HemeOncBuddy · Board prep
Hematology and medical oncology board prep: ABIM exams, LKA and mock exams
Free board review for the ABIM Medical Oncology and Hematology certification exams, Maintenance of Certification (the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment or the 10-year exam) and fellows' in-training exams: a 2,182-question heme/onc question bank with timed practice exams, 145 board review notes, 1,600+ clinical trial summaries, 75 treatment algorithms and 3,115 flashcards. No login needed.
Which exam are you preparing for?
ABIM Medical Oncology certification
The initial board exam after fellowship. Weighted toward breast, GI, hematologic neoplasms, GU and thoracic cancers (blueprint below).
ABIM Hematology certification
Hematologic neoplasms, coagulation and the hematopoietic system make up most of the exam; transplant and transfusion the rest.
MOC: LKA or the 10-year exam
Board-certified hematologists and oncologists keep certification with the quarterly Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment or the traditional exam.
In-training exams (ITE)
Annual in-training exams for hematology and oncology fellows test the same blueprint areas, earlier in training.
What the ABIM Medical Oncology exam covers
Target share of questions for each area of the ABIM Medical Oncology certification exam blueprint, with where to study it here.
| Blueprint area | Share of exam | Study on HemeOncBuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Breast cancer | 13.5% | Breast cancer notes and trials |
| Gastrointestinal cancer | 13.5% | GI cancer trials |
| Hematologic neoplasms | 13% | Leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma |
| Genitourinary cancer | 12% | GU cancer trials |
| Thoracic cancer | 11.5% | Thoracic oncology trials |
| Palliative care, survivorship and communication | 11% | Supportive care trials |
| Skin cancer, sarcomas and unknown primary site | 7% | Skin cancer, sarcoma |
| Clinical research methodology and ethics | 6.5% | Trial summaries with limitations sections |
| Head, neck, thyroid and CNS malignancies | 6.5% | Head and neck, CNS |
| Gynecologic cancer | 5.5% | Gyn oncology trials |
Source: ABIM Medical Oncology Certification Examination Blueprint. ABIM revises blueprints; check the current version before you sit the exam.
What the ABIM Hematology exam covers
| Blueprint area | Share of exam | Study on HemeOncBuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Hematologic neoplastic disorders | 35% | Leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, MPN |
| Coagulation | 27% | Bleeding disorders, thrombosis and anticoagulation |
| Hematopoietic system | 25% | Anemias, hemoglobinopathies, marrow failure |
| Hematopoietic cell transplantation | 8% | Transplant and cellular therapy trials |
| Transfusion medicine | 5% | Benign hematology notes |
Source: ABIM Hematology Certification Examination Blueprint.
Practice like the real exam: timed blocks and mock exams
- Build a block. In the Qbank, select the subjects you want (or all of them) and the number of questions.
- Exam conditions. Choose Test mode to see answers only at the end and Timed for 90 seconds per question. A 60-question timed block makes a realistic mock exam session.
- Learn from each question. Switch to Tutor mode to read the explanation, references and linked trial after every answer.
- Close the gaps. My performance shows your score by subject; Due for review brings back questions you missed; High-yield only narrows a block to the most tested facts.
- Review the evidence. Read the landmark trial summaries and treatment algorithms for your weakest blueprint areas, then repeat the block.
Preparing for the ABIM Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA)
The LKA is ABIM's alternative to the 10-year Maintenance of Certification exam, available in Hematology and Medical Oncology. ABIM releases questions each quarter over a 5-year cycle; you may use the resources you use in practice (but not another person), you get immediate feedback with rationales and references, and a pass or fail decision is made at the end of the cycle. Since July 2026 ABIM has also offered two focused versions of the Medical Oncology LKA, with a breast cancer focus and with a hematologic neoplasms focus.
- Practice the format: untimed Tutor mode in the Qbank works the same way, one question at a time with feedback after each.
- Keep references open: the trial summaries (design, results, toxicity and practice impact in one format) and treatment algorithms are fast to search while you answer.
- Focused LKA: for the hematologic neoplasms focus, start with the leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma trials; for the breast focus, the breast cancer trials.
Sources: ABIM: Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment; ABIM blog: focused Medical Oncology LKAs. Rules change; confirm details in your ABIM Physician Portal.
A simple board review plan
- Take a mixed 60-question timed block to find your weakest blueprint areas.
- Spend most of your time where the blueprint puts the most questions: for Medical Oncology, breast, GI, hematologic neoplasms, GU and thoracic; for Hematology, neoplasms, coagulation and the hematopoietic system.
- For each area, read the board review note (or listen to its audio lecture), then the key trials, then do a tutor-mode block on that subject.
- Use the flashcards daily for drug toxicities, staging and trial names.
- In the last two weeks, alternate timed mixed blocks with review of everything you missed.
Guides for each exam
ABIM LKA prep
How the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment works, the focused Medical Oncology LKAs and how to prepare.
Timed mock exam
Build a blueprint-weighted, timed mock exam for Medical Oncology or Hematology in the Qbank.
In-training exam (ITE)
The ASCO Medical Oncology ITE and the ASH Hematology In-Service Exam, with a plan by fellowship year.
Free sample questions
Board-style hematology and oncology questions with answers and explanations.
Board review resources compared
Question banks, society self-assessment programs and review courses, and how they fit together.
Frequently asked questions
Is HemeOncBuddy free?
Yes. The question bank (2,182 questions), 145 board review notes, 1,600+ clinical trial summaries, 75 treatment algorithms and 3,115 flashcards are free, with no login needed to study. A free account only saves your progress and favorites across devices.
Can I take a timed practice exam or mock exam?
Yes. In the Qbank, choose the subjects and number of questions, then pick Test mode (answers reviewed at the end) and Timed (90 seconds per question). A 60-question timed block is a practical mock exam session; repeat blocks across the blueprint and track your score by subject under My performance.
Does it help with the ABIM Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA)?
Yes. The LKA asks questions every quarter and lets you use the resources you use in practice (not another person). Tutor mode in the Qbank mirrors that question-by-question, feedback-after-each format, and the trial summaries and treatment algorithms are quick references you can keep open while you answer.
Which exams does HemeOncBuddy cover?
The ABIM Medical Oncology and Hematology certification exams, Maintenance of Certification (the LKA or the traditional 10-year MOC exam), and in-training exams for hematology and oncology fellows. The content follows the ABIM blueprint areas listed above.
Is HemeOncBuddy affiliated with ABIM, ASCO or ASH?
No. HemeOncBuddy is an independent, free education project. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Board of Internal Medicine, ASCO or the American Society of Hematology, and its questions are original, not taken from any exam.
How does it compare with ASCO-SEP, ASH-SAP, MKSAP or BoardVitals?
Those are established paid or society self-assessment programs. HemeOncBuddy is free and is built around the pivotal trials: every answer links to a structured trial summary, a board review note and, where one exists, a treatment algorithm. Many fellows use it alongside a society program.
Who writes the content?
Veli Bakalov, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, writes and reviews the trial summaries and notes. Each trial summary cites its primary publication.
HemeOncBuddy is an independent, free education project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), ASCO or the American Society of Hematology. ABIM and Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment are trademarks of the American Board of Internal Medicine. Questions are original. Study aid only; verify against current guidelines.