100+ Free ABTS Thoracic Surgery Practice Questions
Pass your ABTS Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery Certifying Examination exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
In the PARTNER 3 trial 5-year follow-up, how did TAVR with the balloon-expandable Sapien 3 compare with surgical AVR in low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis?
Key Facts: ABTS Thoracic Surgery Exam
~275
Total MCQ Items
ABTS Written Qualifying Examination (~250-300 range)
~8 hr
Total Exam Time
1-day computer-based test including breaks
~37%
General Thoracic Weight
Largest single domain on 2026 ABTS content outline
~$2,500
2026 Written Qualifying Fee
ABTS (verify current schedule)
6 yr
Integrated I-6 Pathway
ACGME-accredited integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency
~80-90%
First-Time Pass Rate
ABTS annual statistics (Written Qualifying)
The ABTS Written Qualifying Examination is a 1-day computer-based test from the American Board of Thoracic Surgery comprising ~250-300 single-best-answer MCQs over ~8 hours at Pearson VUE. Content blueprint: Adult Cardiac ~31%, General Thoracic ~37%, Aorta ~9%, Congenital ~9%, Critical Care & Perioperative ~7%, Thoracic Trauma ~4%, Ethics/Statistics ~3%. Written Qualifying fee is ~$2,500; requires completion of an ACGME-accredited thoracic surgery residency (traditional or integrated I-6 pathway).
Sample ABTS Thoracic Surgery Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your ABTS Thoracic Surgery exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1In the PARTNER 3 trial 5-year follow-up, how did TAVR with the balloon-expandable Sapien 3 compare with surgical AVR in low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis?
2Per the ACC/AHA 2020 Valvular Heart Disease Guideline (2023 focused update), which is a Class I indication for intervention in asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis?
3A 58-year-old diabetic with three-vessel CAD and SYNTAX score of 32 is referred. Based on FREEDOM and SYNTAX data, which strategy is preferred?
4The EXCEL and NOBLE trials evaluated PCI vs CABG in unprotected left main disease. What is the most accurate synthesis of their long-term results?
5The ISCHEMIA trial (NEJM 2020) included patients with moderate-to-severe ischemia. What was the key finding at median 3.2-year follow-up?
6The Arterial Revascularization Trial (ART) 10-year results examined single vs bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting. What did they show?
7In the RADIAL investigators pooled analysis, the radial artery vs saphenous vein as a second conduit was associated with:
8A 72-year-old with primary severe degenerative MR from posterior leaflet prolapse, EF 62%, LVESD 42 mm, NYHA II, is referred. Which is the best recommendation?
9The COAPT trial established a role for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with MitraClip in which population?
10Which is the most common cause of failed mitral valve repair in the first year?
About the ABTS Thoracic Surgery Exam
The ABTS Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery Certifying Examination is a two-part sequence — a Written Qualifying Examination followed by an Oral Certifying Examination. This listing covers the Written Qualifying portion, which validates core knowledge across adult cardiac surgery (ischemic, valvular, heart failure and transplant, MCS), general thoracic surgery (lung cancer, esophageal, mediastinal, benign esophagus, pleura and chest wall), aorta and great vessels, congenital cardiac surgery, critical care and perioperative management, thoracic trauma, and ethics/statistics. Content integrates the ACC/AHA 2020 Valve Guideline (2023 update), 2022 Aortic Disease Guideline, AJCC 8 staging, NCCN 2026, and landmark trials (PARTNER 2/3, Evolut Low Risk, EXCEL/NOBLE, COAPT, TRILUMINATE, PINNACLE FLX, LAAOS III, FREEDOM, ISCHEMIA, MOMENTUM 3 HeartMate 3, ADAURA, IMpower010, CheckMate 816/577/743, CROSS, FLOT4, CALGB 140503/JCOG 0802, INSTEAD-XL, EOLIA). Requires completion of an ACGME-accredited thoracic surgery residency (traditional 2-3 years post general surgery or integrated I-6 6 years).
