The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) offers standardized, objective, discipline-based and comprehensive (interdisciplinary) examinations for use in assessment throughout the medical school curriculum. NBME subject exams are designed to provide institutions with effective evaluation tools and useful student performance data that can be compared with a large, representative group of students at the same stage of training.
PUMS NBME Calendar 2023/2024updated Apr 17, 2024NBME Exam Regulations updated updated Jan 26, 2024
Subject examinations
PUMS is administering the following NBME subject examinations as end-of-course verification:
- Basic sciences: Gross Anatomy, Histology, Behavioral Science, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, Physiology,
- Clinical sciences: Obstetrics/Gynecology, Clinical Neurology, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Medicine, Surgery.
The examination content outline is available on the following page: https://www.nbme.org/examinees/subject-exams.
It is highly recommended to take a sample test on-line on the NBME website to get used to its form at: https://wbt.nbme.org/wbtexam/home.
Comprehensive examinations
For assessment and intergation of knowledge over longer periods (e.g. mid-study), as well as for promotion requirement we are administering the following NBME comprehensive examinations:
NBME Comprehensive Basic Science Examination (CBSE) - CBSE is the examination that ends the basic sciences portion of studies in our Medicine Program. The first attempt of the CBS examination takes place after the end of the Basic Science Review Course. Passing the CBS examination is the requirement for commencement of the clinical sciences portion of the studies. The CBS exam reflects content coverage on USMLE Step 1 and uses the same item formats. In this regard, it can be considered as a mock Step 1 licensing examination that gives the student precise feedback on basic science topics.
The examination content outline is available on the following page: https://www.nbme.org/subject-exams/comprehensive/basic-science
NBME Comprehensive Clinical Science Examination (CCSE) - CCSE is a general, integrated achievement test covering topics typically learned during core clinical clerkships. The exam reflects content coverage on USMLE Step 2CK and uses the same item formats. In this regard, it can be considered as a mock Step 2CK licensing examination that gives the student precise feedback on clinical topics. CCSE is an optional exam at PUMS.
The examination content outline is available on the following page: https://www.nbme.org/subject-exams/comprehensive/clinical-science
Detailed information on the exam contents and structure can be found on NBME website.
NBME’s student assessments and a demonstration of INSIGHTS: recording of online meeting that took place on November 27th, 2023.