Final Examination

The Medicine Clerkship final is a two hour and 10 minute standardized subject test from the NBME (National Board of Medical Examiners).  The multiple choice questions are all single-best answer .  The test runs from 8:00 - 10:15 a.m. on the last Friday of the quarter.  Please make note of this and plan to spend the morning testing.  WWAMI students will be contacted with instructions on where and when to take the exam.   

Seattle students will receive an email to confirm the examination start time and room, two weeks prior to the date of the exam.

Please note that there will be no retakes of the final exam.

Internal Medicine Subject Exam

Below is the breakdown of questions on the subject exam and an example of the kind of test question that one will see on the exam. The textbook for the course also includes a practice multiple choice test, which we also recommend reviewing.

NBME Subject Exam in Internal Medicine

Breakdown of Questions Percentage
General Principles 1% - 5%
Organ Systems 95% - 99%

Immunologic Disorders

5% - 10%

Diseases of the Blood and Blood-forming Organs

5% - 10%

Diseases of the Nervous System and Special Senses

5% - 10%

Cardiovascular Disorders

15% - 20%

Diseases of the Respiratory System

15% - 20%

Nutritional and Digestive Disorders

10% - 15%

Gynecologic Disorders

 1% - 5%

Renal, Urinary, and Male Reproductive System

10% - 15%

Disorders of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues

5% - 10%

Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue

5% - 10%

Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

5% - 10%
Physician Tasks  

Promoting Health and Health Maintenance

10% - 15%

Understanding Mechanisms of Disease

20% - 25%

Establishing a Diagnosis

40% - 45%

Applying Principles of Management

20% - 25%

 

SAMPLE TEST QUESTION

  1. A 28 y.o. woman has palpitations that occur approximately once a week, last 1 - 5 minutes, and consist of rapid, regular heart pounding. the episodes start and stop suddenly and have not been associated with chest discomfort or dyspnea. There is no history of heart problems. She drinks two to three cups of coffee daily. She rarely drinks alcohol and does not smoke. Her pulse is 96/min and regular, and blood pressure is 120/88 mm Hg. A stare and lid lag are noted. The thyroid gland is firm and 1.5 times larger than normal. There is a midsystolic click at the apex and a grade 2/6, early systolic murmur at the upper left sternal border. An ECG is normal except for evidence of sinus tachycardia. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?
    1. Ambulatory ECG monitoring
    2. Measurement of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone concentration
    3. Measurement of urine catecholamine concentration
    4. MUGA scan
    5. Echocardiography

(Correct answer is b).