Clerkship Examinations

The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Subject Examinations will be utilized to assess objective knowledge. The exam grading guidelines based on each student's national percentile are as follows:

  • 70th percentile or greater = Honors
  • 51st to 69th percentile = High Pass
  • 16th to 50th percentile = Pass
  • 5th to 15th percentile = Marginal Pass
  • 4th percentile or less = Fail

If the Shelf exam results are below the 5th percentile, the student is required to retake the Shelf. If the final grade on the composite of the Clinical Performance Evaluation is Fail, the student will be required to repeat the clerkship according to UNR Med policy. Details regarding clerkship exams can be found in the policy: Academic Progress & Promotion Policy

Marginal Performance in Clinical Clerkships and Electives

Marginal academic performance in a clinical clerkship or elective is defined as recurring difficulty in cognitive or behavioral performance that does not constitute a failing grade. Any student whose performance is identified as marginal in a clinical clerkship or elective must meet with the course director in an effort to identify the basis for the marginal performance and to develop a written course of action to be taken by the student to avoid a recurrence of marginal performance in the future. This meeting must be documented and the remediation plan will be placed in the student's academic record. The student is responsible for setting up these meetings and submitting the remediation plan to ASA and OME.

Any student whose performance is determined to be marginal for a second course must meet with the clerkship director as described above and must also seek assistance from the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs who may refer the matter to the SPCC. The student must develop a written action plan for improving academic performance. The plan must be approved by the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs and will become a permanent part of the student's file.

Evaluator Concern in Written Evaluations of Student Performance in Clinical Clerkships or Electives

A Performance Evaluation form will be completed at the conclusion of each clinical clerkship or elective and sent to the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs. Forms indicating evaluator concerns will require action.

The remedial action required for a student receiving an evaluator concern as part of the written evaluation will be determined by the nature and severity of the concern. The minimum required action is a discussion between the student and the clerkship director in an effort to identify the basis for the evaluator concern and to develop a course of action to be taken by the student to avoid a recurrence of such concerns in future courses. This meeting must be documented and the plan will be placed in the student's academic record. Any student who receives a second evaluator concern in a clerkship or elective must meet with the faculty coordinator as described above and must also meet with the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs who may refer the matter to the SPCC. The student must develop a written plan for correcting or addressing the concerns. The plan must be approved by the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs and will be placed in the student's academic record. A record of the satisfactory completion of the plans will be placed in the student's academic record. The student is responsible for setting up these meetings.

Any student who receives a third evaluator concern in a clerkship or elective must meet with the SPCC. The SPCC may recommend action up to and including a recommendation for dismissal from UNR Med.

Administrative Action in Year 3-4 Clinical Clerkships and Electives

Actions by the SPCC as a result of a failing grade, an evaluation of marginal performance, and/or evaluator concern include any of the following, either individually or in combination:

  • Close monitoring of future academic performance;
  • Probation;
  • Repetition of one or more clerkships or electives;
  • A requirement that the student pass an NBME subject test; and/or,
  • A dismissal or suspension from medical school.