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[ Home ](https://mdster.com) 2. [ Blog ](https://mdster.com/blog) 3. [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) 4. American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (Emergency Medicine Written Exam (Part I)) Study Tips [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (Emergency Medicine Written Exam (Part I)) Study Tips ======================================================================================================== A practical, exam-specific plan to help you master the 300-question AOBEM Part I written exam with smarter topic weighting, timed practice, and remote-test readiness. [ MDster Editorial Team ](https://mdster.com/about) · Apr 12, 2026 · 7 min read · 64 [ Reviewed by Dr. Ali Ragab, MBBCH, MSc, MCAI ](https://mdster.com/medical-reviewers/dr-ali-ragab) [Editorial Policy](https://mdster.com/editorial-policy) | [Corrections Policy](https://mdster.com/corrections) [ Board Exam Prep ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=board-exam-prep) [ Emergency Medicine Boards ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=emergency-medicine-boards) [ Emergency Medicine ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=emergency-medicine) [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=study-tips) [ AOBEM Part I ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=aobem-part-i) [ Osteopathic Emergency Medicine ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=osteopathic-emergency-medicine) ![American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (Emergency Medicine Written Exam (Part I)) Study Tips](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/american-osteopathic-board-of-emergency-medicine-emergency-medicine-written-exam-part-i-st.jpg) Share this article Share this post Many strong candidates underperform on AOBEM Part I because they study as if they are preparing for the oral boards: long case discussions, passive reading, and not enough timed multiple-choice practice. This exam rewards something different. The current written exam is remote-proctored, offered in the spring, and built as 300 one-best-answer questions in six locked sections of 50 questions, with 60 minutes per section. Once you leave a section, you cannot return. That means breadth, retrieval speed, and stamina matter just as much as knowledge. Save polished verbal case performance for Part II; for Part I, train like a section-based MCQ exam from day one. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Start With the Blueprint, Not Your Comfort Zone ----------------------------------------------- The AOA reports a scaled score from 200 to 800, with 500 required to pass, and the overall result is based on the total number of items answered correctly. Because the exam blueprint is uneven, your study time should be uneven too. Use the official content outline to weight your preparation toward the domains that contribute the most questions. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") PriorityDomains to emphasize firstHighest weightTrauma/disaster medicine, cardiovascular, abdominal/GI, thoracic-respiratory, procedures/skillsMiddle weightInfectious, renal/urogenital, neuro, endocrine/metabolic, HEENT, musculoskeletalMust not ignoreOB/GYN, administrative/EMS, toxicology, cutaneous, environmental A practical split is **60% of study time on the highest-weight, high-acuity domains**, **30% on the middle tier**, and **10% on the smaller domains you are tempted to skip**. That last 10% matters because candidates often give away easy points in administrative/EMS, toxicology, and OB/GYN. Also remember that the procedures domain is still tested in MCQ format, so study procedures as decision trees: **indications, contraindications, setup, complications, confirmation, and rescue steps**. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") > **Pro Tip:** If a topic shows up often in your department but has a small blueprint weight, do not let it dominate your revision just because it feels familiar. Study Schedule Template ----------------------- If your exam is in the spring, work backward 8 weeks and make the schedule section-based, not chapter-based. The goal is to finish each week with measurable output. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") WeeksPrimary taskOutput1-2Baseline with mixed timed blocks2-3 timed 50-question sets; build an error log by domain3-5Weighted content cyclesReview high-yield domains first; one protected session weekly for smaller domains6-7Stamina phaseOne 150-question simulation each week using real break timing8Final consolidationOne full 300-question rehearsal or two 150-question sessions; only targeted review afterward Your weekly structure should be simple enough to survive shift work: - **3 timed mixed blocks** of 50 questions - **2 short review sessions** to close knowledge gaps from missed questions - **1 procedures/skills session** using rapid cards or grids - **1 cumulative weak-area session** based on your error log Use Questions as Diagnostic Tools, Not Just Repetition ------------------------------------------------------ Because most items are one-best-answer questions with five options, you need to practice choosing between close-but-not-best answers, not just recalling facts. Do most of your work in **timed, mixed blocks**. Tutor mode is acceptable only after you have already built basic pace. For every missed or guessed item, label the reason: **knowledge gap, misread stem, premature closure, test-taking error, or weak prioritization**. That label tells you what to fix next. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Use resources like this: - **Question banks:** timed 50-question mixed sets, then review the same day. - **Core emergency medicine text or guideline summaries:** open them only after identifying a gap from questions. - **Study group:** once weekly, 45-60 minutes, each person teaches 3-5 missed questions. - **In-service or broad benchmark exams:** use them honestly to estimate risk. That last point matters. Published studies found that better RISE performance and stronger COMLEX-USA performance correlated with better AOBEM Part I performance. Do not treat those numbers as destiny, but do use them as an early warning signal. If your recent broad exam performance was weak, start earlier and increase mixed-question volume rather than rereading chapters. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") Train for Section Management, Not Just Knowledge ------------------------------------------------ AOBEM Part I gives you **60 minutes for 50 questions**, which is about **72 seconds per item**. Your default should be a three-pass system inside each section: first pass for clear wins, second pass for marked questions, final minutes for educated guesses and answer cleanup. Since you may change answers within a section but cannot return after submitting it, do not get trapped trying to fully solve a bad question on first contact. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Try this section rule: 1. **Minutes 0-35:** clear, high-confidence items only. 2. **Minutes 35-55:** return to marked questions. 3. **Minutes 55-60:** no blanks, commit and move on. At least twice before test day, rehearse the break structure exactly: optional 10-minute breaks after sections and the longer lunch break after section 3. The exam clock resumes after scheduled breaks whether you are back or not, so rehearse eating, restroom timing, and mental reset just as deliberately as content review. