Scoring the Examinations

There are two parts involved in scoring the exams, the Post-Test Analysis and Establishing the Passing Score.

Post-Test Analysis

After the administration, the psychometrician (an expert in exam statistics) utilizes statistical analysis to identify any “problem” questions on the exam. Each of these is reviewed by a panel of SMEs for both clarity and content. Based on this review, it may be determined that the correct answer should be changed, or credit may be given for more than one answer, or no change in scoring will be made. This process helps ensure that the results are valid and fair.

Establishing the Passing Score

There is no predetermined passing score. This is different from academic tests, where, for example, a 70% might be needed in order to pass. There is also no “grading on a curve,” for instance, where the top 80% will pass. Instead, the Angoff method, an internationally recognized statistical process, is used to determine the passing score. This method is specifically designed for professional licensing exams where the goal is to determine minimal competence. Minimal competence is the term used for professional licensing exams to gauge the knoweledge, skill, and ability necessary to safely pracice as a licensed/registered naturopathic medical doctor. In this method, a panel of SMEs rates each question on the exam, estimating the probability that a minimally competent candidate would be able to answer the question correctly. These ratings are then used to determine the passing score (“cut score”). Exams that are judged to be more difficult will have lower cut scores than less difficult exams (i.e., for a more dificult exam, the examinee will be required to answer fewer questions correctly in order to pass). Because each exam is unique, the cut score will vary somewhat between administrations.

Reporting the Scores

It takes approximately 7 weeks to complete the scoring process. Once the process is complete, the scores are release to NABNE.

The Part I – Biomedical Science Examination is a single, integrated examination that is designed to test your knowledge of biological structure/function and disease/dysfunction.

To pass the examination, you must be able to demonstrate concurrent competence in both general exam areas (GEAs): Structure/Function and Disease/Dysfunction.

You have passed the NPLEX Part I – Biomedical Science Examination when you have correctly answered at least the number of questions that NPLEX subject matter experts (licensed/registered NDs) have determined is required to demonstrate competence in each of the two general exam areas. You are required to pass both general exam areas within the same exam administration in order to pass the examination.

Approximately seven (7) weeks after the exam administration, your unofficial exam result (Pass/Fail only) will be posted to the dashboard of your online Profile. You will be notified by email when your result can be viewed online. An official hard copy of your exam result will be sent to you by regular mail within the same week that NPLEX results are initially posted online.

NABNE will make every attempt to ensure that the exam result posted online is correct; however, because the implementation of this feature requires manual transfer of data (which introduces the possibility of human error), NABNE cannot guarantee that the information posted online is accurate. NABNE suggests that you do not make any decisions based on these results.

PART I RESULTS

The official report of the Part I – Biomedical Science exam result you receive in the mail will provide information regarding your overall passing status, and will include a visual scale that illustrates your performance in each of the two general exam areas, relative to the minimum percentage of questions you must correctly answer to pass that general exam area.

Comprehensive Mastery indicates, with either a P (Pass) or F (Fail) designation, whether or not you have passed the Part I – Biomedical Science Examination. You have passed the Part I – Biomedical Science Examination when you have achieved a P (Pass) in both of the two general exam areas:

• Structure/Function, which reflects the result you achieved on the exam questions that pertain to anatomy, biochemistry & genetics, and physiology
• Disease/Dysfunction, which reflects the result you achieved on the exam questions that pertain to microbiology & immunology and pathology

If you fail the examination, your report will also provide a visual scale that illustrates the strength of your performance in each of the five specific exam areas relative only to your performance in the other specific exam areas.

Exam results are the property of the examinee. NABNE serves as an unbiased repository of those results. To avoid possible misinterpretation and to protect your privacy, exam results will not be reported to you by phone, fax, or email.

PART II RESULTS

If you have completed all graduation requirements before the exam date:

Your unofficial exam results (Pass/Fail only) will be posted to the dashboard of your online Profile approximately seven (7) weeks after the exam administration. You will be notified by email when your results can be viewed online. Your exam results may be viewed online through April 15, 2025. An official hard copy of your exam results will be sent to you by regular mail within the same week.

If you have not completed all graduation requirements before the exam date:

Your exam results will not be released until NABNE has received, no later than April 30th (for examinations taken in February) or no later than October 31st (for examinations taken in August), written verification from your ANMP that you have completed graduation requirements. If NABNE does not receive this letter by the deadline, your exam results will be nullified, and all fees will be forfeited. Upon receipt of written verification from your ANMP that you have completed all graduation requirements, your unofficial results will be posted to the dashboard of your online Profile and may be viewed through April 15th (for examinations taken in February) and October 15th (for examinations taken in August). If NABNE receives written verification of graduation from your ANMP after that time, you will be sent only the official hard copy of your exam results by regular mail.

