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American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ABCRS) Exam Preparation

The American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery certifies in two stages: a written Part 1 covering the full spectrum of coloproctology and its underlying basic science, and a Part 2 oral examination in which at least three thirty-minute sessions probe clinical judgement in front of two examiners each. Practise with colorectal clinical vignettes referenced to ASCRS and NCCN guidelines, and rehearse the oral component in the Exam Simulator.

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Exam format

Format: Part 1 written (multiple-choice) followed by Part 2 oral examination
Duration: Part 1 ~6 h at a Pearson VUE centre; Part 2 at least three 30-minute orals, each with two examiners
Frequency: Part 1 annually in the spring; Part 2 annually in the autumn
Pass rate: Not published by the board
Exam fee: See the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (abcrs.org)

Eligibility requirements

›Successful completion of the American Board of Surgery qualifying examination before sitting ABCRS Part 1
›Full certification by the American Board of Surgery before sitting ABCRS Part 2
›Completion of an ACGME-accredited colon and rectal surgery fellowship (12 months)
›Current, valid, full and unrestricted licence to practise medicine, maintained throughout the certification process

Syllabus breakdown

Colorectal Cancer — staging, neoadjuvant strategy, operative principlesMajor

Rectal Cancer and Total Mesorectal ExcisionMajor

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and ReconstructionMajor

Benign Anorectal Disease and Pelvic FloorMajor

Anal NeoplasiaModerate

Peritoneal Disease of Colorectal OriginModerate

Basic Science, Radiology and Pathology relevant to ColoproctologyModerate

Preparation tips

›Focus your first weeks on the highest-weight syllabus areas — they account for over half the marks and offer the fastest return on study time.
›Use active recall with timed question sessions rather than passive re-reading. The ABCRS written component rewards speed and precision under pressure.
›Cross-reference every question explanation with the cited guideline section. Over a 3–6 month preparation cycle, this builds the mental index examiners expect in the oral component.

Frequently asked questions

How is the ABCRS certification examination structured?

It has two parts. Part 1 is a written multiple-choice examination of about six hours at a Pearson VUE centre, covering the spectrum of colon and rectal surgery together with the relevant basic science, radiology and pathology. Part 2 is an oral examination consisting of at least three thirty-minute sessions, each conducted by a team of two examiners, assessing clinical experience, problem-solving and surgical judgement.

What are the eligibility requirements for the ABCRS exam?

You must have passed the American Board of Surgery qualifying examination before being admitted to ABCRS Part 1, and hold full American Board of Surgery certification before being admitted to Part 2. Completion of an ACGME-accredited colon and rectal surgery fellowship is required, along with a current, valid, full and unrestricted licence to practise maintained throughout the process.

How do I prepare for the ABCRS oral examination?

The oral tests judgement rather than recall, so rehearsal matters more than volume. Work through colorectal cases out loud until you can state the staging, the multidisciplinary decision, the operative plan and the supporting evidence without hesitating. The SurgBoardsQ&A Exam Simulator runs this format: it presents a case step by step and follows up whenever your reasoning is incomplete.

How many ABCRS practice questions are available?

SurgBoardsQ&A provides 1,055 colorectal and peritoneal practice questions mapped to the coloproctology syllabus, each with a full explanation referenced to the ASCRS clinical practice guidelines or the relevant NCCN guideline.

Is there a free way to practise for the ABCRS exam?

Yes. A free account gives you 50 practice questions with no credit card, so you can judge the quality of the vignettes and explanations before subscribing.

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50 questions free, no credit card required. Filter by board, topic, or difficulty. Explanations cite current ESMO and NCCN guidelines.

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