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") > **Pro Tip:** When you narrow a question to two answers, force yourself to say why one option is *more emergent, more definitive, or more appropriate first* in the ED. That mirrors how the best answer is often separated from a merely reasonable answer. Prepare for the Remote-Proctored Environment Now ------------------------------------------------ Do not leave the technical side until the week of the exam. The AOA advises candidates to install the required secure browser, complete the pre-test technical check, and ideally do that at least two weeks in advance. Use a **personal computer**, not a work or hospital device, and avoid testing from a hospital location if possible because network restrictions can cause problems. You need a quiet private room, no extra monitors, valid government ID, and your AOA ID number. An online scratch pad, calculator, and lab values are provided; paper notes and study materials are not. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") This should change how you prepare: - Do one full practice block in the exact room you plan to use. - Remove second screens and close video-call apps before test day. - Practice without paper since the platform provides the scratch pad. - Never plan to review notes during breaks; that is not allowed. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") Common Pitfalls --------------- The most common AOBEM Part I mistakes are predictable: - Studying like Part II and neglecting timed MCQ volume. - Spending equal time on all domains instead of following the blueprint. - Doing questions by organ system only and never switching to mixed sets. - Ignoring smaller domains such as administrative/EMS and OB/GYN until the last week. - Failing to rehearse section locking and break timing. - Using a hospital laptop or network on exam day despite clear warnings not to. [\[4\]](#cite-4 "Reference [4]") Key Takeaways ------------- - Pull the official content outline and rank your weak areas by exam weight. - Schedule **three timed 50-question mixed blocks** this week. - Build procedure cards for airway, sedation, chest tube, central line, lumbar puncture, and toxicology antidote decisions. - Run the remote platform pre-check and room setup **at least two weeks before** exam day. [\[5\]](#cite-5 "Reference [5]") - Complete your first **150-question stamina session** this weekend. If your preparation matches the actual design of AOBEM Part I—broad, timed, locked by section, and fatigue-tested—you give yourself a much better chance of passing on the first attempt. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Frequently Asked Questions ---------------------------- How should I study for AOBEM Part I differently than for the oral exam? Study for Part I with timed, mixed MCQ blocks and section stamina. The written exam is 300 one-best-answer questions in six timed sections, while the oral exam evaluates case management, interpretation, procedures, and interpersonal performance in clinical presentations or simulated encounters. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Which topics deserve the most study time on AOBEM Part I? Start with the larger and higher-acuity domains: trauma/disaster, cardiovascular, abdominal/GI, thoracic-respiratory, and procedures/skills. Then cover middle-weight systems and protect time for smaller areas like administrative/EMS and OB/GYN so you do not leak easy points. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") How often should I do full-length practice for this exam? Do at least two 150-question stamina sessions during the final weeks and one full six-section rehearsal if your schedule allows. The locking of sections and fixed timing are important enough that you should practice them before exam day. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Are my in-service or COMLEX scores useful when planning AOBEM Part I prep? Yes, as planning signals. Published studies found correlations between AOBEM Part I performance and both RISE and COMLEX-USA performance, so lower broad-exam performance should push you toward earlier, more aggressive timed-question practice. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") What remote-testing mistake causes the most avoidable problems? Using a work or hospital computer or testing location is a common avoidable error. The AOA recommends a personal computer, a private room, and completing the platform technical check in advance because hospital networks and device restrictions can interfere with the exam. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") References (9) ------------------ 1. 1. [ certification.osteopathic.org/emergency-medicine/certification-process-overview/specialty-certification-process/written-exams ](https://certification.osteopathic.org/emergency-medicine/certification-process-overview/specialty-certification-process/written-exams/) [↩](#cite-ref-1-1 "Back to text") 2. 2. [ pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24696749 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24696749/) [↩](#cite-ref-2-1 "Back to text") 3. 3. [ certification.osteopathic.org/remote-proctored-exams ](https://certification.osteopathic.org/remote-proctored-exams/) [↩](#cite-ref-3-1 "Back to text") 4. 4. [ certification.osteopathic.org/emergency-medicine/certification-process-overview/specialty-certification-process/oral-exams ](https://certification.osteopathic.org/emergency-medicine/certification-process-overview/specialty-certification-process/oral-exams/) [↩](#cite-ref-4-1 "Back to text") 5. 5. [ certification.osteopathic.org/remote-proctored-exams/remote-exam-faqs ](https://certification.osteopathic.org/remote-proctored-exams/remote-exam-faqs/) [↩](#cite-ref-5-1 "Back to text") 6. 6. American Osteopathic Association. Written Exam: Emergency Medicine AOA Board Certification. Official AOBEM primary certification page, accessed April 2026. 7. 7. American Osteopathic Association. Remote Proctored Exams and Remote Exam FAQs. Official AOA guidance for remote testing, accessed April 2026. 8. 8. Levy D, Dvorkin R, Schwartz A, Zimmerman S, Li F. Correlation of the emergency medicine resident in-service examination with the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine Part I. West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(1):45-50. 9. 9. Li F, Gimpel JR, Arenson E, Song H, Bates BP, Ludwin F. Relationship between COMLEX-USA scores and performance on the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine Part I certifying examination. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2014;114(4):260-266. Next step Get faster at Emergency Medicine decision‑making -------------------------------------------------- - Rapid, exam‑style questions across core ED topics - High‑yield differentials and next‑step management - Target weak areas with smart review [ Start practicing ](https://mdster.com/user/dashboard) [ Explore Emergency Medicine ](https://mdster.com/speciality/emergency-medicine) [ View pricing ](https://mdster.com/pricing) [ Explore features ](https://mdster.com/features) No credit card required. Full access to all features. No commitment. Cancel anytime. 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