Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
School of Medicine
SOM OP 30.01, Grading Policy
Appendix A
Clerkship NBME Grading Tables
2015-2016
Background
The methods for assigning final grades in clerkships for MSIII students underwent significant revision for the
2010-2011 academic year. Clerkship NBME grading was altered to set new cutoff levels for qualification for
final grades of Honors, High Pass and Fail (unchanged). Specifically, the cutoff points for these three grades
were set at the 80th, 70th and 5th percentiles, respectively. Furthermore, due to the existence of period
trends in clerkship NBME scores, with students generally performing at a higher level in later periods, it was
decided that quarter-specific data would be used to define percentile rankings rather than using annual data.
Methods
Percentile data were obtained from annual reports from the NBME for each of the six clerkship subject
exams. Due to the delay in obtaining these complete data from the NBME, the last three years of annual data
were collected, thus for academic year 2011-2012, the data utilized were from 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and
2009-2010. Percentile data from each quarter for these three years were collected and averaged to obtain the
mean percentile score for each quarter within each clerkship. The scores corresponding to the percentile
nearest (but above) the 80th, 70th and 5th percentile were identified and tabulated (see tables 1-6). In order
to assign percentile scores for all students, complete percentile ranging tables were generated and are shown
in tables 7-12. As shown in the tables, data from quarter 1 will be used to assign percentiles in periods 1 and
2, data from quarter 2 will be used for period 3, data from quarter 3 will be used for periods 4 and 5 while data
from quarter 4 will be used for period 6. Grading tables were not changed for AYs 2013-2014 (except for
Family Medicine due to a change in examination content) or 2014-2015.
For 2015-2016, the NBME changed the method for reporting scores for clinical subject exams, replacing the
normalized raw score reported previously with an equated percent correct score. This score is explained by
the NBME as follows: “[The equated percent correct score] is calculated as the percentage of items in the
total content domain that would be answered correctly based on an examinee’s proficiency level.” The new
score cannot simply be converted to the old score and thus a new set of grading tables was created for 20152016. A challenge for this year was recognized due to the fact the NBME only provided two years’ worth of
annual data on which to base the grading tables. Considering that the missing data was from the 2011-2012
academic year and the overall scores have been increasing each year over the past five years, the
Educational Policy Committee approved the generation of grading tables based on two years of available
data, with a one point downward adjustment to account for the missing year of data. Thus, in practice,
students will be assigned percentile rankings based on scores one point below what would have been
expected if only two years of data had been used. A full set of three years of data will be available for 20162017, at which time the system described above will be utilized.
Off cycle students
The Office of Student Affairs will ensure that percentile rankings for students who are off cycle will be
assigned according to the specific period they are completing, rather than the actual period within the annual
academic calendar. It should be noted that this system could result in students obtaining the same numerical
score on a clerkship NBME during the same period being eligible for different final grades.
Remediation
Any student who fails a clerkship NBME is expected to retake that NBME as remediation. In the past,
successful remediation has required simply achieving a score that ranks at the 5th percentile or above. This
expectation will remain the same, except that the scale used for determining this value will be the scale used
in period 6, irrespective of when the remediation exam is taken.
