The "In-Training Examination" of the American Board of Pediatrics: does it test for "new" or "old" information?

The American Board of Pediatrics In-Training Examination or "Pre-Test" is not in widespread use as a means of evaluating the cognitive knowledge and problem-solving skills of hourse officers. The examination is modeled after the certifying examination of the American Board of Pediatrics. The 1977 Pre-Test was analyzed in an attempt to determine whether awareness of recent medical knowledge was required to pass this examination. The 7th through 10th editions of the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics were used as a reference source. These editions represent information that is from 5 to at least 20 years of age. Analysis of the 190 items revealed that the correct answer was known for 148 or 78% of the questions at least 20 years ago. These results suggest that the Pre-Test, and presumably the American Board of Pediatrics certifying exam, measures the candidates' knowledge of long-standing core information.