National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Comprehensive Basic Science Examination (CBSE) FAQs

The information provided to you is intended for educational purposes only. In no event shall AAOMS be liable for any decision made or action taken or not taken by you or anyone else in reliance on the information provided. For legal or other professional advice, you need to consult your own professional advisers.

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How do I schedule my examination seat?

Answer:

You will receive instructions via email on how to obtain your scheduling permit from the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) after the exam registration deadline. If you do not receive an email from NBME as scheduled, please visit https://apps.nbme.org/eddiexaminee/Login.do?client=mss and follow the instructions.

How long will my scores be valid?

Answer:

Your exam score will be valid for several years unless otherwise notified by AAOMS.

When can I sit for the examination?

Answer:

You can sit for the exam beginning your first year of dental school.

Who will receive my examination score?

Answer:

After completion of the examination, applicants will receive an electronic score report within one week from NBME. A copy of the score report also will be provided to AAOMS. Your score will NOT be included on the PASS application and you will be required to submit your score report to your program(s) of choice.

How many times can I sit for the examination?

Answer:

Examinees may sit for the NBME CBSE through AAOMS only six times.

If I cancel my registration, will I receive a refund?

Answer:

You will only receive a refund if you cancel prior to the cancellation deadline.

What should I do if I require special accommodations?

Answer:

For ADA accommodations, please contact AAOMS Advanced Education staff. You must inform AAOMS of any accommodations prior to exam registration deadlines.

I have registered for the exam and have yet to receive my scheduling permit, what do I do?

Answer:

If you have not received your scheduling permit within six weeks of the application deadline, please visit https://apps.nbme.org/eddiexaminee/Login.do?client=mss and follow the instructions.

Can I transfer my registration to a future examination date?

Answer:

You are not allowed to transfer registration to a future exam. If you are not able to sit for an exam you must follow the cancelation process and re-register for a future exam.

Is there an official score report to help me understand my score?

Answer:

An explanation of your score and a table of approximate USMLE Step 1 performance equivalents for CBSE scores is included with your score report.

What does the exam content include?

Answer:

The examination will contain 184 multiple-choice questions and any associated images/pictorials. Each exam will be administered during a four-hour, 15-minute testing session. The examination is divided into four 60-minute sessions. Unused time within a 60-minute section does not carry over to subsequent test sections. The timing for the test session does not include dedicated break time.

What resources are available to prepare for the examination?

Answer:

No test preparation courses are affiliated with or sanctioned by the NBME or AAOMS. The best preparation for the CBSE is a general, thorough review of the content reflected in the examination descriptions. You also may practice for the exam by taking an NBME web-based self-assessment to evaluate your readiness to take the CBSE. The Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) uses multiple-choice items based on information typically covered during basic science medical education courses. Participants will receive a performance profile and a score interpretation guide immediately after completing a self-assessment. The performance profile provides an assessment score and graphically displays relative strengths and weaknesses in general topic areas.