Examination Policy

1.1 Scheduled Examinations: Students must attend examinations as scheduled. All exams are completed in-person; there is no option for remote exam administration. Students must promptly inform the Office of Medical Curriculum and the course/clerkship director of any unforeseen circumstances affecting their ability to take the exam on the scheduled date. Failure to communicate such circumstances may lead to disciplinary action.

1.2 Make-up Examination Procedure: In cases of illness or extraordinary personal circumstances, students may request a make-up examination. They must attend the scheduled make-up examination session provided by the Office of Medical Curriculum. 

1.3 Documentation: Students unable to attend a scheduled examination or make-up session must provide supporting documentation. Documentation requirements will be specified by the Offices of Medical Education.

1.4 Late Arrival Policy: Students are expected to be seated and start their exam at the scheduled time. Students arriving after the examination start time will forfeit the amount of time equal to their lateness. The examination will conclude at the originally scheduled end time for all students. No student arriving late will be seated if any other student has completed the test. Persistent lateness is considered a professionalism concern and will be referred to the Professional Conduct Committee.

1.5 Recording of Grades for Missed Examinations: Failure to sit for a scheduled examination or make-up session without an approved excuse will result in a score of zero. Excused absences will be handled according to sections 1.2 and 1.3.

2.1 Accommodation for Disabilities: Students with documented disabilities may request accommodations for examinations in line with the University at Buffalo-SUNY Reasonable Accommodation Policy. Such requests should be directed to the Office of Accessibility Resources, 60 Capen Hall, which will evaluate each case individually to determine appropriate accommodations. Once approved for accommodation, students must inform the Office of Medical Curriculum. Specific contacts will be given to the student by the Office of Accessibility Resources. Students should meet with Accessibility Resources at least annually to keep their accommodation memo up-to-date.

Students are required to observe the following examination instructions:

• Students must ensure they meet any requirements for exam software as communicated by the Office of Medical Education or the relevant course/clerkship directors prior to the examination.
• Ensure that no unauthorized personal items or electronic devices are present at the designated workspace. All electronic devices must be turned off and stored securely away from the examination area. Smart watches and cell phones are amongst the unauthorized personal items. Students will need to demonstrate that they are not wearing a smart watch prior to starting any examination.
• Report to a proctor to obtain any required examination materials, such as scratch paper, before beginning the exam.
• Course directors are not available to answer content-related questions during the examination period. Students must rely solely on their preparation and understanding of the material.
• Upon completion of the exam, students must return all provided materials to a proctor. Students must sign the exam roster before leaving the examination room. Failure to complete either item will result in a meeting with an Office of Medical Education Dean. We reserve the right to withhold examination scores if either item is not completed.
• It is imperative that students uphold academic integrity throughout the examination. Incidents of academic dishonesty and/or professional misconduct will be addressed as described in the University at Buffalo Student Code of Conduct and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Code of Professional Conduct.

• The Office of Medical Curriculum, in conjunction with course directors, conducts a statistical analysis of each exam to review question performance.  Scoring adjustments may be recommended based on these statistics. If credit is given back for any question, the credit must be granted to all exam takers. 
  • The aforementioned statistical analysis of the exam will be conducted, and exam scores will be distributed to students through the Examplify portal, within five (5) business days of the exam being taken.  Students will be notified when exam scores are available.
• Course directors and the Office of Medical Curriculum then collaborate to schedule secure exam reviews. If you are unable to attend a formal exam review session, and want to review your exam, you must email your curriculum coordinator to make an appointment. These appointments are available at the discretion of the Office of Medical Curriculum, in the interest of protecting exam security.
  • Exam review sessions, whether formally held in the exam hall or scheduled individually, follow the same security protocols as an exam itself.  
    • Students may not attend an exam review session if they have not yet taken the exam.
    • All electronic devices must be turned off and stored securely away from the review area.  This includes cell phones, tablets, and additional laptops that are not being utilized exclusively for review through Examplify.
    • Notes are not allowed on any sheet of paper other than the provided error analysis sheet.  Questions may not be written on the error analysis sheet in their entirety or verbatim; only topics or key words may be noted.
    • Before leaving the exam review space, students must show a proctor both their error analysis sheet and their laptop screen.  Students may not exit the room with a printed copy of their exam, nor with a laptop that is logged into the exam review session.
    • Students may not discuss any questions or content from the exam with students who have yet to take the exam.
• After a formal exam review session, course directors have two (2) business days to make any additional scoring adjustments and finalize exam scores.  Updated exam scores will then be re-distributed through the Examplify portal, and students will be notified.
• Exam scores, and a summary of individual question category performance for each exam, will remain available to students through Examplify for the duration of Phase 1.

• NBME grades examinations within 1-3 business days of exam completion (absent of any technical issues), which are then visible to the Offices of Medical Education.
• Exam scores are released to students within 5 days of grading by the NBME -students will be able to view results on their NBME Insights Portal.
• Subject Examinations (Shelf Exams)
  • If a student fails a shelf exam, they will be contacted directly by the Assistant Dean for Student and Academic Affairs within 1 business day of grades being made available to the Offices of Medical Education.
  • Students will then follow the policies and procedures laid out in the course or clerkship syllabus and the Academic Status Policy.

Approved by Curriculum Committee – June 4, 2026