How to Build an Effective MOCA-Peds Study Guide in 2025

By Your Health Magazine

The transition to longitudinal assessments has changed how paediatricians approach board certification. The MOCA-Peds exam, introduced as an alternative to the traditional 10-year recertification, requires a more adaptive and continuous study process. Building an effective study guide for MOCA-Peds in 2025 isn’t just about collecting information—it’s about structuring that information in a way that supports consistent, strategic learning throughout the year.

Whether you’re just getting started or refining your approach, this guide outlines how to develop a study strategy that aligns with the MOCA-Peds format, your learning style, and the demands of your daily practice. For a helpful, detailed resource to guide your preparation, this MOCA-Peds study guide offers a well-organized foundation to begin with.

Understand the Format Before You Start Studying

Before putting pen to paper or opening flashcards, make sure you have a thorough understanding of the MOCA-Peds structure. Unlike traditional exams, MOCA-Peds delivers 20 multiple-choice questions quarterly. Each set is based on published learning objectives and allows four weeks to respond, making it less about memorization and more about ongoing knowledge application.

Because of this format, your study guide should be cyclical and modular—focused on revisiting topics frequently rather than cramming content all at once.

Focus on the Learning Objectives

Each year, the exam includes questions based on a published list of learning objectives and journal articles. These are not arbitrary topics—they’re exactly what you’ll be tested on. Start your study guide by compiling these objectives and categorizing them into clinical themes, such as infectious diseases, developmental milestones, and preventive care.

For each objective, note key facts, recent guidelines, and applicable cases. This targeted approach reduces wasted effort and ensures every hour of study addresses a tested concept.

Use a Weekly Study Cycle, Not a Monthly One

It’s tempting to wait until the month your questions are released to begin studying, but that leads to reactive learning. Instead, adopt a weekly study schedule that aligns with the quarterly format.

Break the objectives into manageable weekly blocks. This spreads the cognitive load and supports better retention. For example, if there are 45 learning objectives, aim to cover 3–4 per week, cycling back for review regularly.

Prioritize High-Yield Topics

While every objective matters, some topics recur more frequently and carry greater weight in clinical practice. Vaccine schedules, developmental screening tools, and febrile illness management often appear across multiple exam cycles.

Scan previous years’ MOCA-Peds question topics (many forums and discussion groups track these) and flag high-frequency items. Spend extra time on these areas to ensure you’re prepared when they reappear.

Supplement with Journal Summaries

One of the most unique aspects of MOCA-Peds is the inclusion of journal-based knowledge. Every year, a selection of peer-reviewed articles is listed as required reading.

Instead of passively reading these articles, incorporate them directly into your study guide. Summarize key takeaways, highlight practice-changing recommendations, and jot down clinical scenarios where the article content applies. This will help transform dense articles into practical memory aids.

Where possible, use open-access sources like AAP’s MOCA-Peds journal lists to ensure you’re reading the most up-to-date content.

Make Active Recall Part of Your Strategy

Passive reading is one of the least effective ways to retain information. To make your study guide work harder, incorporate active recall methods. This could include:

Writing your own practice questions based on each objective
Using spaced repetition apps like Anki or Quizlet
Creating one-page quick-reference summaries to review on the go

Active recall not only improves retention but mirrors the format of MOCA-Peds questions, training your brain to retrieve information efficiently under pressure.

Collaborate with Peer Groups or Study Forums

You don’t need to do this alone. Virtual study groups, paediatric forums, and online communities are excellent places to discuss challenging objectives, share mnemonics, and clarify journal interpretations.

Create a shared document or drive with your peers where you each contribute to the guide. This not only saves time but exposes you to different interpretations and insights that enrich your understanding.

Track Your Performance and Adjust

Even with a well-structured guide, it’s critical to assess how well your study habits are translating into success. After each quarterly question release, reflect on:

Which topics felt strong?
Where did you guess?
What explanations did you find unclear?

Use these insights to update your guide. Highlight weak areas, revisit supporting resources, and shift your schedule to address gaps. This continual feedback loop is essential for building confidence and long-term success.

Keep Your Study Guide Living, Not Static

The biggest mistake many physicians make is treating their study guide like a checklist—complete it once and move on. But MOCA-Peds is a dynamic assessment and your knowledge base should evolve with it.

Make space in your guide to add new insights, updated recommendations, and clinical experiences. Keep it digital for easy edits, and revisit sections as your practice or guidelines change. This turns your guide into a personalized, evolving clinical companion—not just a test prep tool.

Ready for Anything, Year-Round

Mastering MOCA-Peds isn’t about studying harder—it’s about studying smarter. By building a study guide that’s structured around real objectives, updated clinical resources, and your personal learning style, you’re setting yourself up for sustained success—not just on exam day, but in everyday paediatric care.

With the right approach, your MOCA-Peds guide becomes more than an exam resource—it becomes a tool for lifelong learning and confidence in your clinical decisions.