All Practice Exams

Free Practice Questions for Iraqi Board Pediatrics

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Exam Review

Key Facts: Iraqi Board Pediatrics Exam

IBMS / MOHESR

Governing Body & Ministry

Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations

4 Years

Residency Training Duration

IBMS Curriculum 2025

Not published

Published Pass Mark

Scientific Council of Pediatrics curriculum

100 MCQs

Practice Bank Study Items

OpenExamPrep

The Iraqi Board of Pediatrics (FIBMS/Pediatrics) is a 4-year residency under the IBMS Scientific Council of Pediatrics and MOHESR, evaluated through the Part 1 Primary Exam (end of Year 1), Mid-Study Exam (Year 3), and Part 2 Final Exam (end of Year 4; Theory Papers 1 & 2, OSCE/OSPE, oral viva, and thesis defense). The council does not publish pass marks, item counts or paper durations for these examinations. This independent 100-question MCQ practice bank prepares candidates for the theoretical written papers; it is not a clinical OSCE simulation or a substitute for accredited residency training.

Sample Iraqi Board Pediatrics Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Iraqi Board Pediatrics exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1An infant is brought to the well-baby clinic for a routine check-up. The child can sit steadily without support, transfers an object from one hand to the other, exhibits an immature pincer grasp, and displays stranger anxiety. At what age are these developmental milestones expected?
A.4 months
B.6 months
C.9 months
D.15 months
Explanation: At 9 months of age, typical developmental milestones include sitting steadily unsupported, transferring objects across the midline, developing an inferior (immature) pincer grasp, and exhibiting stranger anxiety. Sitting unsupported typically emerges around 6 to 7 months, while mature pincer grasp and cruising develop around 10 to 12 months.
2An 18-month-old boy is evaluated in the pediatric outpatient clinic. He runs steadily, climbs onto furniture, stacks three cubes, and feeds himself with a spoon. However, his mother is concerned that he does not say any clear single words and does not respond consistently to his name. What is the most appropriate initial evaluation step?
A.Reassure the mother that expressive speech delay is physiological until 3 years of age
B.Order comprehensive formal audiological evaluation and administer an autism screening tool
C.Perform an immediate non-contrast head CT scan to rule out structural intracranial anomalies
D.Prescribe oral multivitamin supplements and schedule routine re-evaluation at 24 months
Explanation: Any child with speech delay must undergo a formal audiological assessment to rule out hearing impairment before attributing the delay to other developmental or behavioral causes. Concurrently, screening with an autism-specific screening tool (such as M-CHAT) is warranted given the lack of name response and communicative gestures.
3A mother of a healthy full-term 2-week-old newborn asks for feeding guidance. She plans to exclusively breastfeed. In accordance with WHO and pediatric nutritional guidelines, what daily supplementation should be initiated from the first days of life?
A.Oral iron drops at 2 mg/kg/day
B.Oral vitamin D at 400 IU/day
C.Oral vitamin C at 50 mg/day
D.Oral fluoride drops at 0.25 mg/day
Explanation: Exclusively breastfed full-term infants should receive 400 IU/day of oral vitamin D starting in the first few days of life, as human breast milk contains inadequate vitamin D concentrations (<25-50 IU/L) to prevent nutritional rickets. Routine iron supplementation in full-term infants is initiated at 4 months, not at birth.
4A 20-month-old girl is brought to the pediatric hospital after being weaned abruptly onto a diluted carbohydrate-based porridge following the birth of a sibling. Physical examination reveals bilateral pitting lower extremity edema, generalized lethargy, hepatomegaly with fatty changes, and hypopigmented desquamating skin patches ('flaky paint' dermatosis). Which diagnosis best explains these findings?
A.Marasmus
B.Kwashiorkor
C.Celiac crisis
D.Biliary atresia
Explanation: Kwashiorkor is severe protein malnutrition with relatively preserved caloric intake, historically triggered by weaning when a new sibling arrives. Cardinal signs include bilateral pitting edema (hypoalbuminemia), marked apathy, hepatomegaly due to hepatic steatosis, and enamel/flaky-paint dermatosis with flag-sign hair changes.
5A 10-month-old infant presents with delayed motor milestones, frontal bossing, craniotabes, widened wrists, and costochondral beadings ('rachitic rosary'). Laboratory evaluation is most likely to reveal which characteristic biochemical profile of active nutritional rickets?
A.High serum calcium, high serum phosphorus, normal alkaline phosphatase
