AO Spine has designed a mock exam, which allows you to test your knowledge level prior to applying for the AO Spine Global Diploma Exam. Finding out how well you are doing will help decide whether to apply for the AO Spine Global Diploma Exam this year or to continue with additional training and fill any gaps first.
The mock exam is set up in the same format as the Global Diploma Exam, multiple-choice questions with a single best answer. It contains questions related to pathologies covered in the AO Spine Curriculum. The mock exam will remain available all year round and questions will be revised periodically.
“It is always wise to check the depth of water before you actually enter it.”
Applications for the 2022 AO Spine Global Diploma Exam will open in mid-2021. The exam is a formal assessment of competencies required to manage patients with spinal conditions, designed for spine surgeons with five or more years of practical experience.
Surgeons who tried out the mock exam and later passed the exam say that it gives a good indication of what to expect and makes the process considerably less stressful.
"AO Spine is one of the most distinguished and globally recognized organizations in the discipline of spine. Getting accredited from such a body is a great personal achievement as well as giving distinct recognition among peers. Apart from providing a huge leap academically, the whole process will greatly boost my patient care and clinical knowledge.
“Apart from providing a huge leap academically, the whole process will greatly boost my patient care and clinical knowledge.”
It is always wise to check the depth of water before you actually enter it. The mock exam provides you the same. It is so like the actual exam that you can have a real picture, much before the real one. This gives time to plan your strategy, work on your weaknesses and strengthen the basics. Also, since you are already familiar with the exam pattern, the actual exam seems much less stressful.
In my personal experience, the mock test is a great help for the exam and I, for sure, would recommend it to all aspirants. It has been a game changer for me, and I believe it is a must for each and everyone."
"AO Spine is a well-recognized organization globally, involved in the generation and dissemination of knowledge among the spine community. Taking the exam will help me in self-evaluation and acquiring recognition among the global community.
“Taking the exam will help me in self-evaluation and acquiring recognition among the global community.”
The mock exam was helpful for this. It helped to familiarize the pattern of questions and the user interface.
Training programs across the world differ a lot. Taking the AO Spine Global Diploma Exam offers a unique learning experience; it helped me evaluate myself on par with global standards, identify the gaps in my knowledge and improve on it. So, test yourself and get recognized!"
The Seattle-based orthopedic spine surgeon Richard Bransford is the new chairperson of the Exam Committee. Bransford takes over from Bryan Ashman, who now heads the AO Spine Global Diploma Training Program.
Spine surgeons should sign up for the Global Diploma Exam as this is the only exam currently offered for spine surgeons with a truly global perspective. The exam is created by a group of spine surgeons from all regions of the world and then vetted for accuracy and fairness. This allows surgeons to measure their knowledge compared to peers globally, as opposed to all other exams that are only regional or within-country assessments.
“Early results have shown correlation between scores on the mock exam and the real exam.”
This is a unique opportunity that is challenging but also a good learning experience and fun at the same time.
The mock exam is useful for representation of the real exam. One can get a true feel for what types of question to expect and also their level of difficulty. Early results have shown correlation between scores on the mock exam and the real exam.
My vision as chair over the next three years is to expand the footprint of the Global Diploma Exam. I would love to see the Exam Committee work hard to create and validate written questions and clinical cases for the oral component to create a large library for the future.
“I believe that this exam will turn into the global “go-to” exam that really is a badge of honor to take and to pass.”
I believe that this exam will turn into the global “go-to” exam that really is a badge of honor to take and to pass. I would like for every AO Spine surgeon to take this exam and for this to be an expectation.
I would like to see AO fellowship sites require this exam of their fellows. Within AO Spine, we have tremendous learning opportunities; this exam is a way for us to show our community that we have also successfully educated and that this can be measured.
Are you up for the challenge? Sign up for the mock exam here.
Applications for the Global Diploma Exam 2022 will open from 12 July 2021. For more details, go to www.aospine.org/gde.
