The ABOS Part II Oral Examination: Current Format, Selected Cases, and Preparation Strategy
A source-aware guide to the four-period oral examination, the 12 candidate cases selected by ABOS, and the preparation strategy required for safe clinical judgment under pressure.
Key takeaways
- The ABOS Part II Oral Examination is built around a candidate case list and 12 selected cases that the candidate presents with supporting materials.
- The examination is divided into four 30-minute periods, with two examiners in each period and a 5-minute break between periods.
- Public ABOS scoring information identifies nine scoring facets, each scored 0–3, producing 216 total scores before psychometric adjustment.
- For 2027, ABOS lists January 1 through June 30, 2026 as the case-collection period and July 18–21, 2027 as the Part II examination window.
Official public format
The examination is a defense of your own orthopaedic practice
ABOS describes Part II as a credentialing process and oral examination designed to evaluate clinical competence. The candidate submits a case list; case selectors choose 12 cases; and examiners ask questions about those selected cases and the broader case list.
| Element | Published ABOS structure | Preparation implication |
|---|---|---|
| Case list | All consecutive primary-surgeon cases from the designated collection period; at least 35 surgical cases are required for 2027 eligibility | Log prospectively, verify completeness, and know the indication, alternatives, operation, complication risk, and outcome for every case. |
| Selected cases | ABOS case selectors choose 12 cases for presentation at the oral examination | Practice the selected cases as complete defenses rather than memorized summaries. |
| Materials | Selected cases require notes, images, and other relevant files for presentation | Curate de-identified practice packets that support the decision without overwhelming the answer. |
| Oral periods | Four 30-minute periods with two examiners in each period and a 5-minute break between periods | Train stamina, transitions, and recovery after a difficult exchange. |
| Skills evaluated | Data gathering, diagnosis and interpretive skills, treatment plan, technical skill, outcomes, and applied knowledge | Each answer should make the logic visible from diagnosis through follow-up and complication management. |
Current 2027 public dates should be treated as live operational requirements
ABOS lists December 1, 2025 as the start of Patient Reported Outcome logging, January 1, 2026 as the start of case logging, August 1, 2026 at 4 pm ET as the completed application and case-list deadline, and August 15, 2026 at 4 pm ET as the late deadline. The Part II examination window is listed for July 18–21, 2027, with results posted on September 3, 2027.
Candidates should always verify the current Candidate Dashboard and ABOS calendar before relying on any public summary. SurgiTest uses these dates to structure preparation; it does not replace ABOS portal instructions, case submission, uploaded materials, fees, or accommodations deadlines.
| Milestone | Published timing | SurgiTest preparation use |
|---|---|---|
| Start PRO logging | December 1, 2025 | Begin collecting outcomes and patient-centered follow-up signals that may become relevant in selected-case defense. |
| Start case logging | January 1, 2026 | Log cases prospectively and build a private study index while details are fresh. |
| Case collection closes | June 30, 2026 for 2027 candidates | Complete follow-up, complications, readmissions, and reoperations before final review. |
| Application and case list due | August 1, 2026 at 4 pm ET | Run completeness checks before the deadline rather than treating the deadline as the first audit. |
| 12 selected cases posted | April 2027 notification window | Shift from broad case-list awareness to exact selected-case rehearsal. |
| Examination window | July 18–21, 2027 | Taper to timing, voice, logistics, and selected-case confidence. |
SurgiTest turns the ABOS format into repeated spoken rehearsal
A strong candidate does not simply know the diagnosis. The candidate can explain why the operation was indicated, why alternatives were not selected, what the images show, how the operation was performed, how complications were prevented or managed, and how the patient did after surgery.
The Orthopedic Surgery SEO experience therefore connects the public ABOS format to voice-first practice, de-identified Personal Case Uploads, image-based prompts, progressive complications, timing feedback, and rubric-aligned educational feedback. It preserves the boundary that official ABOS scoring and certification decisions belong only to ABOS.
Upload the case, not the patient identity
Practice from fully de-identified operative notes, clinic summaries, imaging descriptions, and outcome data. Remove names, record numbers, exact dates, faces, metadata, and institution-specific identifiers.
Defend indication before technique
The examiner can challenge why surgery was offered, whether nonoperative care was adequate, whether patient factors changed risk, and whether a different operation would have been safer.
Practice the complication branch
A selected case may be uncomplicated, but examiners can probe infection, instability, nonunion, neurovascular injury, stiffness, thromboembolism, wound failure, or reoperation.
Separate confidence from competence
SurgiTest feedback identifies incomplete data gathering, weak interpretation, vague plans, unsafe technique, poor outcome awareness, and missed escalation thresholds.
Put the framework under pressure
Rehearse the exact decisions in your own cases.
Voice-first cases, adaptive examiner follow-up, imaging, complications, and structured educational feedback for orthopedic surgery.
Questions candidates ask
Frequently asked questions
What is the current ABOS Part II Oral Examination format?
ABOS describes the Part II Oral Examination as four 30-minute periods with two examiners in each period and a 5-minute break between periods. Case selectors choose 12 cases from the candidate case list for presentation.
Does the ABOS Part II examination use my own cases?
Yes. ABOS requires candidates to submit a case list, and 12 selected cases are used at the oral examination. SurgiTest Personal Case Uploads are educational rehearsal tools for fully de-identified material and do not submit anything to ABOS.
What must 2027 candidates submit for the case list?
ABOS states that 2027 candidates must collect and submit all consecutive primary-surgeon cases from January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026, and at least 35 surgical cases are required for eligibility.
How is the ABOS Part II examination scored?
ABOS states that oral examiners use nine scoring facets with a 0–3 score for each selected case and that 216 total scores are accumulated before adjustment for examiner severity, case difficulty, and skill difficulty.
Does SurgiTest reproduce official or recalled ABOS questions?
No. SurgiTest uses original educational cases and de-identified user practice material aligned to public ABOS format information. It does not solicit or reproduce secure examination content.
Can SurgiTest predict whether I will pass ABOS Part II?
No. SurgiTest provides educational practice, timing trends, and structured feedback. It does not calculate an official ABOS score, replace the ABOS rubric, or guarantee certification.
Source transparency
Official references
Board requirements, dates, and candidate instructions can change. Confirm current details directly with ABOS and the Board’s candidate portal.
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery — Part II Oral Examination
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery — Part II Case Lists
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery — Part II Application Instructions
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery — Part II Calendar
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery — Part II Scoring Rubric
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery — Case List Instructions
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