B.Normal to low serum calcium, low serum phosphorus, markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase
C.High serum calcium, low serum phosphorus, suppressed parathyroid hormone
D.Low serum calcium, high serum phosphorus, normal alkaline phosphatase
Explanation: Active nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets leads to reduced intestinal calcium absorption, triggering secondary hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid hormone promotes renal phosphate wasting, resulting in low serum phosphorus, normal to slightly reduced serum calcium, secondary elevation of PTH, and markedly elevated serum alkaline phosphatase.
6A 14-month-old child with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and bilateral pedal edema is admitted with dehydration due to acute watery diarrhea. Which physiological principle governs fluid resuscitation in SAM according to WHO protocols?
A.Administer rapid intravenous boluses of 0.9% normal saline at 20 mL/kg over 20 minutes
B.Use Rehydration Solution for Malnutrition (ReSoMal) orally or via NG tube, avoiding standard IV fluid boluses unless in hypovolemic shock
C.Immediately restrict all fluids and initiate loop diuretics to resolve the nutritional edema
D.Infuse 10% dextrose with potassium chloride at twice the normal maintenance rate over 6 hours
Explanation: Children with severe acute malnutrition have impaired myocardial function and decreased renal sodium excretion capacity. Standard rapid intravenous resuscitation can precipitate acute heart failure and pulmonary edema. WHO guidelines mandate oral or nasogastric rehydration using ReSoMal (which contains lower sodium: 45 mmol/L and higher potassium: 40 mmol/L), reserving cautious IV fluids exclusively for lethargic shock.
7Under the Iraqi national Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) schedule, which vaccines are routinely scheduled to be administered to an infant at 2 months of age?
A.BCG and Hepatitis B birth dose only
B.Pentavalent (DTP-HepB-Hib), bOPV, Rotavirus, and PCV
C.MMR and Varicella vaccines
D.Hepatitis A and Typhoid conjugate vaccines
Explanation: Under the Iraqi national EPI schedule, the 2-month visit includes the first dose of Pentavalent vaccine (DTP-HepB-Hib), bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV), oral Rotavirus vaccine, and Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). BCG and the HepB birth dose are given at birth, while MMR is given at 12 and 18 months.
8A newborn is noted to have upslanting palpebral fissures, epicanthal folds, a single transverse palmar crease, generalized hypotonia, and a wide gap between the first and second toes ('sandal gap'). Which cardiac lesion is most frequently associated with this condition?
A.Complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD)
B.Bicuspid aortic valve with coarctation of the aorta
C.Transposition of the great arteries (TGA)
D.Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR)
Explanation: The infant demonstrates classic phenotypic features of Down syndrome (Trisomy 21). Congenital heart defects occur in approximately 40-50% of infants with Down syndrome, with complete atrioventricular septal defect (endocardial cushion defect) being the most common, followed by VSD and ASD.
9A 14-year-old girl is brought for evaluation of short stature and absence of pubertal development. On physical examination, she has a low posterior hairline, webbed neck, cubitus valgus, widely spaced nipples, and high blood pressure in her right arm with diminished femoral pulses. What is the most definitive diagnostic test?
A.Serum growth hormone stimulation testing
B.Karyotype analysis (chromosomal analysis)
C.24-hour urinary free cortisol excretion
D.Pelvic ultrasonography alone
Explanation: The clinical constellation of short stature, webbed neck, cubitus valgus, delayed puberty, and signs of coarctation of the aorta strongly indicates Turner syndrome (45,XO or mosaicism). Standard karyotyping (chromosomal analysis) confirms the diagnosis and identifies mosaic variants.
10Which growth monitoring finding meets the standard pediatric definition of Failure to Thrive (FTT) in an infant under 2 years of age?
A.Weight-for-age below the 3rd percentile or a downward crossing of two major percentile lines on standard growth curves
B.Head circumference tracking consistently along the 25th percentile while length tracks along the 50th percentile
C.Linear height growth velocity of 25 cm per year during the first year of life
D.Weight dropping from the 75th percentile to the 60th percentile over a period of 4 months
Explanation: Failure to thrive (FTT) is classically defined as weight-for-age falling below the 3rd or 5th percentile, weight-for-length below the 5th percentile, or a persistent downward crossing of two or more major percentile lines on standard WHO growth charts.

About the Iraqi Board Pediatrics Exam

The Fellowship of the Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations in Pediatrics (F.I.B.M.S.) is the premier postgraduate medical qualification awarded by the Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations (IBMS), operating under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR). The rigorous 4-year residency encompasses training across emergency pediatrics, neonatology, community child health, communicable diseases, and advanced pediatric subspecialties (cardiology, neurology, hematology-oncology, endocrinology, and nephrology). Format & language disclosure: The official written examinations use multiple-choice question papers; the council publishes its curriculum in English but does not publish the language in which the papers are set, and the comprehensive final assessment also incorporates Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE/OSPE), oral case vivas, and a defended research dissertation. This 100-question practice bank is an independent educational tool designed to reinforce theoretical knowledge and clinical problem-solving for the Part 1 (Primary) and Part 2 (Final Written) examinations. It is not an OSCE or clinical bedside simulation, nor does it replace formal accredited clinical residency training. Key clinical themes reflect both international standards and regional priorities in Iraq, including the Iraqi Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), WHO/UNICEF Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) protocols, neonatal jaundice and Rh isoimmunization, hemoglobinopathies (beta-thalassemia major, sickle cell disease), favism (G6PD deficiency), endemic visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, typhoid fever, cholera, and celiac disease.

Exam sponsor: Scientific Council of Pediatrics, Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations (المجلس العراقي للاختصاصات الطبية — المجلس العلمي لاختصاص طب الأطفال). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

The Iraqi Board in Pediatrics curriculum is a four-year structured postgraduate medical residency supervised by the Scientific Council of Pediatrics under the Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations (IBMS) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR). The assessment pathway comprises three core evaluation milestones: 1) The Primary Examination (Part 1), taken at the conclusion of Year 1, assessing fundamental knowledge in child health, growth and development, pediatric nutrition, genetics, and basic clinical sciences through written MCQ papers (minimum passing level 60% per paper, 70% composite average). 2) The Mid-Study Examination, conducted during Year 3 alongside continuous assessment and verification of progress on the candidate's required research thesis. 3) The Part 2 Final Examination, administered at the end of Year 4 following satisfactory completion of all accredited clinical rotations, logbook attestation (>85% attendance, procedural competencies), and formal thesis approval. The Final Examination encompasses theoretical written papers (Paper 1 & Paper 2 single-best-answer MCQs; requiring a minimum score of 60% per paper and a 70% combined average), an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE/OSPE), a clinical oral viva voce, and formal thesis defense before an examination jury.

Time Limit

Not published by the Scientific Council of Pediatrics.

Passing Score

Not published. The Scientific Council of Pediatrics publishes the assessment structure (Primary examination at the end of Year 1, a Mid-Study examination in Year 3 with the thesis, and a Part 2 comprising Theory Papers 1 and 2, clinical OSCE/OSPE and viva) but does not publish pass marks.

Exam / Certification Fees

Prescribed by Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations / MOHESR regulatory bylaws

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Not published. The Scientific Council of Pediatrics publishes the assessment architecture - a Primary Examination at the end of Year 1, a Mid-Study Examination in Year 3 alongside the thesis, and a Part 2 comprising two theory papers, clinical OSCE/OSPE and an oral viva - but it does not publish pass marks, item counts or paper durations for any of them. Continuous assessment requirements including an authenticated procedure logbook and attendance are set out in the curriculum. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

20%

Growth, Development, Nutrition, Genetics & Preventive Pediatrics

Gross and fine motor milestones, language and social development, growth chart percentiles and Z-scores, failure to thrive evaluation, infant feeding guidelines, severe acute malnutrition (marasmus and kwashiorkor criteria), nutritional rickets and vitamin D metabolism, micronutrient supplementation (iron, vitamin A, zinc), newborn metabolic screening, chromosomal anomalies (Down, Turner, Klinefelter syndromes), and the Iraqi national EPI vaccination schedule.

