Scores for COMAT examinations are reported as standard scores, which account for minor differences in difficulty between forms. The standard score is an estimate of the underlying achievement level.
For COMAT FBS Comprehensive (FBS-C) examinations, standard scores are set to have a mean of 200 and a standard deviation of 10, based on a national sample of examinees in their 2nd year in osteopathic medical school. A total score above 200 indicates above average performance for the subject compared to students in their 2nd year.
NBOME now reports FBS-Targeted exam scaled (or standard) scores that are based on a norm group of test takers from US
osteopathic medical schools taking the FBS-Targeted exam for the first time during 2022-2024. The scale of the FBS-Targeted exams
ranges from 300 to 800, with a mean of 550 and a standard deviation of approximately 65. A total scaled score above 550 indicates a test taker performed above the average level of the norm group.
COMAT Clinical Examination standard scores are set to have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 10 based on a representative sample of nationally normed data.
Standard score scales are reviewed annually and may be re-established at the discretion of the NBOME.
The COMAT Percentile Score Conversion Table converts standard scores into percentile scores.
Scores for FBS-C and FBS-T examinations administered from Monday – Friday will be released to schools and colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) on the Wednesday of the following week.
Scores for Clinical Subject examinations administered from Monday – Friday will be released to COMs on the Thursday of the following week. Score release days may vary lightly when a new testing cycle begins or when there are non-testing days scheduled. Each COM may decide how or if to distribute student score reports.
| Testing Period | Score Release Date |
|---|---|
| June 24 – 28, 2024 | 7/2/24 |
| July 16 – 26, 2024 | 8/1/24 |
| November 18 – 22, 2024 | 12/5/24 |
| December 16, 2024 – January 3, 2025 | 1/9/25 |
| June 23 – June 27, 2025 | 7/1/25 |
| November 17 – November 21, 2025 | 12/4/25 |
| December 15 – December 24, 2025 | 1/8/26 |
| November 16 – November 20, 2026 | 12/3/26 |
| December 21 – December 24, 2026 | 1/7/27 |
| Testing Period | Score Release Date |
|---|---|
| August 5 – 9, 2024 | 8/13/24 |
| August 27 – September 13, 2024 | 9/18/24 |
| November 18 – 22, 2024 | 12/4/24 |
| December 16, 2024 – January 3, 2025 | 1/8/25 |
| August 4 – 8, 2025 | 8/13/25 |
| August 26 – September 5, 2025 | 9/10/25 |
| November 17 – November 21, 2025 | 12/3/25 |
| December 15 – December 24, 2025 | 1/7/26 |
| November 16 – November 20, 2026 | 12/2/26 |
| December 21 – December 24, 2026 | 1/6/27 |
Score reports are scheduled to be released 5-10 business days after administration.
COM Comparative Summary Reports by COMAT discipline are available to COMs on the secure Dean’s Page of the NBOME Portal. COMs can compare their COM student performance with other unidentified COMs as well as review, print, and archive reports. These reports for the previous testing cycle are uploaded annually in August or September.
The NBOME will not send COMAT student score reports directly to students.
The NBOME conducts a thorough quality assurance process to ensure that all candidate scores are accurate. However, if a COM chooses, we will confirm an examination score for any COMAT exam if a school coordinator submits a written request within 30 days after the scores are released. Students may not request score confirmations. These requests are directed back to the school coordinator.
Because score confirmation is limited solely to computer-recorded responses, the score is unlikely to change. The NBOME will ensure that all sections were complete and that responses were graded against the proper form. The NBOME does not release information about the scoring of individual exam questions.
The fee for score confirmation is $25, and upon making the request, the COM must include a check or credit card information. A score confirmation entails retrieving the original test responses, checking for any testing or data abnormalities, rescoring using a process different from the operational scoring process, and comparing the rescored results with the originally reported scores. Results of a score confirmation will be sent to the school coordinator by Client Services within two weeks of the request.
