How to answer ABA SOE questions

The SOE is two 35-minute sessions of guided questions built on a brief clinical history. The ABA says it assesses judgment, how you adapt to unexpected changes, and how you organize and present information, with an emphasis on the scientific rationale behind management (ABA). The exam manual describes reviewing the first stem for 20 minutes and the second for 10, with two examiners in each session (manual). Full format details are in our APPLIED Exam guide.

1. Decide: say what you would do first, in one sentence.
2. Justify: the physiology or pharmacology behind it.
3. Monitor: how you would know it is working.
4. Fallback: what you do if it is not.

Example shape: “I would do X, because Y. I’d watch Z. If that fails, I’d move to W.”

Expect the patient to deteriorate or new information to appear. Restate the new problem in one line, check the obvious causes first (patient, equipment, drugs, surgery), and say what you are doing right now to keep the patient safe. Changing your plan when the facts change is good judgment, not a mistake.

• Listing every option instead of choosing one.
• Jumping to rare diagnoses before the common ones.
• Forgetting to call for help or tell the surgeon in a crisis.
• Running long. Short, complete answers leave room for more questions.

Start with the ABA’s SOE sample questions. Answer them out loud, record yourself, and time each answer. Crisis topics such as malignant hyperthermia, LAST and the difficult airway are good drills for structured answers. For a week-by-week plan, see the APPLIED study plan.