Predicting academic performance in surgical training.

Introduction: During surgical residency, trainees are expected to master all the 6 competencies specified by the ACGME. Surgical training programs are also evaluated, in part, by the residency review committee based on the percentage of graduates of the program who successfully complete the qualifying examination and the certification examination of the American Board of Surgery in the first attempt. Many program directors (PDs) use the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) as an indicator of future performance on the qualifying examination.