Overview
At the midpoint of each core rotation and the required family medicine rotation, students are administered a mid-core examination. The Internal Medicine and Surgery examinations are conducted during the sixth week of the rotation, while the Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Obstetrics & Gynecology examinations take place in the fourth week.
Exam Structure and Delivery
Each mid-core exam comprises 110 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions in 2 hours and 45 minutes without a break. All questions are developed by SOM clinical faculty based on the core’s study schedule and the USMLE content outline and subsequently reviewed by each core’s department chair. All questions are tested for validity before incorporation into the exam as a weighted item. The mid-core examination is delivered on the assessment solutions software ExamSoft, using technology-driven remote proctoring that digitally observes exam-takers with video and audio monitoring throughout the entire exam.
Feedback and Contribution to Final Clinical Evaluation
Students receive a categorical feedback report from ExamSoft outlining areas of strengths and opportunities for improvement. The mid-core examination contributes a specific percentage to the assessment of knowledge on the final evaluation for each core rotation and the required family medicine rotation, based on the grading scheme in effect.