Questions
275 scored questions
Time Limit
1-day CBT (~8 hours including breaks)
Passing Score
Criterion-referenced scaled score set by ABTS (modified Angoff standard)
Exam Fee
~$2,500 Written Qualifying Examination fee (ABTS 2026 — verify current schedule) (American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) / Pearson VUE)
ABTS Thoracic Surgery Exam Content Outline
General Thoracic Surgery
Lung cancer (AJCC 8 NSCLC staging; CALGB 140503/JCOG 0802 — sublobar noninferior to lobectomy for ≤2 cm peripheral with clear margins; ADAURA — adjuvant osimertinib for resected EGFR+ stage IB-IIIA; IMpower010 — adjuvant atezolizumab for PD-L1+ stage II-IIIA; CheckMate 816 — neoadjuvant nivolumab + chemotherapy for resectable stage IB-IIIA; NCCN 2026), SBRT alternative in medically inoperable stage I, preoperative pulmonary assessment (ppoFEV1 >40%, ppoDLCO >40%, VO2 max >15 mL/kg/min for lobectomy), mediastinum (thymoma Masaoka-Koga staging, thymectomy for myasthenia gravis — MGTX RCT), esophageal cancer (AJCC 8; CROSS — neoadjuvant CRT carboplatin/paclitaxel for esophageal SCC/adeno; FLOT4 — perioperative docetaxel/oxaliplatin/5-FU for gastric/GEJ; CheckMate 577 — adjuvant nivolumab after neoadjuvant CRT and R0 resection; Ivor Lewis vs McKeown vs transhiatal; minimally invasive esophagectomy), achalasia (Heller myotomy + partial fundoplication, POEM), GERD and paraesophageal hernia (Nissen/Toupet), tracheal resection, pleural disease (MPE, PleurX, pleurodesis, VATS decortication), chest wall.
Adult Cardiac Surgery
Ischemic heart disease (FREEDOM — CABG superior to PCI in diabetics with multivessel CAD; ISCHEMIA — initial invasive vs OMT in stable CAD; arterial revascularization — LIMA-LAD standard, bilateral IMA/radial for younger patients; off-pump vs on-pump CABG), valvular heart disease (ACC/AHA 2020 Valve Guideline + 2023 focused update; PARTNER 2 intermediate, PARTNER 3 5-year low-risk; Evolut Low Risk 4-year — TAVR vs SAVR; EXCEL/NOBLE — left main PCI vs CABG; COAPT — MitraClip for secondary MR with HF; TRILUMINATE — tricuspid TEER; PINNACLE FLX — Watchman FLX in AF; LAAOS III — concomitant LAA occlusion at cardiac surgery reduces stroke), atrial fibrillation surgery (Cox maze IV, cryomaze), heart failure and transplantation (UNOS 6-tier allocation 2018; donor matching; MOMENTUM 3 5-year HeartMate 3 — fully magnetically levitated centrifugal; BiVAD/TAH), pericardial disease, cardiac tumors (myxoma).
Aorta & Great Vessels
2022 ACC/AHA Aortic Disease Guideline, thoracic aortic aneurysm thresholds (ascending ≥5.5 cm general, ≥5.0 cm Marfan/Loeys-Dietz/vEDS, ≥5.5 cm bicuspid aortic valve, or rapid growth), valve-sparing aortic root replacement (David V reimplantation, Yacoub remodeling), acute aortic syndromes (Stanford A — emergent open repair; Stanford B — TEVAR for complicated, endovascular-first; INSTEAD-XL — TEVAR + OMT reduces 5-year aortic-related mortality in uncomplicated B; IRAD registry data), arch surgery (total arch, frozen elephant trunk, antegrade cerebral perfusion, DHCA), connective tissue disease (Marfan FBN1 — fibrillin-1; Loeys-Dietz TGFBR1/2 — more aggressive; vascular Ehlers-Danlos COL3A1), blunt aortic injury at isthmus — TEVAR first-line.
