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OPBS examination preparation
An independent practice tool for the Orthopaedic Principles and Basic Sciences examination — original Type X questions across the basic-science syllabus, with exam simulation, elaborative study and spaced review.
This question bank is an independent educational resource for learning purposes only. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) or the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA). Questions are original and do not reproduce actual examination content. Accuracy is not guaranteed — always verify against primary references.
Open the tool to see your progress dashboard, or jump straight into a mode above.
The OPBS format
The OPBS is sat as two papers, each 100 Type X questions in 2.5 hours — about 90 seconds per question. A Type X question is a stem followed by five independent true/false statements (A–E). Each statement is marked on its own — one mark per correct true/false judgment — so each question is worth up to five marks. This tool presents and scores questions exactly that way: five True / False / Unanswered toggles per question, not single-best-answer.
Full details and the authoritative syllabus are on the RACS OPBS page.
How to use this tool (and why)
- Retrieve, don’t re-read. Actively recalling answers beats passively re-reading notes — that’s why every mode makes you commit to a judgment before revealing the answer.
- Space it out. Spaced review beats cramming for high-volume factual exams. The spaced-review mode uses a Leitner schedule (1, 3, 7, 14, 30-day intervals) so material resurfaces just as you’re about to forget it.
- Interleave domains. Mixing topics rather than blocking one at a time improves discrimination and transfer — exam simulation interleaves by default.
- Simulate the real thing late. In the final 6–8 weeks, do full 100-question timed papers to build stamina and pacing.
- Target weaknesses. The dashboard tracks rolling accuracy by domain so you can see where to spend your time.
Recommended reading
Questions are written against these standard references; each answer cites where to verify it.
- Last’s Anatomy — Regional and AppliedSinnatamby, 11th ed.
- AAOS Orthopaedic Basic ScienceAaron (ed.), 5th ed.
- Orthopaedic PathologyVigorita, 2nd ed.
- MRI in PracticeWestbrook et al.
- Radiation Safety for Orthopaedic SurgeonsGeorge et al.
- Surgical Exposures in OrthopaedicsHoppenfeld & deBoer, 4th ed.
- JBJS / Current Concepts review articlesfor statistics, PJI, pharmacology and biomechanics
This question bank is an independent educational resource for learning purposes only. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) or the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA). Questions are original and do not reproduce actual examination content. Accuracy is not guaranteed — always verify against primary references.