Clerkship Exam Fail FAQ
The Student Progress Committee (SPC) reviews all students who fail a clerkship exam and will send a letter acknowledging permission to retake the exam, but you do not need to wait for this letter to schedule your exam retake.
Students must successfully pass a clerkship exam retake to meet graduation requirements. Passing thresholds are based on national percentiles, as per the UWSOM Assessment Policy. Because the percent correct score that corresponds to a specific national percentile changes over time, the percent correct score required for passing an exam retake may not be the same as when the original failed exam was taken.
Students are responsible for scheduling their exam retakes. Students can retake the clerkship exam on any regularly scheduled clerkship exam administration (Fridays at the end of the 4th/6th/8th/12th week of any quarter–see dates below). We suggest that you schedule your exam retake as soon as possible; the farther you are from your original rotation, the more difficulty you are likely to have refreshing the specialty-specific content.
If you need to take time away from a rotation for an exam retake, you are also responsible for clearing the time away with your clerkship administrator.
Specific deadlines:
- Step 2 CK: Any failed clerkship exams must be successfully remediated prior to taking this exam.
- MSPE: For successful retakes to be reflected on the MSPE, they must be completed prior to Labor Day of the year prior to entering the Match.
- Match Certification: Students with any un-remediated Patient Care Phase clerkship exams will not be certified to participate in the Match.
Exam dates can be found on the NBME Subject Exam webpage.
Yes. Clerkship exams are remote proctored until further notice.
No. Given the stakes of these exams, it is important to set yourself up for success by being well rested and able to focus and concentrate on one discipline at a time.
Give yourself time to review clerkship materials, as well as get enough rest. Reach out to Academic Support if needed.
Yes. The MSPE will indicate that you were required to remediate a clerkship exam, and it will show how many attempts were required to pass the exam. However, neither exam score (original or retakes) will appear on the MSPE. If you have more questions, please visit the MSPE webpage.
No. Regardless of whether you pass/fail the clerkship exam retake or what score you get, your original clerkship grade will not be changed.
You will be notified of your exam retake score within a week of taking it.
Students who fail the clerkship exam retake will be discussed at SPC.
Matt Cunningham, Ph.D.
Director of Educational Evaluation
cunningm@uw.edu