Otolaryngology Resident In-Service Examination Scores Predict Passage of the Written Board Examination

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the Otolaryngology Training Examination (OTE) and the passage rate of first-time examinees on the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto) Written Qualifying Examination (WQE). Study Design. Historical cohort study. Setting. De-identified database containing information on examinees who took the WQE in 2007 to 2011 and the OTE in 2005 to 2011. Subjects and Methods. One thousand three hundred nine otolaryngology residents took the WQE for the first time in 2007 to 2011 and the OTE in their final and penultimate years of training in 2005 to 2011. Data were analyzed using 1-way frequencies and table analysis. Logistic regression was used to model the relationship between the pass/fail WQE result and the OTE percentile score in the final and penultimate years of training. Data transformation was used to analyze WQE passage as a function of OTE scores by deciles and quartiles. Results. There is a significant relationship between OTE score and passage of the WQE on the first attempt. The probability of passing the WQE on the first attempt is 97% if the resident scores in the upper 3 quartiles of the OTE in the final and penultimate years of training compared with 70% if the examinee scores in the bottom quartile both years. Conclusion. Residents who score in the bottom quartile in both their final and penultimate years of training are at significantly higher risk of failing the WQE on the first attempt. Remediation efforts should be focused on these individuals.