The three-part structure of the National Board examination program allows for a comprehensive assessment of candidates' cognitive and clinical skills in optometry. Each Part is especially designed, assembled, and reviewed by experts to focus on one specific aspect of competence in optometry. Thus, each examination is structured differently so that this can be accomplished in a systematic manner.
The purpose of the Part I-Applied Basic Science (ABS) examination is to conduct a broad audit of the basic science knowledge necessary to perform safely and adequately as an entry-level optometrist. Part I-ABS consists of 500 multiple choice items:
- The vast majority of the items (approximately 85%) are traditional multiple choice items, which consist of a stem (a question or an incomplete statement) followed by three to five options, one of which is the correct or best response.
- Approximately 15% of the items are multiple response (MR) items, which consist of a stem followed by four to seven options. An MR item will have two to four correct options and the candidate is required to select ALL of the appropriate options in order to get the item correct. The stem of the MR item indicates how many of the options are required. For example, if there are three correct options, the phrase (SELECT 3) will appear in the stem.
Some test items refer to patients or subjects with non-normal conditions. Unless the test item provides information suggestive of an underlying non-normal condition, candidates should assume that the referenced patient is normal.
The purpose of the Part II-Patient Assessment and Management (PAM) examination is to assess the entry-level optometrist's cognitive ability to assimilate and synthesize basic cased-based clinical information. The examination consists of 60 simulated patient cases and a total of 350 items. Each PAM patient case begins with a scenario containing the relevant patient history and clinical data. This information usually includes at least one visual (e.g., color ophthalmic photographs; contact lens fluorescein pattern; spectacle frame fitting problem; visual field plots; other instrumentation printouts). Every scenario is followed by five or six multiple-choice test items. The majority of the items (about 90%) are traditional multiple choice items, consisting of a stem (a question or an incomplete statement) followed by three to ten options, one of which is the correct or best response. Approximately 10% of the items are multiple response (MR) items. MR items are described above.
The Part III Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) is the NBEO's patient-oriented performance test which consists of 18 optometric skills assessed in 4 examination stations. A complete description of the assessment is provided in the Candidate guide which can be accessed by clicking here.
The drop down box below has links to sample test items. There are 47 sample items for the Part I (Applied Basic Science) exam, 4 sample cases for the Part II (PAM) exam, and 5 sample cases for the ACMO exam. The subject matter represented by these items is limited in scope and therefore should not be regarded as comprising the full range of material that is tested.
The distribution of content for the Part I (Applied Basic Science) exam and the Part II (PAM) exam is given in the Content Matrix; the Content Matrix can be accessed by clicking here. More detailed information on the ACMO exam can be found by clicking here.
Each section is linked to a PDF file. To ensure your ability to read these PDF files, please download the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader® by clicking here!
Select the Exam of Sample Test Items from the following list:
