Practise urgent clinical decisions, diagnostic interpretation, prevention, communication, patient safety, and evidence appraisal for the Special Purpose Examination. These are independent learning materials, not official exam questions or a pass prediction.
Read the SPEX: Clinical Decisions and Evidence Review study guide and official exam sourcesExam outline and official sources
Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), joint SPEX program · 2021 SPEX Information Bulletin, the edition linked by FSMB's current examination page on 2026-10-10. A separate effective date and a later blueprint revision were not established.
This original 20-question sample covers selected topics across the outline. It does not reproduce official exam questions or cover every tested topic.
- SPEX Information Bulletin — 2021
- FSMB — SPEX & PLAS
- FSMB — SPEX Frequently Asked Questions
- World Allergy Organization Anaphylaxis Guidance 2020
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Vitamin B12: Health Professional Fact Sheet
- National Institute of Mental Health — Depression
- NHLBI — Stroke Diagnosis
- CDC — Clinical Features of Shingles
- Guideline for Management of Septic Arthritis in Native Joints (SANJO)
- 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure — Slide Set
- GOLD — Spirometry Quick Guide
- NHLBI — COPD Diagnosis
- NIDDK — Celiac Disease Tests
- KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists — Ectopic Pregnancy
- USPSTF — Breast Cancer: Screening
- European Association of Urology — Paediatric Urology: Acute Scrotum
- NIDDK — Thyroid Tests
- NIDDK — Hypothyroidism
- CDC — Clinical Guidance for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Following Disasters and Severe Weather
- FDA — Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon and Drug-Eluting Stent Late Mortality Panel: Day Two Presentation
- FDA — Statistical Guidance on Reporting Results from Studies Evaluating Diagnostic Tests
- Cochrane Handbook — Chapter 8: Assessing Risk of Bias in a Randomized Trial
- AHRQ MATCH Toolkit — Chapter 3: Designing the Medication Reconciliation Process
- AMA Code of Medical Ethics — Informed Consent
- CDC — Milestones by 18 Months
- CDC Field Epidemiology Manual — Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Anaphylaxis-Practice-Paramaters-2023.pdf
- Cardiac Source of Embolism – ASE
- GOLD Science Committee recommendations for the use of pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry for the diagnosis of COPD - PMC
- Management of tubal ectopic pregnancy | Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage: diagnosis and initial management | Guidance | NICE
- Thyroid Function Tests | American Thyroid Association
- Psychiatry.org - What Are Bipolar Disorders?
Special Purpose Examination (SPEX)
Start with 20 free questions, then review the explanations and any topics you missed.
At an 18-month visit, a child walks independently and points to show interesting objects but has no words besides mama and dada. The parent is concerned about communication. Which response best supports the parent while using developmental surveillance appropriately?
Special Purpose Examination (SPEX)
Flashcards
General Principles
Normal development | Patient Care: Diagnosis
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