5 Things You Need to Know About the MOCA Peds Exam
If you haven't taken MOCA Peds yet you might be wondering how it all works. How different is the format from the proctored exam I’ve taken before? What MOCA Peds questions do I need to be prepared for? And, most importantly, what is the MOCA Peds passing score?
You’ve come to the right place, because we’ve outlined five quick, must-know facts about the Maintenance of Certification Assessment for Pediatrics. Plus, we've got a handy sidekick to keep with you during your open-book assessment: QuickREF for 2023 MOCA Peds Learning Objectives.
Why Was MOCA Peds Started?
In an effort to be more closely aligned with the rapidly changing environment of pediatric medicine practice, the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) came out with MOCA Peds as a more flexible and continuous way to fulfill the MOC Part 3 (exam) requirement. The MOCA Peds platform is web-based, so you can answer the questions from anywhere you have internet access. The exam promotes continued learning by covering the most up-to-date information and guidelines. And, it is designed with your busy work schedule in mind.
How Do I Take MOCA Peds?
During the exam, you’ll get 20 questions per quarter based on the 45 learning objectives for that year. You can answer them at any time over the quarter, but don’t forget to finish! Any questions not answered by the end of the quarter will be marked incorrect. Once you start a question, you have five minutes to answer it, and you cannot come back to the question once you submit your answer. After submitting, you’re told whether you got it right or wrong. Plus, you get the rationale behind the correct answer and references to support it.
Tips for Taking MOCA Peds
If you're recertifying this year and taking MOCA Peds, these tips will help you feel prepared and confident walking into exam day.
Tips for taking the MOCA-Peds
What Is The MOCA-Peds Passing Score?
Once you submit your answers, your performance will be graded by the ABP using a standardized score scale ranging from one to 300 with 180 as the threshold for a passing score.
“The difficulty level of each question is taken into consideration when scaled scores are calculated, which is important for assessments and exams in which each examinee may receive a different set of questions.” —ABP
This is meant to ensure that no one taking the exam has an advantage or disadvantage by receiving too many easy or difficult questions. You’ll also be able to drop your four lowest scores over the course of the five-year MOC cycle, so if you have an off quarter, it’s not the end of the world! You can make up for it with your next set of questions.
Where Do I Take The Exam?
The flexibility of the MOCA Peds exam eliminates the need of a testing center! You can take the exam at home, in your workplace, or on-the-go.
Since you will be taking the exam on your own, it is essential that before you get started with the exam, you make sure you have stable internet connection. The ABP will not reset your questions if you lose your internet connection, so make sure you are set beforehand.
Can I Use Outside Resources to Answer Questions?
Yes! This is one of the best parts about the flexibility that MOCA Peds allows. You can use any resource to find the right answer to your questions as long as you do not discuss the exam with anyone else. Here’s the catch, as we mentioned before, you only have five minutes to answer each question. So, if your resources are not organized to help you find the answer as quickly as possible you’re going to have trouble answering questions in time.
That’s why we designed the General Pediatrics QuickREF for 2023 MOCA Peds Learning Objectives. You'll see content for all of this year’s Learning Objectives and Featured Readings, formatted so that you can easily and quickly find what you're looking for.
If this is your first year taking MOCA Peds, don’t stress! This assessment format is meant to be less stressful and more clinically-focused than the 10-year exam. The ABP does recommend that you prepare for your quarterly questions, which we can help with!