Congenital Cardiac Surgery
Shunt physiology (Qp:Qs; left-to-right — VSD, ASD secundum/primum, AVSD, PDA; right-to-left cyanotic — TOF, TGA, tricuspid atresia, obstructed TAPVR, truncus arteriosus), single ventricle palliation (Norwood stage 1 — Sano RV-PA vs modified BT shunt; bidirectional Glenn stage 2 at 4-6 months; Fontan completion stage 3 at 2-4 years), HLHS, tetralogy of Fallot (transannular patch, pulmonary valve-sparing, late pulmonary valve replacement), TGA (arterial switch operation — Jatene, Lecompte maneuver; atrial switch — Mustard/Senning historical), Ebstein anomaly (Cone reconstruction), coarctation (end-to-end vs subclavian flap vs extended end-to-end), interrupted aortic arch (DiGeorge 22q11.2), Rastelli for DORV/TGA/VSD/PS, Ross procedure (pulmonary autograft).
Critical Care & Perioperative
Cardiopulmonary bypass (heparin dosing with ACT >480; protamine reversal; HIT and bivalirudin/argatroban alternatives; hemodilution and blood conservation; DHCA with antegrade or retrograde cerebral perfusion; cerebral NIRS monitoring), myocardial protection (antegrade/retrograde cardioplegia, del Nido single-dose, cold blood, topical hypothermia), mechanical circulatory support (IABP — augments diastolic/reduces afterload; Impella 2.5/CP/5.5; VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock; VV-ECMO for severe ARDS — EOLIA trial), low cardiac output syndrome and post-cardiotomy shock, vasoplegia after CPB (methylene blue, hydroxocobalamin), perioperative AF prophylaxis (beta-blocker, amiodarone), ARDS (lung-protective 6 mL/kg, prone positioning, ECMO — EOLIA).
Thoracic Trauma
Blunt and penetrating cardiac injury (Beck's triad — hypotension, muffled heart sounds, JVD; FAST; pericardial window or subxiphoid; ED thoracotomy for penetrating chest with signs of life lost en route — survival best for isolated penetrating cardiac), blunt aortic injury at ligamentum arteriosum isthmus (TEVAR first-line per SVS/ATLS), tracheobronchial injury, pulmonary contusion and flail chest, diaphragmatic rupture (left more common), massive hemothorax (operative threshold ≥1500 mL initial or ≥200 mL/hr for 2-4 hours), esophageal perforation (Boerhaave — spontaneous distal left; iatrogenic — most common; contained vs free, surgery vs endoscopic stent).
Ethics, Statistics & Professionalism
Informed consent for high-risk cardiothoracic procedures with mortality and major-morbidity disclosure, STS National Database quality metrics and risk-adjusted outcomes (STS risk score), shared decision-making for TAVR vs SAVR across risk strata and MitraClip vs surgical MR repair, professionalism and disclosure of conflicts, end-of-life and futility discussions in LVAD/MCS (destination therapy vs bridge), biostatistics (sensitivity/specificity, PPV/NPV, Kaplan-Meier survival, Cox proportional hazards, NNT, propensity matching), research design (RCT, registry, propensity-matched cohort), levels of evidence.
How to Pass the ABTS Thoracic Surgery Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Criterion-referenced scaled score set by ABTS (modified Angoff standard)
- Exam length: 275 questions
- Time limit: 1-day CBT (~8 hours including breaks)
- Exam fee: ~$2,500 Written Qualifying Examination fee (ABTS 2026 — verify current schedule)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
ABTS Thoracic Surgery Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ABTS Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery Certifying Examination?
The ABTS Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery Certifying Examination is a two-part sequence administered by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery: a Written Qualifying Examination followed by an Oral Certifying Examination. This listing covers the Written Qualifying portion. Together the two parts lead to initial board certification in thoracic surgery, covering adult cardiac, general thoracic, aorta, congenital cardiac, critical care, trauma, and ethics/statistics. Candidates must pass the Written Qualifying before becoming eligible for the Oral.
Who is eligible to take the ABTS Written Qualifying Examination?
