Study Resource Guide for the ABA APPLIED Exam

A focused study plan for the APPLIED Exam blends official ABA materials with high-yield texts, audio, and structured practice. Use the resources below to build a balanced library for both the Standardized Oral Examination (SOE) and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

Official ABA Resources

The American Board of Anesthesiology offers free resources that should anchor your study program:

• SOE and OSCE sample questions — The ABA publishes sample oral exam stems and OSCE scenarios so candidates can familiarize themselves with the types of cases and skills tested. Reviewing these official cases will calibrate expectations and highlight common themes.
• Content outlines — The ABA’s initial certification content outlines list all topics that may appear on the SOE or OSCE. Use these to structure your reading and ensure you cover every subspecialty.
• Ideal Candidate Behaviors video — A short video demonstrates exemplary communication and decision-making during a mock examination. (A companion Behaviors to Avoid video shows what not to do.) Watching both helps you visualize effective exam performance.

Books and Guides

Anesthesiology: Clinical Case Reviews

Edited by Linda S. Aglio and Richard D. Urman. A case-based compendium divided into twelve sections spanning the scope of anesthetic practice. Each chapter opens with a clinical scenario and reviews pre-op assessment, intra-op management, and post-op pain. Designed as a comprehensive review aligned with current guidelines; useful for residents, fellows, and practicing clinicians.

Rapid Review Anesthesiology Oral Boards

By Ruchir Gupta. Q&A format built around 39 clinical scenarios. Follows the flow from pre-op to post-op, emphasizing high-yield topics (e.g., Parkland formula, ICP monitoring, hemodynamic goals in cardiac disease). Answers teach the terminology and reasoning examiners expect.

Anesthesiology Applied Exam Board Review

Edited by Ruchir Gupta and Minh Chau Tran. Written for the restructured APPLIED exam combining oral and simulation-based assessment. Part 1: full-length practice exams across high-yield topics. Part 2: full-length simulation scenarios aligned with ABA guidelines to help demonstrate communication and technical skills during the OSCE.

Anesthesia Oral Board Review: Knocking Out the Boards (2nd ed.)

An illustrated manual tailored to the current APPLIED Oral and OSCE. The second edition adds 12 new chapters (POCUS, intra-op TEE, foreign-body aspiration, patient blood management, etc.). Each chapter includes a sample case, a “Knock-Out Treatment Plan” modeling an exam answer, and a “Technical Knockout” key-points section. Scenario-based, outline format covering 100+ ABA-listed topics.

Beyond Anesthesia: A Comprehensive Anesthesia Board Review Book for the Written and Oral Examinations

By Thomas Moshiri. An intensive review of core anesthesiology knowledge for written, oral, and MOCA recertification exams. Intended as a complete study resource for practitioners willing to commit the time to master the material.

Board Stiff Three: Preparation for Anesthesia Orals

By Christopher J. Gallagher. Known for a humorous, conversational style that keeps study engaging. Includes comprehensive content review, self-assessment questions, and a bonus section with simulated board scenarios. Mirrors the exam format with clinical scenes followed by pre-, intra-, and post-operative questions.

Yao & Artusio’s Anesthesiology: Problem-Oriented Patient Management (9th ed.)

A long-standing, case-based classic favored by residents and attendings. Features 60+ real-world cases with questions mapped to the four areas of oral board questioning. Each chapter follows a consistent structure — disease and differential, pre-op planning, intra-op management, post-op management — promoting step-by-step critical thinking and collaborative decision-making.

Anesthesiology Boards Made Easy

By Jeff Steiner. An insider’s strategy guide to the certification process with a large section on the APPLIED exam. Breaks down rules and skills, provides year-by-year checklists, and emphasizes strategic communication. Useful for understanding logistics and structuring a long-term study calendar.

How to Pass Your Oral Boards

By Roger Donenfeld. Focuses on delivery and presentation. Teaches reorganizing information for patterned, effective answers, offers mnemonic aids and acronyms, and coaches you to “give examiners what they want.”

Stanford Emergency Manual

A free, concise reference for 26 critical events, algorithms, and resuscitation steps. Keep handy for crisis management frameworks that translate well to OSCE stations and oral questioning.

Podcasts & Digital Audio

• ACCRAC (Anesthesia and Critical Care Reviews and Commentary) — Episodes dedicated to oral board preparation and a 22-part “Key Words” series aligned with ABA outline components. Great for commutes and workouts.
• Depth of Anesthesia, OpenAnesthesia, and the ASA’s Vital Times — Discussions of clinical controversies and high-yield topics that sharpen reasoning and communication.

Mock Exams & Practice Tools

Practicing aloud is the most critical part of oral board preparation. The CSA emphasizes that no amount of reading can substitute for live practice.

• On Call Board Prep — Real-time simulations of both SOE and OSCE. Browse cases by subspecialty, practice with an AI examiner, and receive structured feedback highlighting strengths, gaps, and pass likelihood. Sessions work on phone or laptop — easy to fit into a busy schedule.
• CSA Mock Oral Exams — Free mock orals and a knowledge bank. Exposure to varied examiner styles plus feedback from experienced diplomates.
• Study groups & peer coaching — Form small groups, practice on a schedule, record yourself, and solicit mentor feedback. Rehearsing in front of a mirror can further refine delivery.

Conclusion

There is no single “magic” resource for the ABA APPLIED Exam. Success comes from combining official materials, high-yield texts, audio learning, and regular practice. Tailor your library to your schedule and learning style, and remember: clear communication, justified decisions, and professionalism carry as much weight as facts. Practicing under exam-like conditions — through peer mock exams or platforms like On Call Board Prep — builds those skills so you enter exam day confident and prepared.