Office of Medical Education

NBME Subject Exam Information

All Medical Students:

Y1 and Y2 students only:
Required Basic Science Subject Exams

Excused Absences

The following protocol applies to ALL students – and pertains to excused absences from NBME subject exams during their medical education at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine:

Basic Science subject exams: Any student unable to sit for a NBME basic science subject exam due to an excused absence must take that exam within 45 days of the original exam schedule on a weekday afternoon (TBD) free of required coursework. Until a final course grade can be calculated, the student will receive an “Incomplete” grade.

Clinical subject exams:

• Any student unable to sit for a clinical subject exam in blocks 1-4 due to an excused absence must take that subject exam at the start of the winter break.
• Any student who must re-take an exam per clerkship protocol in blocks 1-3, may re-take that subject exam at the start of the winter break or immediately after third year ends.
• Any student who is unable to sit for a clinical subject exam in blocks 5-12 due to an excused absence - or who must re-take an exam per clerkship protocol in blocks 4-12 - must (re)take that subject exam immediately after third year ends. Until a final clerkship grade can be calculated, the student will receive either an “Incomplete” or other grade per the clerkship grading policy.

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Test-Taking Protocol

NBME requires that detailed instructions be read (in full) prior to each exam; however, a few brief guidelines to note:

• If you arrive after instructions have begun, you are not allowed to sit for the exam. Please bring several soft lead #2 pencils.
• No notes, electronic devices, or food/drinks are allowed in the testing area – and all personal belongings (e.g., backpacks, etc.) must be secured in the front or back areas of the room.
• Once the exam has started, rest room breaks are permitted for one student at a time. Also, all students must remain in the room after the “10-minute warning” is announced.

Further information regarding the content areas tested in each subject exam, along with sample items, can be obtained thru the NBME at this website link:

http://www.nbme.org/PDF/SubjectExams/SE_ContentOutlineandSampleItems.pdf

For the Basic Science subject exams, all test scores will be posted on BlackBoard under the course titled, “Basic Science Subject Exams” – in which you will each be automatically enrolled. Scores will be available approximately 3 weeks from the testing date. You will receive an e-mail when the scores are posted.

For Clerkship subject exams, reporting to students will be decided upon by the clerkship director(s), although we strongly encourage clerkships to use the individual reports provided by the NBME with each rotation’s exam data.

For more information regarding the structure and/or function of NBME subject examinations, please call or e-mail Dr. Terry Stratton @ 323-2785 (tdstra00@email.uky.edu). For questions about NBME subject exam protocol or scheduling, please call or e-mail Amy Murphy-Spencer @ 323-1196 (amspenc@uky.edu).

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Required Basic Science Subject Exams (Y1 and Y2)

During the 2009-2010 academic year, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine (UKCOM) instituted the use of basic science subject exams from the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) as supplemental assessments to your normal course tests, quizzes, etc.

These standardized exams, which each contain 125-150 questions and are 2½-3 hours in length, are comprised of items “retired” from past Step 1 United States Medical Licensure Exams (USMLE). As a result, they very closely mirror the structure of the major certification exams and, in concert with other assessments, provide a reasonably good indicator of strengths and weaknesses in key basic science content areas.

At UKCOM, the following NBME subject exams correspond to the following courses:

First-Year Curriculum

• Gross Anatomy & Embryology (MD 814: Gross Anatomy)
• Neuroscience (MD 817: Neuroscience)
• Physiology (MD 818: Human Function)
• Biochemistry (MD 819: Biochemistry)

Second-Year Curriculum

• Microbiology & Immunology (MD 822: Immunity, Infection, & Disease)
• Pathology (MD 823: Pathology)
• Pharmacology (MD 824: Pharmacology)

NBME subject exams are “normed” to national means (mean = 500, SD = 100) – giving you a basis for comparison with medical students across the country. Thus, your score may be interpreted relative to this number (500) – with a score of 400 (for example) representing 1 SD below the national average. Exam means for UKCOM students will also be provided. All test scores will be posted on BlackBoard under the course titled, “Basic Science Subject Exams” – in which you will each be automatically enrolled.

Shelf exam scores are weighted individually by each course director toward your final grade in each class. Dates for some subject exams have been established; others have yet to be determined. Most will take place on or near the final exam date. Please refer to your course syllabus for details.
Brief guidelines on exam protocol will be shared with you prior to each exam – both via e-mail and in the form of oral instructions. Two particular items of note: (1) You should bring with you several soft lead #2 pencils; and (2) no electronic devices or food is allowed in the testing area – and all personal belongings (e.g., backpacks, etc.) must be secured in the front of the room. Again, more information will be provided prior to each examination.

For more information regarding the structure and/or function of the NBME subject examinations, please call or e-mail Dr. Terry Stratton @ 323-2785 (tdstra00@email.uky.edu). For questions about NBME subject exam protocol or scheduling, please call or e-mail Amy Murphy-Spencer @ 323-1196 (amspenc@uky.edu).

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