10 exam-style questions with answers and explanations, straight from our 1,030-question bank. Tap an answer to check yourself. When you're ready, take the scored version in the free practice test.
These 10 free Geriatric Medicine questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Geriatric Medicine blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
Domain 1: Gerontology 5% of exam
Question 1
In a randomized trial, 1,200 community-dwelling older adults are followed for three years. Hip fractures occur in 36 of 600 participants assigned to placebo and 12 of 600 assigned to treatment; follow-up is complete. A patient who meets the trial's eligibility criteria has heard that treatment reduces fracture risk by two-thirds. Based on these event rates, which absolute-benefit statement should accompany that claim?
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Correct answer: B - Treating 25 people for three years prevents one additional hip fracture, on average.
Domain 2: Diseases in the Elderly 45% of exam
Question 2
An acutely swollen native right knee brings a 76-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis to the emergency department. She takes prednisone 15 mg daily and has a temperature of 38.5°C. Passive movement is severely painful. The aspirate contains 68,000 leukocytes/µL, 92% neutrophils, and weakly positively birefringent rhomboid crystals. Gram stain shows no organisms. Joint-fluid and blood cultures have been obtained; she is hemodynamically stable. What should follow the aspiration?
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Correct answer: A - Begin empiric antibiotics and arrange prompt assessment for joint drainage.
Question 3
A 78-year-old man's left ventricular ejection fraction has risen from 28% to 54% after two years of treatment for chronic symptomatic heart failure. He takes sacubitril/valsartan, carvedilol, spironolactone, and dapagliflozin and now has no congestion or exertional symptoms. Blood pressure is 122/70 mm Hg, potassium 4.4 mmol/L, and eGFR 58 mL/min/1.73 m². He does not have diabetes and tolerates all four drugs. He asks, 'Does my heart's recovery mean I can stop some of these?' Which recommendation is most appropriate?
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Correct answer: D - Continue all four drugs while they remain well tolerated.
Question 4
Two recent falls have made a 79-year-old man hesitant about treatment for newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation. He fell without injury soon after starting doxazosin; the drug has been stopped, and his postural symptoms are improving. He has hypertension and diabetes, no history of major bleeding, stable hemoglobin, and an eGFR of 62 mL/min/1.73 m². Echocardiography shows no mitral stenosis or prosthetic valve. He can reliably take medication and wants stroke protection. Which plan best addresses his competing risks?
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Correct answer: C - Start a direct oral anticoagulant and continue fall prevention.
Question 5
At a prescription review, a 75-year-old woman's TSH of 0.08 mIU/L (reference 0.4-4.0) prompts a suggestion to reduce levothyroxine. She underwent pituitary surgery and has taken unchanged levothyroxine and hydrocortisone replacement for six months. She reports fatigue and constipation. Free T4 is 0.55 ng/dL (reference 0.8-1.8). Adherence is confirmed; there is no acute illness, hypotension, or electrolyte disturbance. What change is warranted?
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Correct answer: A - Increase levothyroxine cautiously, using free T4 to guide subsequent adjustment.
Domain 3: Geriatric Psychiatry 8.5% of exam
Question 6
A 76-year-old woman has a major depressive episode. Her daughter recalls one earlier period of elation, unusually high energy, little need for sleep, rapid speech, and multiple new projects. It was an obvious change from her usual behavior, and no other episodes of mood elevation are reported. Which additional history would support bipolar II disorder?
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Correct answer: A - Nine consecutive days without marked impairment, hospitalization, psychosis, or an identified medication, substance, or medical cause.
Domain 4: Geriatric Syndromes 22.5% of exam
Question 7
After an 80-year-old man's donepezil dose was increased for slowly progressive Alzheimer disease, he developed urinary urgency. Oxybutynin improved the leakage. Within a week, however, he was newly confused, constipated, and troubled by dry mouth. He has no fever, dysuria, or focal neurologic deficit and takes no other new medication. His daughter asks for another dementia drug. Which medication action should take priority?
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Correct answer: C - Stop oxybutynin and reassess the recent donepezil increase.
Question 8
A 77-year-old man scores 4/5 on the Mini-Cog: two words recalled and a normal clock. Formal testing nevertheless identifies memory impairment beyond that expected for his age and education. He fills his pillbox and pays bills accurately, using a calendar and taking longer than before; his family confirms that he needs no help or reminders. No delirium or major depressive episode is present. How should the screening result and fuller assessment be reconciled?
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Correct answer: D - Mild cognitive impairment, because independent daily function persists despite compensatory strategies.
Domain 5: Functional Assessment and Rehabilitation 3% of exam
Question 9
An outpatient physical therapy service proposes discharging a 79-year-old man with Parkinson disease and mild dementia because his walking has plateaued. He still transfers with one person's help, but freezing and backward instability require the therapist to adjust cueing and handling. His wife cannot safely make those adjustments despite training. A recent interruption in therapy was followed by loss of transfer ability. He otherwise meets Medicare outpatient therapy requirements. What should determine whether skilled treatment continues?
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Correct answer: B - A documented need for the therapist's skills to maintain safe transfers.
Domain 6: Caring for Elderly Patients 16% of exam
Question 10
At a preventive visit in 2026, a 74-year-old woman's verified immunization record shows PPSV23 at age 66 and no previous pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. She is not immunocompromised. She receives PCV15 today. Which entry belongs in her subsequent pneumococcal vaccination plan?
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Correct answer: B - No further pneumococcal doses are due.
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The full bank has 1,020 more Geriatric Medicine questions with explanations.