22%

Neonatology & Perinatal Medicine

Delivery room management, Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) algorithms (ventilation, chest compressions, epinephrine), neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (surfactant therapy, CPAP), meconium aspiration syndrome, transient tachypnea of the newborn, neonatal unconjugated and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, phototherapy and exchange transfusion thresholds, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (therapeutic hypothermia criteria), early- and late-onset neonatal sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell staging), and prematurity complications (intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia).

20%

Pediatric Infectious Diseases & Endemic Pathogens

Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) triage and management algorithms, acute gastroenteritis and dehydration severity assessment (WHO treatment plans A, B, and C), acute bacterial and aseptic meningitis (CSF analysis), community-acquired and viral pneumonia, vaccine-preventable diseases (measles, pertussis, mumps, rubella, varicella), regional endemic infections (kala-azar/visceral leishmaniasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, typhoid fever, cholera, brucellosis), childhood tuberculosis diagnosis and contact tracing, and pediatric antimicrobial stewardship.

20%

Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy & Cardiology

Viral bronchiolitis (respiratory syncytial virus), acute laryngotracheobronchitis (croup grading and dexamethasone therapy), childhood asthma exacerbation management and chronic controller steps, cystic fibrosis pathophysiology and sweat chloride testing, foreign body airway obstruction, congenital cardiac anomalies (ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, coarctation of the aorta, Tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries), acute rheumatic fever (revised Jones criteria and secondary penicillin prophylaxis), infective endocarditis Duke criteria, and Kawasaki disease diagnostic criteria and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy.

18%

Pediatric Nephrology, Hematology, Endocrinology & Neurology

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (minimal change disease diagnosis, corticosteroid protocols, steroid resistance), acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, urinary tract infection imaging guidelines, pediatric acute kidney injury, inherited hemoglobinopathies (beta-thalassemia major, iron overload and chelation therapy, sickle cell pain crisis and acute chest syndrome), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (favism and hemolytic triggers), immune thrombocytopenia, diabetic ketoacidosis fluid and insulin protocols, congenital hypothyroidism screening and levothyroxine replacement, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency), simple vs. complex febrile seizures, status epilepticus termination, and pediatric epilepsy syndromes.

