How to study for the ABA [American Board of Anesthesiology] BASIC exam

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

Caption: Legit all of the resources I used to study for the BASIC. Admittedly, I didn’t finish all of the things here, but I only advocate/recommend products I’ve purchased and used myself.

[Updated 5/2026 with TrueLearn discount for $25 off when you use my code “AMANDAXI” at checkout, new links, and a new paper about pass rates for the BASIC. Thank you for supporting this little hobby of mine by using my referral link!]

Introduction

First and foremost, check out my original article on all of the resources for the in-training exam (ITE) and BASIC exam. If you opened that entry and immediately thought, TL;DR… or you only care about how to study for the BASIC exam, this is the entry for you.

Some basics about the BASIC

From the ABA:


The BASIC Exam focuses on the scientific basis of clinical anesthetic practice, including pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, anesthesia equipment and monitoring.

https://www.theaba.org/certification-exam-type/basic-exam/
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Behind the drape [reflections on starting anesthesia training & tips for success]

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

As my Transitional Year internship progressed, my anxiety about starting my first year in clinical anesthesia increased exponentially. By June, I was frantically searching the depths of the internet for resources [e.g. how does one DO anesthesia!? what IS anesthesia?] to prepare for the mysteries that lie behind the drapes. At the end of my internship, I felt comfortable entering senna/colace orders, the periodic ABG [arterial blood gas] stick, and pontificating about my differential diagnosis in a SOAP [subjective, objective, assessment, plan] note, but the thought of being able to safely anesthetize a patient for surgery made me nauseous. I also started second-guessing my decision to pursue anesthesiology; during my TY year, I thoroughly enjoyed my inpatient medicine months and was prepared to switch to medicine if I didn’t end up liking anesthesia. Looking back, I can see now that I would have been happy doing a medicine residency, but I’m definitely happier and overall more satisfied in the field of anesthesiology.

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7 tips for strong letters of recommendation [college, premedical, residency & fellowship]

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

I’ve seen this view a few too many times in the last 4 months with my ACGME TYRC & AMWA commitments overlapping with the fellowship interview trail!

The last four months have been extraordinarily draining. I think the combination of being in the ICU in January [which is a bittersweet experience for me; on one hand, I love taking care of critically ill patients but on the other hand, the hours were long and the daylight hours were short], using all of my off days for either ACGME commitments, fellowship interviews, or AMWA103 planning made it difficult to stay balanced.

Cue the burnout.

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How to study for the ITE, BASIC, and anesthesia

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

My bookshelf. Just kidding. This is our MGH Anesthesia Library bookshelf. Note how clean the Harrison’s binding is…
An updated, detailed version of many things in this post in VIDEO form! And I share my ITE scores, too…

[Updated 5/2026 with TrueLearn discount for $25 off when you use my code “AMANDAXI”, new links, and a new paper about pass rates for the BASIC. Thank you for supporting this little hobby of mine by using my referral link!]

It’s that time of year when new residents are roaming hospitals across the country. As a result, I’ve received an influx of emails, texts and in-person requests for advice on how to study as an anesthesia resident. There are plenty of posts on the SDN Anesthesia forum as well as blog entries from my esteemed colleagues [e.g. Rishi Kumar, AnesthesiaHub]. However, this time last year when I was looking for real advice and guidance on how to study for daily clinical practice knowledge, the ITE and BASIC, I didn’t find anything satisfying online. Scrolling through SDN and asking my colleagues led me to recognize that like the USMLE Step 1, there are a plethora of resources but only a fraction of the amount of time necessary to really digest it all. Eventually, I just committed to a plan and sort of stuck with it – this entry attempts to explain that plan and some resources I thought were helpful.

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Lessons learned from intern year – part 1

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane images of the day:

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Ogawa Coffee is my new favorite study spot. Mmm, green tea matcha.

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I went home for the July 4th weekend to celebrate the wedding of a college friend – it was a delightful, heart-warming event!

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Gloomy, albeit still breathtaking view from the roof deck of my apartment complex. Hello, Boston!

Detroit view at night from Ford
There are definitely still moments when I long for the familiarity of home, Detroit and Henry Ford. So why not throw in a view of Detroit at night?

How have 9 months already passed since my last entry? I still remember the excitement I felt to finally have a chance to write an entry during my Emergency Medicine rotation – in fact, I wrote that mammoth of an entry in almost one sitting [it seems that much of my best work has been written during one sitting – when inspiration for an entry comes to me, it hits hard!]. Either way, the burning question on your minds has probably been, “What’s been going on since you started your Anesthesiology training in Boston?”

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Specialty series: emergency medicine

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

Specialty Series: Emergency Medicine
Getting ready for another overnight shift in the emergency room.

One of the advantages of being in a transitional year program is the opportunity to rotate through a variety of specialties and experience them as a resident. Sometimes I wonder if all of us question our specialty choice from time to time – how can we be sure we made the right decision? [I still don’t actually think we can be – but we can make the best of it or make the switch if it becomes unbearable.] Anyway, I am currently in the midst of my emergency medicine rotation and decided to start a medical specialty series with some of my thoughts on what I liked and didn’t like. Warning: this is an exceptionally long entry!

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4 gifts to love

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane images of the day will be scattered throughout the post.

With the holiday season in full swing [a claustrophobic experience I endured when I was coerced to “pick something up” for my family on Black Friday], I thought I’d share some of the gifts I’ve come to appreciate and some personal anecdotes to go along with each.

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Every ending opens the door to a new beginning

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane images of the day:

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The 17th floor of Henry Ford has the best views of Detroit.

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Tried fowling (football + bowling pins) with my co-interns! I can barely throw a football but it was still fun.

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My third consecutive floor month was on this general medicine unit.

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I presented a medically challenging case at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ meeting in San Diego this last month!

The first third of my intern year has been… difficult. Residency is a tough job.

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Introducing Amanda Xi, MD

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane images of the day:

Amanda Xi Graduation
The stereotypical post-graduation-ceremony school photo.

Amanda Xi WDIV interview
I was interviewed by our local WDIV Channel 4’s Dr. McGeorge!

After four wonderful years at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, I can now call myself Dr. Amanda Xi. Thank you to my supportive family, boyfriend, friends, colleagues, and blog readers that have helped push me through the tough times and celebrated the joys with me. I could not have done it without all of you.

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