PurposeThe National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME) Comprehensive Basic Science Exam (CBSE) is a subject exam offered to US medical schools, where it has been used for external validation of student preparedness for the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE) Step 1 in new schools and schools undergoing curricular reform. Information regarding the actual use of the NBME CBSE is limited. Therefore, the aim of the survey was to determine the scope and utilization of the NBME CBSE by US medical schools.MethodsA survey was sent in May 2016 to curriculum leadership of the 139 US medical schools listed on the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME®) website with provisional or full accreditation as of February 29, 2016. Responses were received from 53 schools (38% response rate). A series of different follow-up questions were asked if respondents stated “yes” or “no” to the initial question “Does your institution administer the NBME CBSE prior to the USMLE Step 1?”.ResultsA total of 37 schools (70%) administered the NBME CBSE. In all, 36 of the 37 schools responded to follow-up questions. Of 36 schools, 13 schools (36%) used the NBME CBSE for curriculum modification. Six schools (17%) used the NBME CBSE for formative assessment for a course, and five schools (14%) used the NBME CBSE for summative assessment for a course. A total of 28 schools (78%) used the NBME CBSE for identifying students performing below expectations and providing targeted intervention strategies. In all, 24 schools (67%) of the 36 responding schools administering the NBME CBSE administered the test once prior to the administration of the USMLE Step 1, whereas 10 (28%) schools administered the NBME CBSE two or more times prior to the administration of the USMLE Step 1.ConclusionOur data suggest that the NBME CBSE is administered by many US medical schools. However, the objective, timing, and number of exams administered vary greatly among schools.

PurposeThe National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) offers basic science subject exams and exams developed using the Customized Assessment Services (CAS) program. The scope and utilization of these exams by US medical schools has not been reported. Therefore, this survey aimed to measure US medical school usage of NBME® basic science subject exams and exams administered using the CAS program.MethodsIn May 2016 a survey was sent to 139 US medical schools with provisional or full accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education®. Schools were asked if they administered NBME® basic science subject exams or exams developed using the NBME® CAS program. Follow-up questions were asked if the school responded “Yes” to administering the exams.ResultsResponses were received from 46–48 schools (33%–35% response rate). Of the schools responding, 7–13 schools (15%–28%) administer an NBME® basic science subject exam and 14 schools (30%) administer an exam developed using the CAS program. Of the schools that administer an NBME® basic science exam, 7–12 (83%–100%) use the exam for summative assessment for a course and 6–11 (77%–100%) use the exam results for curricular revision. Twelve schools (86%) that administer an NBME® exam developed using the CAS program use the exam for summative assessment for a course. Time of administration within the curriculum for NBME® basic science subject exams varied between 1 month prior to >6 months prior to students taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination® Step 1.ConclusionAccording to our data, most US medical schools responding to the survey do not administer NBME® basic science subject exams or exams developed using the NBME® CAS program. Schools that do administer NBME® basic science subject exams use the exams for summative assessment for a course and curricular revision, while exams administered using the CAS program are used predominately for summative assessment for a course.