SOM OP 30.01.A
Page 1
September 5, 2015
Tables Updated: September 9, 2015
2015-2016 adjusted
Table 1A: Family Medicine Core
Grade Category
Honors
HP/HO
PA/HP
Pass
≥ 80th %ile
≥ 70th %ile
≥ 50th %ile
≥ 5th %ile
Period 1/2
Period 3
Period 4/5
Period 6
77
75
71
54
79
76
72
57
80
77
73
58
82
79
75
58
Period 1/2
Period 3
Period 4/5
Period 6
77
75
70
55
79
76
72
59
80
77
74
59
81
79
74
60
Period 1/2
Period 3
Period 4/5
Period 6
78
75
71
54
79
76
71
54
80
78
73
56
80
78
74
57
Period 1/2
Period 3
Period 4/5
Period 6
81
78
74
57
82
79
75
58
83
81
76
60
83
80
76
61
Period 1/2
Period 3
Period 4/5
Period 6
80
77
72
56
81
78
73
56
82
79
75
59
83
80
75
59
Period 1/2
Period 3
Period 4/5
Period 6
82
79
75
59
82
80
76
60
83
81
76
60
83
81
77
61
Period 1/2
Period 3
Period 4/5
Period 6
76
74
69
53*
78
76
71
54
80
77
73
56
80
77
73
56
Table 1B: Family Medicine Core + Chronic Care + MSK
Grade Category
Honors
HP/HO
PA/HP
Pass
≥ 80th %ile
≥ 70th %ile
≥ 50th %ile
≥ 5th %ile
Table 2: Internal Medicine
Grade Category
Honors
HP/HO
PA/HP
Pass
≥ 80th %ile
≥ 70th %ile
≥ 50th %ile
≥ 5th %ile
Table 3: Obstetrics & Gynecology
Grade Category
Honors
HP/HO
PA/HP
Pass
≥ 80th %ile
≥ 70th %ile
≥ 50th %ile
≥ 5th %ile
Table 4: Pediatrics
Grade Category
Honors
HP/HO
PA/HP
Pass
≥ 80 %ile
≥ 70th %ile
≥ 50th %ile
≥ 5th %ile
th
Table 5: Psychiatry
Grade Category
Honors
HP/HO
PA/HP
Pass
≥ 80th %ile
≥ 70th %ile
≥ 50th %ile
≥ 5th %ile
Table 6: Surgery
Grade Category
Honors
HP/HO
PA/HP
Pass
≥ 80th %ile
≥ 70th %ile
≥ 50th %ile
≥ 5th %ile
SOM OP 30.01.A
Page 2
September 9, 2015
Table 7A: Family Medicine Core – 2015-2016 after adjustment
Score
P1-2
P3
P4-5
P6
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53 or below
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
99
98
98
97
95
94
91
89
87
84
80
75
72
67
65
61
55
48
44
41
39
33
28
27
23
21
18
15
14
11
9
9
7
6
4
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
99
97
97
94
93
91
88
85
82
78
75
70
66
61
59
55
48
43
37
34
31
26
21
20
16
14
13
10
9
7
5
4
3
3
2
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
96
93
91
90
86
82
78
75
71
64
61
55
52
49
43
37
33
30
27
23
17
16
13
11
10
8
7
5
4
4
4
3
2
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
99
98
97
95
93
92
88
86
83
79
75
71
66
60
54
51
47
44
40
33
30
26
24
21
17
14
13
12
10
8
7
6
5
3
3
2
2
2
SOM OP 30.01.A
Page 3
September 9, 2015
Table 7B: Family Medicine Core, Chronic Care + MSK – 2015-2016 after adjustment
Score
P1-2
P3
P4-5
P6
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53 or below
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
98
97
96
94
92
90
88
85
80
78
73
69
64
60
55
50
44
40
34
31
28
24
20
17
14
12
10
8
7
5
5
4
3
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
98
97
96
94
91
89
85
82
77
74
70
66
60
54
50
45
41
36
31
26
24
20
17
14
12
9
7
6
4
3
3
2
1
1
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
96
94
92
89
85
82
79
75
70
65
60
55
48
44
39
35
31
27
24
21
17
15
11
9
7
6
5
4
3
2
2
1
1
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
95
92
89
86
81
77
74
69
64
60
54
50
45
39
34
29
25
22
18
16
14
11
9
7
6
5
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
SOM OP 30.01.A
Page 4
September 9, 2015
Table 8: Internal Medicine – 2015-2016 after adjustment
Score
P1-2
P3
P4-5
P6
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53 or below
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
96
95
93
92
89
87
84
81
77
73
70
66
62
57
53
49
44
40
37
33
29
26
23
20
17
15
13
11
9
8
6
6
4
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
97
95
94
92
90
88
85
82
79
73
70
67
63
59
54
50
46
42
38
35
31
27
24
21
19
16
14
12
10
9
7
6
5
4