Preparing for the Iraqi Board Pediatrics Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Not published. The Scientific Council of Pediatrics publishes the assessment structure (Primary examination at the end of Year 1, a Mid-Study examination in Year 3 with the thesis, and a Part 2 comprising Theory Papers 1 and 2, clinical OSCE/OSPE and viva) but does not publish pass marks.
  • Assessment: The Iraqi Board in Pediatrics curriculum is a four-year structured postgraduate medical residency supervised by the Scientific Council of Pediatrics under the Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations (IBMS) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR). The assessment pathway comprises three core evaluation milestones: 1) The Primary Examination (Part 1), taken at the conclusion of Year 1, assessing fundamental knowledge in child health, growth and development, pediatric nutrition, genetics, and basic clinical sciences through written MCQ papers (minimum passing level 60% per paper, 70% composite average). 2) The Mid-Study Examination, conducted during Year 3 alongside continuous assessment and verification of progress on the candidate's required research thesis. 3) The Part 2 Final Examination, administered at the end of Year 4 following satisfactory completion of all accredited clinical rotations, logbook attestation (>85% attendance, procedural competencies), and formal thesis approval. The Final Examination encompasses theoretical written papers (Paper 1 & Paper 2 single-best-answer MCQs; requiring a minimum score of 60% per paper and a 70% combined average), an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE/OSPE), a clinical oral viva voce, and formal thesis defense before an examination jury.
  • Time limit: Not published by the Scientific Council of Pediatrics.
  • Exam / certification fees: Prescribed by Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations / MOHESR regulatory bylaws Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Iraqi Board Pediatrics: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master developmental milestones and growth chart plotting: Know exact ages for motor milestones (head control, sitting unsupported, walking), red flags (no babbling by 12 months, not walking by 18 months), and WHO Z-score thresholds for wasting and stunting.
2Thoroughly review the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) 8th Edition algorithm: Memorize the 30-second decision intervals, effective positive pressure ventilation (PPV) techniques with MR. SOPA corrective steps, indications for chest compressions (heart rate <60 bpm despite 30 seconds of effective PPV), and 1:10,000 epinephrine dosing.
3Understand WHO IMCI protocols and fluid resuscitation plans: Be proficient in differentiating Plan A (home care/prevent dehydration), Plan B (oral rehydration therapy for some dehydration: 75 mL/kg over 4 hours), and Plan C (IV fluids for severe dehydration with boluses of Ringer's lactate).
4Prioritize regional and endemic pediatric disorders: Study the clinical presentations, diagnostic criteria, and first-line treatments for visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar, bone marrow amastigotes, liposomal amphotericin B), beta-thalassemia major (chelation indications), G6PD deficiency triggers (fava beans, sulfa drugs), and Iraqi EPI vaccine timings.
5Master acute pediatric emergencies: Review management algorithms for diabetic ketoacidosis (fluid resuscitation without initial insulin bolus, hourly monitoring), status epilepticus (IV lorazepam/midazolam followed by levetiracetam/fosphenytoin), and severe asthma exacerbations (frequent beta-agonists, ipratropium, systemic corticosteroids, IV magnesium sulfate).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the governing authority and credential awarded by the Iraqi Board in Pediatrics?

The pediatric postgraduate residency program is governed by the Scientific Council of Pediatrics under the Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations (IBMS / المجلس العراقي للاختصاصات الطبية), which operates under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR). Successful candidates who complete the 4-year training and pass all required assessments are awarded the Fellowship of the Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations (F.I.B.M.S.) in Pediatrics, qualifying them as Specialist Pediatricians.

What is the assessment structure for the FIBMS in Pediatrics?

The curriculum incorporates continuous assessment alongside three primary examination milestones: 1) The Primary Examination (Part 1) at the end of Year 1, testing growth, development, nutrition, genetics, and basic sciences through written MCQ papers. 2) The Mid-Study Examination during Year 3. 3) The Part 2 Final Examination at the conclusion of Year 4, which includes two written theory papers (Paper 1 & Paper 2 single-best-answer MCQs), an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE/OSPE), a clinical oral viva voce, and formal thesis defense.

What are the passing scores and retake policies for the written examinations?

The Scientific Council of Pediatrics does not publish pass marks for its written examinations, nor item counts, paper durations or attempt limits. The curriculum does specify continuous assessment requirements, including an authenticated procedure logbook and a minimum attendance rate, and it requires the Primary Examination to be passed before progression into senior residency rotations. Candidates should confirm the current pass marks and retake rules directly with the Scientific Council.

In what language are the Iraqi Board pediatrics exams administered, and what regional conditions are emphasized?

The Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations publishes this council's curriculum, syllabus and reference list in English, and English-language proficiency appears among the admission requirements set by the Ministry. The council's published curriculum does not, however, contain any statement of the language in which the examination papers themselves are set, so no language of assessment is asserted here. The curriculum does emphasise conditions prevalent in Iraq and the Eastern Mediterranean region. This site is an independent English-language study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations; candidates should confirm the language of their sitting directly with their Scientific Council.

Does this 100-question practice bank simulate clinical OSCE stations or replace residency training?

No. The Iraqi Board qualification requires 4 years of accredited hospital-based residency training, procedural competency logbooks, supervised patient management, and bedside clinical evaluations (OSCE/OSPE and oral case viva), which cannot be replaced by multiple-choice questions. This independent 100-question practice bank is strictly an educational tool intended to reinforce theoretical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and guideline recall for the Part 1 and Part 2 written theory papers.