tiny. We’re interested only in outliers - very high scores and very low scores. - It’s easier to gather a correlation between high scores and high ITEs than between low ITE scores and boards failure. - Each specialty has had misalignments between tests and learning materials in the past, at least occasionally. If you are a resident, low ITE scores don’t mean you’re going to fail. It doesn’t mean you don’t have to study if you have high ITE scores. For the residency director and faculty, the same applies. High ITE pass rates indicate alignment between the learning and the written boards and specialty blueprint, low ITE pass rates can indicate malalignment, but can also indicate student study resource availability and oversight issues. 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Pass the ABEM board exam, guaranteed. ABEM exam tips. Nancy M. Anderson, MBA, MSc, MB(ASCP) Jan 22, 2022 family medicine ### [How To Prepare for Family Medicine Boards (8 Tips to Ace ABFM Exams)](https://challengercme.com/blog/articles/2022/01/how-to-prepare-for-family-medicine-boards-pass-abfm) How to prepare for your family medicine board exam. ABFM study guide. How to pass the ABFM board exam. ABFM exam tips. Nancy M. Anderson, MBA, MSc, MB(ASCP) Jan 28, 2022 abfm board review ### [Pass the ABFM Certification Board Exam: Strategies and Tips to Excel](https://challengercme.com/blog/pass-the-abfm-certification-exam-strategies-and-tips-to-excel) How to prepare for your family medicine board exam. ABFM study guide. How to pass the ABFM board exam. ABFM exam tips. 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All rights reserved [Privacy Policy](https://support.challengercme.com/knowledge/what-are-your-terms-of-service-privacy-policy-user-agreement) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://challengercme.com/blog#webpage", "@type" : "WebPage", "description" : "The Challenger Medical Education Blog offers informative patient cases, medical certification exam preparation courses and board exam review tips.", "inLanguage" : "en", "isPartOf" : { "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "Med-Challenger", "url" : "https://challengercme.com/" }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://challengercme.com/blog", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "Challenger Medical Education Blog", "primaryImageOfPage" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://challengercme.com/hubfs/Webpage%20Featured%20Images/Medical%20Education%20Blog%20-%20Free%20CME%20resources%2c%20certification%20exam%20tips%2c%20clinical%20challenge%20questions%20and%20more.png" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Challenger Corporation", "url" : "https://challengercme.com/" }, "url" : "https://challengercme.com/blog" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "about" : [ "In-Training Examinations (ITEs)", "Board examinations", "Predictive value of exams", "Residency assessment", "Specialty-specific exam correlations (Family Medicine, Otolaryngology, Infectious Diseases)", "Exam preparation and question banks", "Med-Challenger exam prep tools" ], "articleSection" : "Medical Education", "author" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Challenger Corporation" }, "dateModified" : "2024-06-12T13:34:55.666Z", "datePublished" : "2023-10-10T13:15:00.000Z", "description" : "What, if any, is the link between in-training examinations and board exams? This medical education article reviews evidence of a moderate to strong correlation between ITE performance and board exam success, specialty-specific findings, and cautions for using ITEs as predictors.", "headline" : "The Link Between In-Training Examinations and Board Exams", "image" : [ { "@type" : "ImageObject", "description" : "Med-Challenger Medical Education, a Division of Challenger Corporation", "url" : "https://challengercme.com/logo.png" } ], "inLanguage" : "en-US", "keywords" : [ "ITE", "In-Training Examination", "board exams", "predictive value", "family medicine", "otolaryngology", "infectious diseases", "residency", "exam preparation", "Med-Challenger", "question banks" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://challengercme.com/blog/articles/2023/10/the-link-between-in-training-examinations-and-board-exams", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://challengercme.com/logo.png" }, "name" : "Challenger Corporation" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "QAPage", "mainEntity" : { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Research shows a moderate to strong correlation between ITE performance and board exam success, indicating ITEs can be a useful predictor. Specialty examples in the article include a 0.72 positive predictive value for cumulative Family Medicine ITEs and an association between the Otolaryngology Training Examination and first-time passage rates on the Otolaryngology written qualifying exam. Infectious Diseases Society of America ITE scores were reported as the strongest predictor for the ABIM Infectious Disease Certification Examination. The article also warns that ITEs should be used with caution because of small data populations, outliers, occasional test–material misalignments, and the fact that low ITE scores do not guarantee failure nor do high ITE scores remove the need to study." }, "name" : "How predictive are In-Training Examination (ITE) scores of board exam performance?", "text" : "How predictive are In-Training Examination (ITE) scores of later performance on board certification examinations across medical specialties?" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "ItemList", "description" : "Exam-style review questions based on this article’s teaching points.", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Research demonstrates a moderate to strong correlation, indicating that higher ITE scores can predict a greater likelihood of board exam success, though this is not an exact predictor." }, "name" : "What overall correlation has research found between ITEs and board exams?" }, "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "A study reported a positive predictive value of 0.72 between cumulative American Board of Family Medicine ITE scores over three years and American Board of Family Practice certification exam scores." }, "name" : "What predictive value was reported for Family Medicine ITEs?" }, "position" : 2 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The article notes that Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) ITE scores emerged as the strongest predictor of performance on the ABIM Infectious Disease Certification Examination compared to other variables mentioned." }, "name" : "Which specialty's ITE scores were noted as the strongest predictor for the specialty certification exam?" }, "position" : 3 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Cautions include small ITE data populations, the focus on outliers, occasional misalignment between tests and learning materials, and that low ITE scores do not necessarily mean a resident will fail boards nor do high ITE scores mean studying is unnecessary." }, "name" : "What cautions does the article give about using ITEs to predict board outcomes?" }, "position" : 4 } ], "name" : "Practice Questions", "numberOfItems" : 4 } ```