Candidates must complete an ACGME-accredited thoracic surgery residency — either the traditional pathway (ACGME-accredited general surgery residency plus 2-3 years of thoracic surgery residency) or the integrated I-6 pathway (6 years of integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency). A valid unrestricted medical license is required, the program director must attest to satisfactory performance and ethics, and candidates must submit a qualifying case list per ABTS requirements.
What is the format of the ABTS Written Qualifying Exam?
The ABTS Written Qualifying Examination is a 1-day computer-based test administered at Pearson VUE test centers, comprising approximately 250-300 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions over roughly 8 hours including breaks. Items routinely include echocardiograms, CT images, angiograms, CXR, pathology, and intraoperative photos. The exam is blueprinted to the ABTS content outline — Adult Cardiac ~31%, General Thoracic ~37%, Aorta ~9%, Congenital ~9%, Critical Care ~7%, Trauma ~4%, Ethics/Statistics ~3%.
How much does the 2026 ABTS Written Qualifying Exam cost?
The 2026 ABTS Written Qualifying Examination fee is approximately $2,500 — always verify the current schedule on the ABTS website. Candidates also pay a separate Oral Certifying Examination fee (~$2,600) after passing Written. Cancellation and refund policies follow the ABTS schedule with decreasing refunds as the exam date approaches. Retakes require re-registration and full fee payment within the allowed qualification window.
When is the 2026 exam administered?
The ABTS Written Qualifying Examination is typically offered once annually. Applications generally open several months before the test with a submission deadline per ABTS schedule. Candidates schedule specific appointments with Pearson VUE after application approval. The Oral Certifying Examination follows separately after Written is passed. Exact 2026 dates should be confirmed on the ABTS certification page.
How is the exam scored?
ABTS uses criterion-referenced scaled scoring with a passing standard set by subject-matter experts using the modified Angoff method. A candidate's pass/fail result depends on performance relative to the fixed cut-score, not on other candidates. Score reports include domain-level feedback. Candidates must pass the Written Qualifying before becoming eligible for the Oral Certifying Examination, which is an in-person case-based oral assessment.
What are the highest-yield topics?
Highest-yield topics include valve surgery decision-making (PARTNER 3 5-year low-risk, Evolut LR 4-year, EXCEL/NOBLE LM, COAPT MitraClip, LAAOS III concomitant LAA occlusion), ACC/AHA 2020 Valve + 2023 update thresholds, 2022 Aortic Disease Guideline (aneurysm thresholds, INSTEAD-XL TEVAR, valve-sparing root, frozen elephant trunk), FREEDOM CABG vs PCI in diabetics, lung cancer neoadjuvant/adjuvant (CheckMate 816, ADAURA, IMpower010; CALGB 140503/JCOG 0802 sublobar), esophageal neoadjuvant (CROSS, FLOT4, CheckMate 577), MOMENTUM 3 HeartMate 3, single ventricle palliation (Norwood/Glenn/Fontan), TGA Jatene, connective tissue disease genes (FBN1, TGFBR1/2, COL3A1), and blunt aortic injury TEVAR.
How should I study for this exam?
Use a structured 12-18 month plan layered on residency. Map to the ABTS content outline: begin with adult cardiac (ischemic, valve, MCS, transplant), then general thoracic (lung, esophagus, mediastinum, pleura), aorta, congenital, critical care and CPB, trauma, and ethics/statistics. Integrate textbooks (Cohn/Adams Cardiac Surgery in the Adult, Shields' General Thoracic Surgery, Kouchoukos Kirklin/Barratt-Boyes, Jonas Comprehensive Surgical Management of Congenital Heart Disease), SESATS review, STS annual meeting updates, landmark trials (PARTNER, Evolut, COAPT, EXCEL, ADAURA, CheckMate 816, CROSS, FREEDOM, ISCHEMIA, MOMENTUM 3, INSTEAD-XL, LAAOS III), and high-volume MCQ practice. Complete 2-3 full-length timed mock exams.