In Focus

2012 NBEO Part I (ABS) FAQs

Q: What is tested on Part I of boards?
A: Part I will consist of a blend of Basic Science test items, and items used on the current Clinical Science exam. The Clinical Science items shifting to ABS are related to epidemiology/history/symptoms/signs, clinical testing, and diagnosis/pathophysiology. Most ABS items will have the requirement of referencing a clinical condition, either explicitly or implicitly.

Q: What is the general format for Part I of boards?

A: Part I-ABS contains both single-response and multiple-response multiple choice items. Items are scored as completely correct or incorrect. There is NO partial credit.  The vast majority of the items (approximately 85%) are traditional multiple choice items, which consist of a stem (a question or an incomplete statement) followed by three to five options, one of which is the correct or best response. 
Approximately 15% of the items are multiple response (MR) items, which consist of a stem followed by four to seven options. An MR item will have two to five correct options and the candidate is required to select ALL of the appropriate options in order to get the item correct. The stem of the MR item indicates how many of the options are required. For example, if there are three correct options, the phrase (SELECT 3) will appear in the stem.

Q: When do we take NBEO Part I?

A: Student candidates must be in the spring of their third academic year to take the new Part I exam. There will be three opportunities to sit for Part I prior to graduation. The first two dates are listed below; the third date is to be determined.

Exam Dates Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline Withdrawal/Site Change
March 20-21, 2012 January 17, 2012 February 01, 2012 February 01, 2012
August 7-8, 2012 June 01, 2012 June 14, 2012 June 14, 2012

Q: How long is the exam?

A: The ABS examination will be four sessions in length, each session 3½ hours long containing 125 items, for a total of 500 items.

Q: How much is the Part I exam?
A: $625 (Hand-verification is an extra $120)

Q. When will I know my score for Part I?

A: Scores will be released no later than May 09, 2012

Q: Can you give me any specifics on the types of cases?

A: According to the NBEO website, the exam will be broken down as follows:

*Please see the NBEO Website for a more detailed topic outline

Q: Are the cases going to be presented in a straightforward manner, or will they try to trick us with conflicting exam findings?

A: Some test items refer to patients or subjects with non-normal conditions. Unless the test item provides information suggestive of an underlying non-normal condition, candidates should assume that the referenced patient is normal.

Q: How will pharmaceutical agents be referred to on the exam?

A: On the Applied Basic Science (ABS) examination, drugs are referenced only by generic name. However, to help those candidates who may be more familiar with the trade names of drugs than with the generic names, the following list of generic drugs and their trade name equivalents has been prepared; this list will be printed on the inside front cover of the test booklets. Candidates should note that the list includes only those drugs referenced on the exam that have commonly used trade names. Candidates should also note that the list includes drugs used on other National Board exams; therefore, significantly more drugs appear on the list than actually appear on the ABS exam.