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
96
94
92
90
87
85
81
77
74
68
65
61
57
53
48
43
39
36
32
29
25
22
19
16
14
12
10
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
98
97
95
93
91
88
86
83
80
75
71
66
62
58
54
49
44
41
37
33
30
26
23
19
16
14
12
10
9
7
6
5
4
3
3
2
SOM OP 30.01.A
Page 5
September 9, 2015
Table 9: Obstetrics & Gynecology – 2015-2016 after adjustment
Score
P1-2
P3
P4-5
P6
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53 or below
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
95
94
91
88
85
82
78
74
70
66
61
57
52
47
43
39
35
31
27
24
21
18
16
13
11
10
8
6
5
5
4
3
3
2
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
98
98
97
95
93
91
89
86
82
78
74
70
65
61
57
52
48
43
39
35
31
28
24
21
18
16
13
11
10
8
7
6
5
4
3
3
2
2
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
96
94
92
89
86
82
78
74
69
65
60
55
50
45
41
37
32
29
25
22
19
16
14
12
10
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
2
2
1
1
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
95
94
92
89
86
83
79
74
70
65
60
55
50
45
41
36
32
28
24
21
18
16
13
11
9
8
7
5
4
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
SOM OP 30.01.A
Page 6
September 9, 2015
Table 10: Pediatrics – 2015-2016 after adjustment
Score
P1-2
P3
P4-5
P6
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53 or below
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
96
94
92
90
88
85
82
78
74
70
67
62
58
54
50
46
42
38
34
31
27
24
21
18
16
13
10
9
7
6
5
4
3
2
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
96
95
93
91
88
85
82
79
75
72
68
64
60
56
51
48
43
39
36
32
29
25
22
19
17
14
12
10
9
7
6
5
4
3
2
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
99
98
96
95
93
90
87
85
81
78
74
70
66
62
57
52
48
43
40
35
31
28
25
22
19
16
14
12
10
8
6
5
4
3
3
2
1
1
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
98
98
96
95
94
91
88
85
82
79
75
71
66
62
58
53
50
46
41
37
33
29
26
23
20
18
15
13
11
9
7
6
5
4
3
3
2
2
2
SOM OP 30.01.A
Page 7
September 9, 2015
Table 11: Psychiatry – 2015-2016 after adjustment
Score
P1-2
P3
P4-5
P6
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53 or below
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
98
98
96
94
92
89
87
83
79
74
70
65
61
55
50
46
41
36
32
28
25
22
19
16
13
11
9
7
6
5
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
95
94
91
88
85
82
78
72
67
63
58
53
48
43
39
34
30
27
23
20
18
15
12
10
9
7
6
4
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
95
92
90
86
84
79
75
69
64
60
56
50
45
40
36
32
27
23
20
17
14
12
10
8
7
6
5
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
98
97
96
94
92
89
85
81
77
72
67
62
57
52
47
43
38
34
30
26
22
19
16
13
11
9
8
6
5
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
SOM OP 30.01.A
Page 8
September 9, 2015
Table 12: Surgery – 2015-2016 after adjustment
Score
P1-2
P3
P4-5
P6
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52 or below
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
99
98
98
97
95
94
92
89
87
84
81
77
73
69
64
61
57
52
47
43
39
35
32
28
25
22
19
16
14
12
10
8
7
5
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
98
97
96
94
92
89
87
84
81
77
73
69
65
61
56
53
49
43
39
35
31
28
25
22
19
16
14
12
10
8
7
6
5
3
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
98
97
96
94
92
89
86
83
79
76
71
68
63
59
54
49
45
41
36
33
29
25
22
19
17
14
12
11
9
8
6
5
4
3
2
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
96
95
93
91
87
84
81
78
74
70
66
61
57
53
47
43
40
35
31
27
23
20
17
15
12
11
9
8
6
5
5
4
3
2
*The exact cutoff for a passing score will be established by the Surgery Clerkship Directors.
SOM OP 30.01.A
Page 9
September 9, 2015