NABNE will make every attempt to ensure that the exam results posted online are correct; however, because implementation of this feature requires manual transfer of data (which introduces the possibility of human error), NABNE cannot guarantee that the information posted online is accurate. NABNE suggests that you do not make any decisions based on these results.

The official report of the Part II – Core Clinical Science exam results you receive in the mail will provide information regarding your overall passing status, and will include a visual scale that illustrates your performance in each of the four general exam areas, relative to the minimum percentage of questions you must correctly answer to pass that general exam area.

Comprehensive Mastery indicates, with either a P (Pass) or F (Fail) designation, whether or not you have passed the Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination. You have passed the Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination when you have achieved a P (Pass) in all four general exam areas:

• Diagnosis, which reflects the result you achieved on the exam questions that relate to physical & clinical diagnosis, lab testing & diagnostic imaging, and interpretation and application of research studies
• Materia Medica, which reflects the result you achieved on the exam questions that relate to botanical medicine and homeopathy
• Other Modalities, which reflects the result you achieved on the exam questions that relate to nutrition, physical medicine, and psychology
• Medical Interventions, which reflects the result you achieved on the exam questions that relate to emergency medicine and pharmacology

If you fail the examination, your report will also provide a visual scale that illustrates the strength of your performance in each of the nine specific exam areas relative only to your performance in the other specific exam areas. If you have taken any Part II – Clinical Elective Examination(s), the report you receive in the mail will also include a section that shows a P (Pass) or F (Fail) designation along with the converted score(s) you achieved.

NABNE will also send, to the single regulatory authority you indicated on your Part II Application, a transcript of your Part I (or previous NPLEX results) and the official report of your Part II – Clinical Science exam results (including the Core Clinical Science and any Clinical Elective Examinations you took).

Exam results are the property of the examinee. NABNE serves as an unbiased repository of those results. Your NPLEX results will be released only to the regulatory authority you have designated on your NPLEX Part II application or transcript request. To avoid possible misinterpretation and to protect your privacy, exam results will not be reported to you by phone, fax, or email.

Every answer sheet used for an NPLEX examination is scanned by a state-of-the-art optical mark reader, and errors are reviewed by the scanning operator. The possibility of a scanning error is negligible. However, you may request a manual scoring from the most recent exam administration to verify that the answers you marked on your answer sheet(s) correctly match the answers recorded by the scanner. You will be notified of the results of this manual scoring, however, you will not receive additional information regarding your exam results (e.g., numerical scores, specific questions answered incorrectly, etc.).

If you would like to receive a Manual scoring, your request and payment must be made online no later than April 30th (for an examination you take in February) and no later than October 31st (for an examination you take in August).  The Manual Scoring Fee of US$50 for the Part I – Biomedical Science Examination, US$70 for the Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination, and US$40 for each Part II – Clinical Elective Examination must be paid using a debit or credit card.

Because NPLEX uses an extensive post-test analysis process (including statistical analysis of individual items), the exam results sent to you reflect changes made after post-test analysis of items that did not perform as expected. Consequently, NABNE does not change exam results.

If you wish to appeal a policy decision, you must submit your appeal to NABNE in writing, addressed to the Executive Director of NABNE. Your appeal will be presented to the NABNE Board. The Board will make every effort to respond to you with a decision within six (6) weeks of receipt of your appeal.

PART I – BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE EXAMINATION

If you do not pass either or both of the two general exam areas (Structure/Function or Disease/Dysfunction), you will be required to retake the entire Part I – Biomedical Science Examination. If you graduated more than five (5) years ago, contact NABNE regarding additional eligibility requirements.

PART II – CORE CLINICAL SCIENCE EXAMINATION

If you do not pass any of the four general exam areas (Diagnosis, Materia Medica, Other Modalities, and Medical Interventions), you will be required to retake the entire Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination.

If you graduated more than five (5) years ago, contact NABNE regarding additional eligibility requirements.

If you do not pass the NPLEX Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination within ten (10) years of passing the NPLEX Part I – Biomedical Science Examination, you will be required to retake and pass the Part I – Biomedical Science Examination before you will be allowed to take or retake the Part II – Clinical Science Examinations. If this applies to you, please contact NABNE regarding additional eligibility requirements.

PART II – CLINICAL ELECTIVE EXAMINATIONS

Once you have taken the Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination, you may retake any Part II – Clinical Elective Examination (Acupuncture, Elective Pharmacology, Minor Surgery, and/or Parenteral Medicine) during any subsequent NPLEX administration. You will not be required to retake a Part II – Clinical Elective Examination you have previously passed, regardless of whether or not you are required to retake the Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination.