The NBME offers two comprehensive examinations: the Comprehensive Basic Sciences Examination (CBSE) and the Comprehensive Clinical Sciences Examination (CCSE). The CBSE assesses material typically covered during the first two years (Basic Sciences Years) of the Medical School Curriculum, while the CCSE covers topics from the 3rd (Clinical) Year.
SGUSOM uses the CBSE as a placement examination into clinical years in the U.S. Prior to clinical placement, students who pass the CBSE will be certified via ECFMG to take USMLE Step 1. Upon successful completion of all third-year core clinical rotations, SGUSOM will certify all students who are not already certified with ECFMG to take USLME Steps 1 and 2 in accordance with the Promotion to Clinical Phase CBSE and Pathways for Clinical Training policy. The NBME limits students to a maximum of 5 lifetime CBSE attempts. Students who have 5 failed attempts will receive additional information from APRC and/or AADS on their student status.
The passing grade for the CBSE is determined based on CBSE performance analytics and its correlation with USLME Step 1 passage rates. SGU reserves the right to review and adjust the passing grade with each new iteration of the examination to align with changes in these metrics.
The CBSE is offered in January, February, April, June, August, October, and December. The schedule for dates can be found on the SGU Portal at the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) page, under the student information tab, which contains scheduling information for courses, terms and CBSE examinations. The CBSE results are made available to SGUSOM from the NBME 5 days after the examination closing date. SGUSOM aims to process, grade, and post results within 48 hours of receiving them.
Students are encouraged to engage with the Academic Advising Development and Support (AADS) team throughout all phases of the curriculum but are strongly encouraged to engage with AADS in term 5 and beyond for advice relating to CBSE preparation and the USMLE Step 1 licensure examination.
The number of attempts of the CBSE and eligibility for the CBSE depend on a student’s individual timeline. Students who have not completed the program in the standard timeline are encouraged to consult with AADS and be clear on their timeline requirements. Students should refer to the timeline requirements for the program and the timeline for being in clinical placements as described in this Student Manual.
More information on the NBME CBSE can be found at the following site: Comprehensive Basic Science Subject Exam - Content Outline | NBME