Issue Twenty-Five - May 13, 2003
New Web-Based Self-Assessment Service Now Available
The National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) has introduced a new web-based self-assessment program for basic science content for U.S. and international medical students and graduates. The Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA) uses multiple-choice items based on information typically covered during basic science medical education courses in the United States. The content of the CBSSA items resembles the content of those in Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™). Although the CBSSA is not intended to predict performance on Step 1, individuals preparing to take Step 1 may find the CBSSA to be a valuable tool.
The CBSSA is available via the Internet. Interested individuals can request, pay for and take the assessment from their home computers. Users can choose to take the assessment in a timed format or can complete the items at their own pace. Participants will be provided with immediate feedback in the form of performance profiles. These profiles will indicate the relative strengths and weaknesses in general topic areas. The cost for each assessment is US$45.
For more information, to view a sample assessment, or to purchase an assessment, visit the NBME Self-Assessment web page.
The NBME anticipates that a self-assessment for clinical science content will be available in September 2003. The multiple-choice items presented in the clinical science self-assessment will be based on information typically covered during the clinical core clerkships in the United States and will resemble the content of USMLE Step 2.